Staying secure on the 4th, why phishing attacks increase during holiday weekends

We’ve touched on this topic before, but we thought a reminder as we approach the Fourth of July weekend couldn’t hurt, hackers don’t take the holidays off.

This includes summer holidays such as Memorial Day and the 4th of July in addition to the typical winter festivities. Bad actors know that the holidays can be a boon for their nefarious activities, employees may be less on guard as they look forward to the extra time off and routines are thrown off with a disruption to the normal M-F patterned workweek.

Here are 7 ways the holidays lead to a higher risk of phishing attacks:

• Reduced Staff Monitoring
  Fewer IT and security personnel are actively monitoring systems during holidays, making it easier for attacks to go undetected.
• Delayed Response Times
  Even if an attack is noticed, response times are slower due to limited holiday support coverage, allowing phishing attempts more time to succeed.
• Disrupted Routines
  Employees are more likely to check emails from mobile devices or at unusual times, making them less vigilant and more susceptible to suspicious messages.
• Increased Volume of Personal Communications
  Holiday-related emails, such as order confirmations, travel details, and e-cards, create a flood of legitimate messages—making phishing emails easier to blend in.
• Tempting Lures
  Phishing emails often mimic holiday promotions, charity donation requests, or time-sensitive holiday deals—tactics that seem more believable during the season.
• Social Engineering Opportunities
  Hackers exploit the fact that people are distracted, in a festive mindset, or rushing to wrap up work—making them less likely to scrutinize an email carefully.
• Gaps in System Updates
  Routine maintenance and updates might be paused during holidays, leaving systems more vulnerable to phishing-based exploits that rely on unpatched software.

(Download these tips as an Infographic below.)

Phishing attacks are one of the most common—and costly—cyber threats facing small businesses today. At Valley Techlogic, we help protect your business by implementing robust email security solutions, conducting employee phishing awareness training, and monitoring for suspicious activity around the clock. Our proactive approach ensures you're not just reacting to threats but preventing them before they reach your inbox. Reach out today for more information.

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