A survey by Surfshark Antivirus has found that Kenyans are most at risk of cyber attacks during this Christmas shopping season.
The survey said that in the second week of December, cybersecurity cases increased seven times the average.
It was in the form of hacking by transferring malware to be installed through phishing emails, corrupt attachments, suspicious downloads, unfamiliar links and malicious websites.
“Hackers use malware to corrupt or delete files, steal money and personal data, copy passwords, or take control of specific programs,” the survey said.
Cybersecurity risk has been high during the post-Covid period due to the increased uptake of digital tools for payment and procurement of goods.
Developers of the cyber tool advised that people to avoid unfamiliar sites that may be offering discounts this festive season.
“If a site is not vetted or known to you but is offering discounts that are too good to be true, you must steer clear of it,” they said.
Surfshark said to ensure the website has a secure HTTPS connection, look for a lock icon on the link.
The lock icon in the address bar, they said, serves as an identify to legitimate sites.
They also advised regular updating of software so as to ensure the programmes and apps are up to date to avoid potential security breaches.
"Steer clear of suspicious links. Scammers will send malicious links via email, mobile or social media,” they said.
Instead of clicking the links, verify the deals on a retailer's official website if there is an offer going on.
"Also watch for typos including inconsistent grammar and strange phrases that may indicate potential scams,” they said.
“Make sure you use an Antivirus on your devices to get real-time protection from same-day threats and advanced detection against malware and cyberattacks,” they added.
