As we head towards Christmas and start wrapping things up for the year, most of us are looking forward to taking some time away from the daily grind.
Whether you are planning some time at the beach, a BBQ or two, or maybe settling in for what should be a cracking summer of cricket, it’s a chance to switch off, unwind and hopefully relax.
But not everyone will be doing this. Cybercriminals and attackers, see this period very differently.
While we’re winding down, they’re ramping up, taking advantage of quieter offices, smaller teams and the general December chaos that comes with the Aussie summer.
It’s a pattern we see year after year, so it’s worth keeping cyber safety at the front of mind—both at work and at home.
Why does this happen every year?
‘Tis the season… for cyber mischief. With people taking leave, teams running light, and everyone juggling last-minute tasks, the Christmas period creates gaps for cybercriminals to slip through.
Even well-prepared organisations can find themselves exposed simply because key people are away, or processes are a bit slower than usual.
How Cybercriminals take advantage of holiday distractions
Let’s be honest, December can be a bit of a blur. If you are like me, then you are juggling what feels like an unending list of things.
From end-of-year deadlines, corporate Christmas parties, school holiday planning and trying to sort out gifts, it can be easy to lose focus with so much going on.
The cybercriminals know this.
That’s why we will no doubt be inundated with fake delivery texts, dodgy “invoice reminders,” too-good-to-be-true sales, and impersonation emails around this time.
They’re counting on us being distracted enough to click before thinking.
A quick pause, deep breaths and a second look are often all it takes to avoid being the victim of a scam.
Christmas Cyber Security Watch List: What to look out for
Cybercriminals will look to exploit the Christmas season with reliable classics such as:
Fake parcel delivery notices e.g. “Your package is waiting—click to arrange re-delivery "using well-known carrier names
Gift card scams where someone pretends to be your boss or colleague
Dodgy online sales or booking confirmations designed to pinch card details
Fake charity requests piggybacking on legitimate Aussie causes
End-of-year invoice redirections or supplier impersonations
Why are these classics so popular? Because they work.
They blend these into the noise of everything else associated with this time of year, ultimately hoping we drop our guard.
Your Aussie summer cyber checklist
Before you clock off and head to the beach. or in my case, the couch to watch Australia retain The Ashes, there are a few simple steps you can take to help keep your accounts and organisations secure:
Make sure MFA is on and working across key accounts.
Update your devices—laptop, phone, tablet, everything.
Review any unnecessary access you might still have.
Stick to trusted retailers when shopping online or booking holidays.
Double-check any financial requests or “urgent” approvals.
Take the time to read unsolicited SMS’ and don’t click any suspicious links.
Be mindful about what you share on social media and who can view it.
What’s the forecast for this season?
Based on what we’ve seen across previous years and with the rise of AI-driven cyber-attacks, we’re likely to encounter:
More credential-harvesting attempts
An uptick in business email compromise (BEC)
Increased scanning of exposed systems
More SMS and social-engineering scams targeting people privately
Attackers probing third-party suppliers with holiday-period staffing levels
Enjoy the break and remain vigilant
Christmas in Australia is all about switching off, enjoying the warm weather and spending time with the people who matter.
Staying cyber smart doesn’t have to get in the way of that. Just keep an eye out for anything that feels unusual, especially if it’s unexpected or asks you for money or credentials.
Wishing you a safe, sun-soaked and cyber-secure holiday season.
