Research shows ransomware, phishing, and malware attacks spike around Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Holiday Season

ORLANDO, Fla, November 11, 2024-ThreatLocker, a leading provider of Zero Trust cybersecurity solutions, is encouraging businesses to harden their systems in preparation for the upcoming holiday season. Research shows ransomware attacks surge around holiday times as companies may be more willing to pay ransoms quickly to regain access to critical data and systems, pressured by the holiday rush and potential IT shortages.

Cybercriminals are more aggressive and sophisticated using clever schemes to attack, especially with cybercriminals adopting AI to develop malicious code, which increasingly goes undetected by the traditional cybersecurity solutions. Examples of cyberattacks include social engineering, phishing, malware, and ransomware.

“Cybercriminals frequently attack during the holidays when they are hoping people are out of the office or not paying close attention to their networks,” said ThreatLocker CEO and Co-Founder Danny Jenkins. “Hackers can encrypt your files, push out ransomware and cause a lot of damage.”

A cybercriminal gets paid best by causing enough damage to a victim that justifies payment. After encrypting a few files on a laptop, the likelihood of receiving payment is low. However, encrypting an entire network could justify receiving payment. This is why organizations face a substantial spike in cyberattacks during extended weekends brought on by holiday observations.

Tips to reduce chances of a holiday cyberattack:

• Shut down your devices

• Incorporate Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

• Block all untrusted software

• Verify recovery and multiple backup systems

• Check for unmanaged remote access tools

• Implement Network Controls

• Create a Lights Out checklist for weekends/holidays

For more information about ThreatLocker, please visit threatlocker.com.

About ThreatLocker®

ThreatLocker® is a global cybersecurity leader, providing enterprise-level Zero Trust cybersecurity tools to improve the security of servers and endpoints. Founded in 2017 by Danny Jenkins, Sami Jenkins, and John Carolan, ThreatLocker® now serves thousands of organizations globally and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, USA.

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Media Contact:

Stefany Strong, Media Relations Manager
press@threatlocker.com

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