Why Cybercrime Spikes During Holidays (And How You Can Stay Secure)

The holidays bring a different energy to the year. Offices get quieter, inboxes get fuller, and everyone is juggling travel, events, and time away from their screens. It’s a great season to reset, but it also happens to be one of the most active times of year for cybercrime. Not because people are careless, but because routines change. And when routines change, attackers get opportunities.30%

A study from McAfee shows that cybercrime increases by ~30% around Christmas in particular.

This doesn’t mean the season should feel stressful or alarming. You deserve to understand the risks and the simple habits that can help you protect your digital environment before you unplug. Today we’re breaking down why cybercrime tends to increase during the holidays, what practical steps you can take to stay secure, and how the right IT support can give you extra peace of mind while you're away.

Plus, you can use these tips year-round! No need to keep and use this knowledge just once or twice a year.

Why Cybercrime Increases During Holidays

People Tend To Be More Trusting

Let’s start with the basics, people are simply more trusting and more likely to comply with requests during the holiday season. Social engineers take advantage of this, using friendly messages, festive themes, and a sense of goodwill to get people to click or share information they normally wouldn’t.

Reduced Staff and Slower Response Times

Many businesses operate with reduced teams during holidays. Security alerts take longer to respond to, and unusual activity may go unnoticed. Attackers know this and often time their attempts for weekends, nights, and especially long holiday breaks when fewer eyes are watching.

Heavier Remote Activity

Whether for personal or work activities, people are logging in from new places, using different devices, jumping on public Wi-Fi, and juggling multiple accounts. Holiday habits create more opportunities for attackers to slip into the noise. When people and employees are accessing technology and services while they’re away from the office, it can make suspicious activity harder to catch.

Increased Financial Transactions

Both individuals and organizations handle more invoices, purchases, and donations during the holiday period. This gives attackers a bigger window to blend in. Fake invoices, fraudulent requests, and spoofed payment messages are far more common in December for exactly this reason.

How You Can Stay Cyber-Smart During Holidays

Staying secure over holidays doesn’t mean locking everything down or hovering over your inbox. A few practical habits can go a long way in making sure your information stays safe while you disconnect and recharge.

Turn On (& Require) Multi-Factor Authentication Wherever You Can

It’s one of the simplest and most effective tools you can use. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds a second step when you log in, keeping your accounts protected even if a password ends up in the wrong hands.

Reminder: MFA stops 99.9% of would-be account breaches!

Learn How to Spot Phishing Scams

Holiday-themed phishing attempts are everywhere when something big is coming up whether it's Christmas or 4th of July. Watch for urgent emails, unexpected delivery notices, fake login pages, leadership impersonation, and gift card requests. If something feels off, avoid clicking links and go directly to the website instead.

Lock Your Computer When You Step Away

Whether you're in the office or working remotely, locking your computer when you walk away protects everything on it. It only takes a second and it prevents curious hands or accidental access.

Tip: You can quickly lock your computer by pressing (Windows Key + L) on Windows or (Command+Control+Q) on MacOS.

If You Have an IT Team, Let Them Help

IT teams and managed service providers are there to support you. They can double-check your access, watch for unusual activity, help you prepare before you leave, and answer quick questions. Don’t hesitate to lean on them.

Have an Incident Response Plan, Just in Case Something Happens

Even with great habits reducing your chances significantly, incidents can happen. The best thing you can do is be prepared with an incident response plan. Know who to contact, what steps to take, and how to quickly report anything suspicious. A clear plan keeps small issues from becoming bigger ones.

Experts say that it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.

How an IT Partner Can Help You Feel Confident While You're Away

Whether you're part of a small team or running a growing organization, having someone watching your technology while you're away offers real peace of mind. An IT expert or managed IT provider like StoredTech can monitor systems, protect your environment during slower staffing periods, and respond quickly if anything looks unusual. Plus, you get the benefit of being supported year-round, not just while you're away.

They can also help you prep ahead of time: reviewing access, tightening controls, and making sure your devices and accounts are in a good place before you unplug. With a partner you trust, you get to enjoy your holiday downtime knowing someone is keeping an eye on things.

Big holidays should feel relaxing, not stressful. If there’s one thing to remember, it’s this: cybercriminals rely on distraction. When you stay mindful of common risks like phishing, use tools like MFA, and have an incident response plan in place, you’re already ahead of the game. These aren’t complicated steps. They’re everyday habits that keep your information, your accounts, and your peace of mind intact.

And if you’re a business looking to take that a step further, or you simply want support managing your technology without the stress, that’s where we come in. From monitoring and remote access management to security hardening and incident planning, you don’t have to tackle any of this alone. With the right team behind you, you can fully unplug, enjoy your holiday season, and feel confident that your technology is secure and taken care of.

Regardless, enjoy your holiday season and stay secure out there!

Secure Your Business This Holiday - Talk to an IT Expert!

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