McAfee Finds Increase in Online Holiday Shopping Creates the Perfect Storm for Cyber Crime
McAfee Corp. (Nasdaq: MCFE) released findings from its 2020 Holiday Season: State of Today’s Digital e-Shopper survey, indicating 36% of Americans plan to increase online holiday shopping despite 60% recognizing higher cyber scam risks. Since COVID-19, 49% of consumers have shifted to more online shopping, with 18% shopping daily. McAfee Labs reported a 12% rise in online cybercrime threats, with 419 threats per minute observed in Q2 2020. The survey suggests a concerning lack of vigilance among consumers, with only 43% verifying the authenticity of online deals.
- 36% of consumers plan to increase online holiday shopping despite cyber risks.
- 49% of consumers report more online shopping since the pandemic began.
- 18% shop online daily, indicating a strong shift to e-commerce.
- 60% of consumers feel that cyber scams are more prevalent during the holiday season.
- Only 43% of respondents check the authenticity of online deals.
- 419 cyber threats per minute recorded in Q2 2020, a 12% increase over the previous quarter.
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--McAfee Corp. (Nasdaq: MCFE) today announced findings from its 2020 Holiday Season: State of Today’s Digital e-Shopper survey, revealing that while consumers are aware of increased risks and scams via the internet, they still plan to do more shopping online – and earlier – this holiday season. Thirty-six percent of Americans note they are hitting the digital links to give gifts and cheer this year, despite
While more than 124 million consumers shopped in-store during the 2019 Black Friday to Cyber Monday holiday weekend, McAfee’s survey indicates consumers have shifted direction due to global events this year, opening their risk to online threats as they live, work, play, and buy all through their devices. McAfee’s survey shows shopping activity in general has increased, with
McAfee’s Advanced Threat Research team recently found evidence that online cybercrime continues to increase, with McAfee Labs observing 419 threats per minute in Q2 2020, an increase of almost
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79% of those 65+ in age believe there is a greater cyber risk due to COVID-19 while less (70% ) of those 18-24 state the same -
27% of respondents ages 18-24 report checking if emailed or text messaged discounts and deals sent to them are authentic
“Many are wondering what this year’s holiday season will look like as consumer shopping behaviors continue to evolve and adapt to the challenges faced throughout 2020,” said Judith Bitterli, VP of Consumer Marketing. “With results showing the growing prevalence of online shopping, consumers need to be aware of how cybercriminals are looking to take advantage and take the necessary steps to protect themselves- and their loved ones- this holiday season.”
This juxtaposition of increased online activity from both consumers and cybercriminals serves as the perfect catalyst for misdeeds, especially as
Additionally, as the National Retail Federation (NRF) reports
In order to stay safe this holiday season, McAfee advises:
- Employ multi-factor authentication to double check the authenticity of digital users and add an additional layer of security to protect personal data and information.
- Browse with caution and added security using a tool like McAfee WebAdvisor to block malware and phishing sites via malicious links.
- Protect your identity and important personal and financial details using McAfee Identity Theft Protection, which also includes recovery tools should your identity be compromised.
2020 Holiday Season: State of Today’s Digital e-Shopper Survey Methodology:
McAfee commissioned 3Gem to conduct a survey of 1,000 adults over the age of 18 in the U.S. between October 8-13, 2020.
This press release only includes data from the U.S. survey. Additional surveys were conducted in UK, Germany, France, Spain, Australia, Singapore, India and Indonesia. Data for these regions can be requested via media contact below.
Additional Resources:
- Blog from Judith Bitterli: Security Tips to ‘Sleigh’ the Holiday Shopping Season
- Blog from Baker Nanduru: Cyber Monday is Coming – 10 Tips to Protect You From Online Shopping Scams
About McAfee
McAfee Corp. (Nasdaq: MCFE) is a leader in personal security for consumers. Focused on protecting people, not just devices, McAfee consumer solutions adapt to users’ needs in an always online world, empowering them to live securely through integrated, intuitive solutions that protects their families and communities with the right security at the right moment. For more information, please visit https://www.mcafee.com/consumer
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