👁️🗨️At a Glance
- This week’s threat landscape highlights critical mobile vulnerabilities (Apple iOS CVE-2025-43442/43455; Android CVE-2025-48593), rising smishing attacks, and sideloaded app risks. U.S. organizations face intensified ransomware campaigns, insider incidents, and nation-state espionage. Holiday scams surge with fake retail sites, gift card fraud, and delivery phishing. AI-driven phishing now powers 82% of campaigns. Families must adopt strong cyber hygiene for safe holiday shopping.
📈Current Cyberthreat Trends
🎁Holiday Shopping Safety Tips
🛍️Shopping & Retail Scams
- Shop trusted retailers and secure websites (look for https and padlock icon.)
- Verify URLs before clicking on holiday deals—look for typosquatting (e.g., amaz0n[.]com).
- Enable MFA and use strong, unique passwords.
- Monitor bank statements and enable transaction alerts.
- Avoid gift card payments for purchases or donations—this is a red flag.
- Use credit cards or secure wallets, not debit, for better fraud protection.
- Beware of fake order confirmations or shipping notices—hover over links before clicking.
🎣Phishing & Social Engineering
- Watch for urgent emails claiming missed deliveries, invoice errors, or account suspensions.
- Verify delivery notifications via official apps, not links in messages.
- Don’t trust unexpected holiday e-cards or attachments—even from known contacts.
- Verify charity solicitations via official websites—don’t donate through links in emails or texts.
📱Mobile & App-Based Threats
- Download apps only from official stores (Google Play, Apple App Store).
- Avoid QR codes in public flyers or emails unless verified.
- Disable auto-connect for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in public spaces.
👔Workplace & Insider Risk
- Remind staff not to use work credentials on personal shopping sites.
- Monitor for unusual data access or off-hours activity—especially in finance, HR, and IT.
- Reinforce MFA and phishing-resistant login policies before holiday travel.