Malware Attacks Gets Doubled During Holiday Shopping Season Of 2017

 

While millions of Americans are preparing to spend billions of dollars in this holiday shopping season, the malware attacks by their operators are also gearing up to steal data and money. In fact, November and December are usually very busy months due to malware infections, and an increase in online Christmas shopping is likely to be blamed. The National Federation of Retailers estimates that sales of online vacations will increases by between 11 to 15% this year. Every online click is an opportunity for virtual criminals to install harmful programs on your computer. And this year, even the most sophisticated email phishing attacks can cause even more problems; attacks that make your computer go up and down thinking that you’ve been hacked.

Malware forecast for 2018: More ransomware, Android & Mac viruses

Year 2017 witnessed a massive malware and ransomware attack with outbreak of WannaCry, Petya/NotPetya, Bad Rabbit ransom virus hitting Organizations, firms and entrepreneurs that heavily relied on data. We are approaching towards end of year 2017 gradually but there seem to be no respite or end of malicious activities of hackers who seem to be working relentlessly with the goal to target even more Windows, Macs and Android users in years to come. This is why the signs are not good for upcoming year that is 2018. If reports are to be believed, security analysts have predicted even worst attack is awaiting to greet us in days to come.

Hackers are leaving no stones unturned to target Windows, Mac and even Android devices. Recent research carried out by SophosLabs confirms about massive number of ransomware attack is waiting to strike and is likely to increase manifolds in the upcoming year 2018. So if you are planning to enjoy with friends and families, going for a weekend or having fun, please keep this in mind that hackers are working seriously to target your system and make you another victim by exploiting vulnerabilities and loopholes within your PC. So if you do not want to fall prey and become an easy victim of hackers you need to take stern steps from today onwards. The best way to accomplish this is by updating your system. You need to install latest updates released for Windows OS. If you are still using or working on Windows XP, Vista then God can only help you.

Since Microsoft has released an advisory long back and have asked Windows users to upgrade Windows OS. No patches or updates will be released for Windows XP and Vista OS. Unfortunately, if you have not upgraded yet or not in the mood to do so then be ready to face the music of hackers. Also it is high time for users to stay watchful and avoid any such suspicious content that has been uploaded on the web that seem to be attractive. You never know it can be a trick of hackers to make you click on these suspicious links. There are similar threats looming by and large for Android users as several malware based apps have been designed to hit Google Play Store. Unless and until you are not very sure about any apps or freeware do your best and avoid installing them. It was believed that Mac system was most secure but it is the thing of past now as some of the most dreadful virus such as MacSpy and MacRansom have struck Macintosh devices.

One of the software makers group that designed anti-malware program which detected the infection attacks done from Black Friday on the Christmas. The malware attacks rise up on the day up to 99.23% which is very far than in 2015 (84%) and 2014 (42%). According to system security experts the latest spikes into the malware attacks are due to a sudden increment in the online activity by the holiday shoppers and increased attempts on the part of malware makers that trying to take advantages of those online shoppers. It is very simply known that the as more peoples getting engaged online looking for deals and checking orders which gives a chance to the attackers to stepped up the infection attacks.

 

Attackers Uses Most Advanced Techniques In Phishing To Trick More Online Shoppers This Year

This year one of the group of malware researcher believes that the sophisticated email phishing attacks are unleashing a new attempts to get malware attacks on PC users. The Phishing emails are just kind of fake messages that look like they are send by a legitimate online retailer. They are generally display a receipt that the users didn’t make purchase. The attackers seems that by sending fake messages tricks the users to get click on infected links then after hack their systems and ask them to fix PC problems to get money in a form of service charge. The displayed link leads you to a malicious malware infection. here is an example that you can see,

Another example related with a fake Apple receipt that looks like legit in the first sight but it also a fake one. you can see

Experts found that these fake emails like to be from Paypal, Apple, Etsy and others. As this time festive and holiday season, peoples are waiting for these kinds of emails that tells about them the discounted deals and other attractive offers and may be likely to be click on and this is taken as an advantage by the malware attackers by sending infected links to you to click on to be cheated online scam.

Article on Christmas Shopping Scams: Protect Yourself Against the 7 Scams of Christmas Holiday Season 2017

The best method to keep yourself protected from these kinds of email attacks is to avoid suspicious looking email from an online retailer. if you think that there is a problem then you should use the directly to the Amazon, Apple, PayPal other accounts on your browsers.

Best 5 Tips To Keep Your PC Safe From This Holiday Season And After Also

• Always keep up to date your OS and keep your settings to automatically install updates.

• You should use a powerful anti-malware on system for frequent scans and updates.

• Avoid to click on the suspicious looking links.

• Do not download infected attachments on your system.

• Deny to visit awful websites that ask you to install free software.

• Do not click on the links on social media messages.

Hence using these precautions you can save system from the malicious malware attacks.