How to Outsmart the Cyber Crooks and Festive Fraudsters in an AI-Driven Threat Landscape
by Gary S. Miliefsky
Publisher, Cyber Defense Magazine
CEO, Cyber Defense Media Group
The holidays are meant for family, celebration, and reflection. Yet every year, cybercriminals see something else entirely: opportunity.
As Christmas 2025 and the New Year approach, online shopping surges, digital payments spike, and people let their guard down. Hackers know this. They plan for it. Increasingly, they use artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and social engineering at scale to exploit trust, urgency, and emotion.
The numbers are staggering. Globally, cybercrime now exceeds $1.2 trillion annually, making it the largest category of crime in the world. It is larger than drug trafficking and human trafficking combined. Identity theft alone affects Americans at a rate of one victim every second, and by adulthood, most people have already experienced multiple identity-related breaches.
This holiday season, vigilance is not optional: it is essential.
Assume You’ve Already Been Compromised
This may sound alarming, but it is realistic.
Between smart TVs, baby monitors, laptops, smartphones, wearables, cars, and voice assistants, the modern digital footprint is massive. Antivirus alone is no longer enough. You must adopt privacy-first behaviors and assume at least one device or account has already been exposed.
The 2025–2026 Holiday Threat Landscape
Hackers love the holidays because:
- Credit card and debit usage spikes
- Package deliveries create opportunities for porch piracy
- Fake shipping notices and return emails surge
- AI-powered phishing emails and SMS texts look nearly perfect
- Crypto wallets and NFT marketplaces remain high-value targets
Add deepfake voice scams, where criminals impersonate family members, executives, or even government officials, and the risk is greater than ever.
The Updated Top 10 Holiday Cyber Defense Tips
- Change Your Passwords: All of Them
Yes, again. Use long, unique passwords with symbols and numbers. Never reuse passwords across sites. A password manager is no longer optional: it is mandatory.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication Everywhere
If MFA is not enabled, assume the account can be breached. SMS is better than nothing, but app-based authenticators or hardware keys are best.
- Treat Email and Text Messages as Hostile
Most modern attacks arrive via email or SMS. Never click links or open attachments unless you independently verify the sender. AI-generated phishing messages are now indistinguishable from legitimate ones.
- Beware of Voice and Video Deepfake Scams
If someone urgently asks for money, crypto, gift cards, or login help, pause. Call them back using a known number. Verify before acting.
- Clean Up Your Apps: And Your Children’s Apps
Assume many apps are creepware: software that spies legally via excessive permissions. Delete unused apps. Question permissions. Teach children never to meet online “friends” offline.
- Lock Down Location Services
Turn off GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, and WiFi when not in use. Disable photo geotagging. Oversharing location data puts families at physical risk.
- Only Shop on Trusted, Secure Websites
Look for HTTPS and the lock icon. Avoid overseas merchants with no physical address or support. If a deal looks too good to be true, it is.
- Never Use Debit Cards Online
Use credit cards instead. Credit card fraud protections are far stronger. Debit card fraud can freeze your real money for weeks or months.
- Avoid Public WiFi Without Protection
Public WiFi is a hacker’s playground. If you must use it, use a reputable paid VPN. Free VPNs are not free: you become the product.
- Secure Crypto, NFTs, and Digital Assets
Crypto theft now exceeds $10 billion annually. Use hardware wallets, cold storage, and never connect wallets to unknown sites. Digital assets require physical-world security thinking.
Watch Out for Porch Pirates and Skimmers
Have packages delivered to secure locations. Use smart lockers when possible. At gas stations, insert cards inside. Skimmers remain a major threat.
If You Think You’re a Victim: Act Immediately
- https://www.IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. government guidance for identity theft recovery, reporting, and step-by-step remediation. - https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
File fraud and identity theft reports with the Federal Trade Commission. - https://www.ic3.gov
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center for reporting cybercrime, scams, and online fraud. - https://www.AnnualCreditReport.com
Obtain your free credit reports and initiate credit freezes or fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus. - mailto:[email protected]
Report phishing emails to the Anti-Phishing Working Group for investigation and takedown.
Speed matters. The faster you respond, the less damage occurs.
For readers who want to go deeper and truly understand how cybercrime, emerging technologies, and digital risk intersect, I recommend starting with my three books. Cybersecurity Simplified breaks down complex threats and defenses into clear, actionable guidance every executive, professional, and family can understand. Cryptoconomy®: Bitcoins, Blockchains and Bad Guys explores how cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies are transforming finance – and how criminals exploit them if you are not prepared. Finally, The AI Singularity: When Machines Dream of Dominion looks ahead at the accelerating role of artificial intelligence in cyber warfare, fraud, surveillance, and global power dynamics. Together, these books form a practical roadmap for protecting yourself today while preparing for the threats of tomorrow, making them ideal reading as we head into 2026.
Final Thought: Trust Is the Target
Modern cybercrime does not rely on breaking systems. It relies on breaking trust.
If an offer, message, call, or opportunity feels urgent, emotional, or too perfect, stop. Verify. Ask questions. Cybercriminals thrive on speed and emotional trust.
This holiday season, do not give them either.
About the Author
Gary Miliefsky is the publisher of Cyber Defense Magazine and a renowned cybersecurity expert, entrepreneur, and keynote speaker. As the founder and CEO of Cyber Defense Media Group, he has significantly influenced the cybersecurity landscape. With decades of experience, Gary is a founding member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a National Information Security Group member, and an active adviser to government and private sector organizations. His insights have been featured in Forbes, CNBC, and The Wall Street Journal, as well as on CNN, Fox News, ABC, NBC, and international media outlets, making him a trusted authority on advanced cyber threats and innovative defense strategies. Gary’s dedication to cybersecurity extends to educating the public, operating a scholarship program for young women in cybersecurity, and investing in and developing cutting-edge technologies to protect against evolving cyber risks. Logos and content in this article are for educational and news purposes, used under fair use of us copyright laws.
