With the holidays fast approaching, many people are getting ready to visit family, take a long-awaited vacation, and shop for gifts. However, the hustle and bustle of the season can also increase your exposure to cyber threats, as hackers seize opportunities to exploit heightened online activity.
Here are some suggestions that can help protect you and your data and keep you cybersafe:
Strengthen Your Login Credentials
When logging in to your online accounts, the following methods can be effective in defending yourself against a data breach:
- Use long passwords or passphrases. Make your passwords at least 15 characters long, focusing on something memorable but difficult to guess. Length matters more than complexity, although many websites do require a mix of upper-case and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Update your password if it’s been compromised. While you don’t need to change your passwords routinely, you can use a trusted tool, such as “Have I Been Pwned,” to check your passwords against known data breaches.
- Use a unique password for every account. Never reuse passwords. A password manager app can safely generate and store them for you, so you don’t need to keep track.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. This provides an extra layer of protection by utilizing additional authentication methods such as a code sent via text or email, an authenticator app, or a security question.
Think Before You Share
Be mindful about what you and your family post on social media, especially when you travel.
- Wait until your trip is over to post vacation photos. By sharing real-time updates about your location, you may inadvertently alert criminals that your home is unattended.
- Be cautious about sharing personal information, including audio or video content. Hackers are increasingly using AI tools to create convincing fake content to execute phishing and other scams.
- Take time to review your network, remove unfamiliar connections, and adjust your privacy settings to control who can see your posts.
Use Secure Connections
When you’re in a public location, such as an airport or cafe, using unsecured Wi-Fi can make your information vulnerable.
- Use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your data, particularly to execute financial transactions or access sensitive data.
- When in doubt, use your mobile data connection, which is typically safer.
- Regularly update your devices with the latest software and security patches.
Shop Online with Caution
As online shopping surges during the holidays, cybercriminals gear up to take advantage – for example, setting up fake e-commerce websites designed to steal your personal and financial information.
- Make sure you shop trusted retailers by typing their URL directly into your browser rather than clicking the link in a promotional email.
- Ensure the websites you visit use secure encryption (URL should include “https”).
- Use a credit card that offers buyer protection.
- Review your statements for suspicious charges.
- Reconsider storing your payment information on the retailer’s site which can expose you to greater risk should the company suffer a data breach.
Lock Your Digital Wallet
While digital wallets offer a convenient method for making purchases, they also present risks should you lose your phone.
- Lock your phone and/or your wallet, requiring a face scan, fingerprint, or password to access your account.
- Enable the “find my phone” feature as well as transaction alerts so you receive purchase notifications.
- Carefully review your statement to ensure there are no fraudulent charges.
Beware of Skimming
Criminals can also steal your data using skimming devices secretly installed in ATM machines, point-of-sale terminals, and fuel pumps.
- Choose a gas pump or point-of-sale terminal in view of an attendant and an ATM in a well-lit, high-traffic location inside a business or bank branch.
- When it’s an option, tap to pay instead of inserting your card into the reader.
- Look for signs of tampering, such as a loose or damaged keypad or card reader.
Enjoy the Holidays, Safely
Taking a few simple precautions can go a long way toward protecting your data and giving you peace of mind so you can focus your attention on enjoying friends, family, and some well-deserved rest.
If you have concerns about your financial security, don’t hesitate to contact your Crestwood team for guidance. Not yet a Crestwood client? Please reach out to contact us. We are here to help.
Source: National Institute of Standards and Technology U.S. Department of Commerce. (2025, August 20). How Do I Create a Good Password? And what else can I do to secure my online accounts? https://www.nist.gov/cybersecurity/how-do-i-create-good-password
This document is provided for general informational purposes only by Crestwood Advisors, an investment adviser. Crestwood Advisors does not endorse, sponsor, or promote any of the products or companies listed or mentioned in this material. Any references to specific products or services are purely incidental and are included solely to illustrate potential strategies or concepts. The inclusion of such references does not imply any form of partnership, relationship, or approval by the Firm.
