McAfee Finds Increase in Online Holiday Shopping Creates the Perfect Storm for Cyber Crime
With malicious activity already on the rise, cyber criminals are taking advantage of consumers relying on digital shopping this holiday season
News Highlights:
- Consumers are shopping online more – with 49% of Americans stating their digital activity has increased this year
- 60% of Americans feel cyber scams are more prevalent during the holiday season, still 36% of consumers plan to increase their online shopping
- Consumers are not safeguarding themselves against potential threats – with less than half checking to see if links are safe and secure
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McAfee study reveals consumer behaviors and cyber risks of holiday shopping in 2020 (Graphic: Business Wire)
While more than 124 million consumers shopped in-store during the 2019 Black Friday to Cyber Monday holiday weekend, McAfee’s survey indicates consumers have shifted direction due to global events this year, opening their risk to online threats as they live, work, play, and buy all through their devices. McAfee’s survey shows shopping activity in general has increased, with 49% stating they are buying online more since the onset of COVID-19. Nearly one in five consumers (18%) are even shopping online daily, while one in three (34%) shop online 3-5 days a week.
McAfee’s
- 79% of those 65+ in age believe there is a greater cyber risk due to COVID-19 while less (70%) of those 18-24 state the same
- 27% of respondents ages 18-24 report checking if emailed or text messaged discounts and deals sent to them are authentic
“Many are wondering what this year’s holiday season will look like as consumer shopping behaviors continue to evolve and adapt to the challenges faced throughout 2020,” said
This juxtaposition of increased online activity from both consumers and cybercriminals serves as the perfect catalyst for misdeeds, especially as 36% of consumers note that while they are aware of risks, they plan to increase their holiday online shopping. This less-than-cautious approach is further seen when respondents are offered deals or discounts, with less than half (43%) checking to see if Black Friday or Cyber Monday emails and text messages sent are authentic and trustworthy.
Additionally, as the
In order to stay safe this holiday season, McAfee advises:
- Employ multi-factor authentication to double check the authenticity of digital users and add an additional layer of security to protect personal data and information.
- Browse with caution and added security using a tool like McAfee WebAdvisor to block malware and phishing sites via malicious links.
- Protect your identity and important personal and financial details using McAfee Identity Theft Protection, which also includes recovery tools should your identity be compromised.
2020 Holiday Season: State of Today’s Digital e-Shopper Survey Methodology:
McAfee commissioned 3Gem to conduct a survey of 1,000 adults over the age of 18 in the
This press release only includes data from the
Additional Resources:
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Blog from
Judith Bitterli : Security Tips to ‘Sleigh’ the Holiday Shopping Season -
Blog from
Baker Nanduru : Cyber Monday is Coming – 10 Tips to Protect You From Online Shopping Scams
About McAfee
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media@mcafee.com
Source: McAfee