Holiday Hackers Are Shopping Too: How to Stay Secure in Florida This Season

The holidays in Florida mean palm trees wrapped in lights, shipping delays, and online shopping carts overflowing with last-minute gifts. But while you’re hunting for deals, cybercriminals are hunting for—you guessed it—you. Yes, even hackers celebrate the season… by trying to steal your data like it’s the last PS5 on Earth.

Why Cybercriminals Love the Holidays

The holiday season is the Super Bowl for scammers. People are relaxed, distracted, and glued to their phones. Fake tracking emails, bogus charity links, fraudulent stores—it’s like a buffet for cybercriminals. And Florida? Even juicier target, thanks to high online shopping activity and retirees who are often targeted with scams.

Witty But Serious Tip #1: If the deal looks TOO good… it probably ships from “Scamville.”

Online stores pop up faster than holiday pop-up shops in the mall. Before you buy:

• Check reviews (real ones… not the “Great product!” written 17 times by the same bot).
• Look for HTTPS in the URL.
• Never buy from a site that only accepts Zelle, Cash App, or gift cards.

Tip #2: Beware of “Holiday Package Tracking Alerts” — aka Digital Coal

“Your package is delayed. Click here.” That link is as real as Santa’s gym membership.

UPS, FedEx, and USPS will never send you unverified links. Go straight to the official website instead.

Tip #3: Public Wi-Fi + Holiday Shopping = A Grinch Move

If you’re shopping from the airport, Starbucks, or your cousin’s house with the password “christmas2020,” you might as well gift-wrap your credit card info for the nearest hacker.

Use a VPN or wait until you’re on a secure network. Trust me—your bank account will thank you.

Tip #4: Smart Devices Are… Not Always Smart

New smart TVs, smart speakers, and Wi-Fi-enabled air fryers (why??) flood homes during December. Each one opens a door into your network.

Secure them by:

• Changing the default password (please stop using “123456”).
• Disabling unused features.
• Keeping firmware updated.

Tip #5: Don’t Let Holiday Ransomware Ruin Your New Year

Businesses in Florida face increased ransomware attempts between December 15th and January 5th. Cybercriminals know teams are short-staffed, and they take advantage.

Protect your business by enabling automated backups, using MFA everywhere, and ensuring your network security is monitored.

Florida Holiday Security Checklist

• Use MFA on all accounts
• Verify links before clicking
• Update your devices before the festivities
• Back up your data (the cloud doesn’t take vacation)
• Enable alerts on your bank and credit cards

DMT IT & Cybersecurity Solutions Has Your Back — Even During Elf Season

Whether you’re protecting your business or your home network, we help you stay ahead of holiday scams with expert cybersecurity, secure cloud setups, and IT support built for Florida living.

Explore our services:
IT & Cybersecurity Services

Helpful Cybersecurity Resources

• CISA Holiday Cybersecurity Tips
• FTC – Scam Prevention Guides
• DMT IT Insights