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Cyber Monday Fraud: How Thieves Target Online Shoppers

Posted: December 2, 2016 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Data Breach, Compliance, Malware

Cyber Monday has become one of the biggest shopping days of the year with this year’s sales topping expectations by reaching a record $3.39 billion. More than 85% of online shoppers do at least some of their buying on a smartphone and consequently, thieves are exploiting those devices to steal people’s personal information. One way cybercriminals are doing this is through malicious apps. Most people are unaware that what appears to be a legitimate app from a trusted brand and downloaded from the app store on their iPhone or Android device may actually be fake. At any given time there may be hundreds of these phony apps all sporting well-known brand names like Payless, Dillard’s, and Christian Dior. In some cases, these apps give consumers a complete shopping experience that includes browsing, managing a cart, purchasing, and even provide a phony order number. The difference is that after sending their personal and credit card information, victims will never receive their items. Consumers should be wary of any apps from a major brand. Additionally, they should be careful of what emoji keyboards they install as most are developed in China and by default given access to everything you type. While both Apple and Google scan their app stores for malicious code and developers that tend to spam apps, for every malicious app removed another takes its place.

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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