Once again this year the invitation from the authorities is renewed not to fall into the trap of cybercriminals, who are more active than ever in the pre-Christmas period. Tips to defend yourself
Punctual, under the holidays, the alarm from the authorities against the 2022 also arrives the most widespread “Christmas” telematic scam: that (well known now) of the phantom shipment awaiting delivery. It is easy to understand why in December it is more insidious than usual: at this time of year people receive gifts, so they could be led to believe that similar communications, typically conveyed via text message or e-mailare actually from trusted senders. “Beware of emails that warn you that you have not been able to deliver a package and that you click to choose the time to receive it”, he therefore warned the State Police Wednesday on Twitter. The reason is soon said: «It is about phishing and then clicking will steal your personal information.
Do not enter the requested data
Accompanying the twitter, the image of a typical scam email: «We need your confirmation to ship your order – it is read -. Shipment pending». In this case, a message aimed at prompting the user to click on a site whose design rather faithfully replicates that of Poste Italiane. Therefore, woe to insert the requested confidential data inside it (Bank account details first), above all bearing in mind that no courier will ever ask for additional money while the shipment is in progress: this would be equivalent to delivering them directly into the hands of the perpetrators of the fraud. «Messages remain a fundamental communication channel for many companies and even for some institutions – cybersecurity experts have announced these days -, which is why they still represent one tool widely used by cybercriminals to spread their fraudulent campaigns».
The numbers of the phenomenon
Just to give an idea of the phenomenon, research by Opentext Security Solutions has found that over a third (36%) of all phishing scams in 2021 occurred just before Christmas. Furthermore, an analysis by Check Point Software on the last month of November has highlighted how around 17% of all malicious files distributed via email involve terms such as “orders”, “delivery” and “shipments”. «Hackers never go on vacation – Marco Fanuli, security engineer team leader at Check Point Software highlighted -. On the contrary, take advantage of these moments, and Christmas in particular, taking advantage of the many online purchases that are made and the tranquility that this period instills in all of us. These must be the reasons for us to pay even more attention when shopping online and surfing the Internet.
Three useful tips
What precautions should be taken, therefore, in order not to fall into the trap to protect one’s personal data? In the case of phishing, whether it is related to alleged shipments or not, the basic rules are essentially three: do not open the link and, in any case, never enter the requested personal data; recognize false communicationswhich generally are not personalized, refer to the winning of some prize or the resolution of a sudden safety or functioning problem and conclude with a threatening tone warning of the immediate suspension of the service if the indications given are not followed; do not download attached files or request cancellation from the list of recipients. In this way, Christmas will be truly serene.
