Credit card skimming and phishing scams are on the rise ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, according to cybersecurity firms Malwarebytes and Check Point Security.
Threat actors are impersonating luxury brands and deploying other devious schemes to steal sensitive information and scam shoppers. It’s important to stay vigilant and protect your privacy online this shopping season. One way to do this is to use a VPN.
A VPN boosts your online safety by masking your identity and blocking hackers from stealing your data or tracking you. Top VPNs, like Surfshark, also have ad and malware blockers that shield you from adware and malicious scripts on websites.
Cyber Threats to Watch Out for This Shopping Season
According to Malwarebytes, there has been a surge in credit card skimming since October. This trend is expected to continue to rise in the coming weeks. “Online stores are not always as secure as you might think they are, and yet you need to hand over your valuable credit card information in order to buy anything,” the anti-malware software maker said.
Malwarebytes’ report put the spotlight on one credit card skimming campaign, dubbed “Kritec,” which has been ongoing since March. The threat actors behind the campaign are customizing their skimmer for each site, using convincing templates and local languages to avoid detection, the report said.
Malwarebytes said the skimming operation is “so smooth and seamless” that shoppers may not even know their payment data has been stolen.
Card skimming is just one of the threats you need to worry about this shopping season. According to cybersecurity firm Check Point Research, phishing attacks are also on the rise — there has been a 13 percent increase in malicious files related to shipping and orders compared to last year.
Cybercriminals are impersonating luxury brands and sending emails laced with malicious links to unsuspecting victims. When targets click the links, they’re led to deceptive websites that mimic these brands. The ultimate goal is to steal personal and credit card information.
“These fraudulent sites then peddle luxury goods at unbelievably discounted prices, creating an alluring trap for potential shoppers. However, the real danger lies in the malicious intent behind these sites, as they prompt users to input their account details,” Check Point said in a blog post.
How to Shop Safely
Threat actors are using increasingly sophisticated techniques to target shoppers. It’s important to practice proper cyber hygiene and use cybersecurity tools like antivirus and a VPN to safeguard your privacy.
Surfshark is one of our top-rated VPNs and can shield you from card skimming and phishing attacks. It uses military-grade encryption to protect your internet traffic, ensuring your payment information doesn’t fall into the hands of cybercriminals. Surfshark also performs a reputation check on domains and alerts you when you’re on a fake or potentially dangerous online store.
Currently, Surfshark is offering an 80% discount on its services for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This deal includes a 24-month subscription at just $1.99 per month, with an additional three months free. Check out our guide to Surfshark’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals to learn more.
Read our comprehensive Surfshark review for a deep dive into the security features of this VPN and discover how it can protect you from online threats.
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