The holidays are a great time to celebrate. Don't let criminals steal your good cheer. Be aware of scams that prey on your busy schedule and charitable giving. This year, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have observed an increase in highly impactful ransomware attacks occurring on holidays and weekends. Protect yourself online to ensure a safe and happy holiday season.

Immediate actions you can take now to protect against ransomware:

• Be sure to back up your data.
• Verify an email’s legitimacy before you open an attachment or link.
• Keep your apps and devices up to date.
• Protect your personal information, connected devices, and university data with Two-Step Login and LastPass secure password management.

Review these tips for safe online shopping from the National Cybersecurity Alliance. Plus, implement simple steps to help protect your mobile devices.

Additionally, the FBI and CISA recommend maintaining vigilance against the multiple techniques cybercriminals use to gain access to networks, including:

• Phishing scams, such as unsolicited emails posing as charitable organizations.
• Fraudulent sites spoofing reputable businesses—malicious actors often target popular sites for online holiday shopping.
• Unencrypted financial transactions. Make sure your information is being encrypted.

If you suspect that you're a target of cybercrime, or if your Cornell account has been compromised, change your NetID password immediately and contact the IT Security Office.

Find out more about identity theft and fraud response and what to do if cybercrime happens to you.