For those who either didn’t want to brave the brick-and-mortar stores on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday – or simply aren’t “shopped out” yet, Cyber Monday is the day to head online and find the holiday deals. In fact, the prices online on the Monday after Thanksgiving can often be better than what consumers might find on Black Friday.
“Cyber Monday is consistently one of the busiest online shopping days of the year, if not the biggest. In 2023, Cyber Monday set records with U.S. shoppers spending $12.4 billion online, which was a 9.6% increase compared to the previous year,” explained Angeli Gianchandani, adjunct instructor of marketing and public relations at New York University.
“Cyber Monday typically surpasses Black Friday in terms of online sales, highlighting its status as a peak day for e-commerce activity,” Gianchandani told ClearanceJobs. “Many retailers extend their discounts over the Thanksgiving weekend into Cyber Monday, further driving consumer participation.”
Shopping from one’s personal computer, laptop, tablet or mobile device has never been easier – but unfortunately, hackers and cybercriminals know that all too well. Cybersecurity experts warn that online scams are often on the rise during the holiday shopping season.
Mobile Shopping Concerns
For those who are using an employer-provided device, or opted to use their personal smartphone for work, shoppers should be especially vigilant this time of year. A hacked device could be the quickest way to end up on the naughty list, where an employee may be lucky to even get a lump of coal!
“Using an employer’s device to do personal shopping opens up potentially negative issues,” cautioned Roger Grimes, data-driven defense evangelist at KnowBe4.
Grimes told ClearanceJobs that nothing done on an employer’s device should be expected to be private, and while shopping for holiday gifts might seem harmless, it should still be avoided.
“Visiting personal websites on an employer’s device increases the risk of successful exploitation,” Grimes added. “Using and visiting personal sites and services on an employer’s device increases the risk that the device will be compromised.”
Cyber Monday Deals That Are Too Good To Be True
The holidays are the times when people often let their guard down, as there tends to be well-wishing and cheer, but it is also when there can be added stress as shoppers struggle to find the right gift or deal.
Cybercriminals are quick to take advantage, and this is another reason to avoid using any devices that have data or information that shouldn’t be seen by others.
“The holidays are prime hunting season for cybercriminals,” warned Paul Bischoff, consumer privacy advocate at cybersecurity research firm Comparitech. “We’ll see more scams centered around discounted products, sweepstakes, charities, and package deliveries.”
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is, Bischoff told ClearanceJobs.
“If you feel rushed to make a decision, such as a limited-time offer, stop to consider it could be a scam,” Bischoff added. “Scammers always try to instill a sense of urgency in victims.”
To protect one’s privacy and their employer’s data, shopping should be done on personal-only devices, and only when full attention can be paid to the shopping. That can make it tricky when the company has a “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policy in place, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
“There is no possible improvement to using company resources to do private things,” said Grimes.
In other words, wait until you get home to use a truly personal computer to hunt for those Cyber Monday deals. And don’t worry, there are still 22 shopping days until Christmas!
