As Black Friday approaches, SMBs face not only increased sales opportunities but also heightened cyber threats, including SEO poisoning, which has become a popular tactic for cyber criminals. SEO poisoning, also known as search engine poisoning, involves manipulating search engine results to lead unsuspecting users to malicious websites. Cyber criminals exploit high-traffic events like Black Friday, targeting both businesses and customers searching for deals.

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Why is there a Heightened Risk on Black Friday?

On Black Friday, consumers and even employees often search online for deals and product information. Cyber criminals take advantage of this by creating malicious websites, that rank high in search results, alongside sending fake emails, appearing as legitimate deals, customers or even as company resources. Clicking these links can result in malware downloads, phishing scams, or credential theft. For SMBs, this is particularly dangerous as even a single misstep by an employee can compromise sensitive company data or customer information.

Key Cyber Security Risks for SMBs on Black Friday

SEO Poisoning Leading to Phishing or Malware Sites

Cyber criminals frequently create fake “deal” websites designed to lure unsuspecting shoppers. They rank high in search results due to SEO poisoning, tricking visitors into downloading malware or entering sensitive information. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are particularly at risk if employees or customers interact with these malicious sites, as it can lead to malware spreading across shared networks. Initial Access Brokers (IABs) can then exploit these networks, potentially stealing customer or employee data, disrupting operations right before sales go live, or demanding ransom payments to restore access.

Phishing and Social Engineering

The excitement around Black Friday deals creates a perfect setting for phishing scams. Phishing now comes in various forms, including vishing (voice phishing) and the increasingly popular “quishing” — a QR code-based attack where scanning a fake QR code can give criminals access to your device and network. Although quishing is on the rise, traditional phishing remains a primary tactic, especially with Generative AI making phishing attempts harder to detect. Attackers commonly use emails with download links, such as fake coupons or links to SEO-poisoned sites, leading users to fake login pages where accounts and data can be compromised.

Vendor and Third-Party Risks

Many SMBs partner with third-party vendors who might also fall victim to a cyber attack this Black Friday. If a vendor’s system is compromised, it can serve as an entry point into your business. This happened with Target in America, and is a real safety concern many businesses face. Fully auditing and checking what servers and security systems your third parties have in place is vital, especially at this time of year. If you need support and direction with this, contact our team.

This holiday season, cyber threats are at an all-time high, so it’s essential for businesses to have strong cyber security in place. We offer a full range of services to boost your resilience, including penetration testing, security audits, and breach response, so you can keep operations running smoothly, even during an attack. We also provide employee training to help your team stay aware of evolving threats.

How SMBs Can Combat SEO Poisoning and Other Black Friday Cyber Threats

1. Educate Employees on SEO Poisoning Risks:

Awareness is the first line of defense. Employees should be trained to avoid clicking on unfamiliar links and recognise legitimate company or vendor URLs. Encourage employees to double-check URLs before visiting sites claiming to offer holiday deals.

2. Conduct a Comprehensive Cyber Security Audit:

An audit can identify potential vulnerabilities in your systems and create a strategy to combat specific threats. By evaluating your network, email systems, and employee practices, you can proactively safeguard against these and other seasonal risks.

3. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):

MFA adds a layer of protection, ensuring that even if login credentials are stolen through a cyber attack, malicious actors can’t easily access your systems.

4. Implement Web Filtering and Monitoring Tools:

These tools can detect and block malicious websites, including those set up through SEO poisoning. By filtering web content, you can reduce the likelihood that employees or customers will access harmful sites. Our PDF Guide suggests some of the best software’s to implement.

5. Update and Secure Your E-commerce Platform:

Cyber criminals rely on neglected updates and vulnerabilities. Ensure your e-commerce software and plugins are up-to-date and deploy security patches before Black Friday. Monitoring tools can alert you to suspicious activity, keeping your platform and customer data secure.

Cyber Security Best Practices Guide 2024

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If you would like our PDF covering the essential risks to be aware of, and recommended software to implement to safeguard your business, fill in the form above and our team will send you an email with it attached.

Protect Your Business with CYFORSecure’s Full Suite of Cyber Security Solutions

CYFORSecure offers an array of proactive cyber security services tailored to meet the needs of SMBs facing today’s complex digital threats. From cyber security audits to threat monitoring and vulnerability assessments, our experts can help you build a strong defense against cyber attacks. We identify and mitigate risks, from phishing and ransomware to the latest SEO poisoning threats, ensuring your business remains secure during Black Friday and beyond.

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Stay Safe and Secure this holiday season!

Contact our team if you need any support, guidance, education or breach response this holiday season. Check out our full suite of services, and don’t forget, awareness is key. Educate staff to look out for these risks.