Seasonal email scams
Merry Christmas, Mary! The email attachment looks like a holiday greeting card. It even has your name on it. It must be from someone you know, you think. Think again. The number of malicious e-cards circulating to personal and business computers is expected to rise this year, according to Unisys.
Cohn suggests that even in a workplace setting, individuals should never open an email or attachment from an unknown sender and do not download 'exe' files as these often contain adware, unwanted downloads and spyware.
If you can't resist opening a file, drag it into your 'junk' email folder first as this allows you to check all the links to see if they are legitimate. If a site looks suspicious, follow your instincts and don't click on it.
Friend "requests"
If you are one of those people who will accept any friend request you get on Facebook, this is a particularly dangerous time of the year to be too friendly. Because of the information you disclose on social networking sites, they can be a goldmine for identity thieves.
"It's surprising to me how many people on Facebook put their birthday," said Cohn. "Not just the date, but the year."
Also see 5 Facebook, Twitter Scams to Avoid
According to GetSafeOnline, one in four people using social networking sites have posted confidential or personal information such as phone number, address or email on their online profile. To avoid identity theft, never offer personal information to anyone over a social networking site, even if the request is from a friend or relative.
Do not offer your birth date, birth town and home address on your user profile, and always make sure you apply the right privacy settings to protect yourself. Avoid posting photos of expensive belongings or dates when you are away from home over the holidays.
ATM skimming
Heading to the ATM to get some cash for your holiday shopping, are you sure the machine you are using is legit? ATM skimming, a scheme that involves fitting a real looking device over the actual pin pad in order to steal credit card information, is on the rise. Terrie Ipson, an ATM security expert with Diebold points out that while your card information may be stolen today, you might not even know until well after the holiday season.
"A lot of skimming attacks are conducted by highly-organized groups," said Ipson. "The card [data] could be held for several months."
Ipson recommends using an ATM you are familiar with so you know what it should look like and check it to make sure that it is solid and sturdy.
"Put your hands on it and see if you can wiggle it," she said.
Dumpster diving
This is the time of year when many organizations or individuals may be disposing of sensitive documents such as receipts or financial statements. A year-end clean out could make your dumpster rife for the picking by criminals. (See security consultant Steve Hunt's video recap of a dumpster dive that yielded personal checks, laptops and more.)
"We tend to focus too much on the digital," said Cohn, who noted that another concern around the holidays is employees working remotely. "Companies need to ensure that materials being used when working at home are also disposed of properly. Employees must protect their company's intellectual property by safely disposing of materials that are proprietary to their companies."