The holiday shopping season is in full swing, with over 60% of Americans planning to make most of their purchases online. However, nearly half of U.S. consumers report being targeted by scams while shopping online during the holidays, according to a new report from Norton. Gen, a global company dedicated to powering digital freedom, encourages people to take precautions to safely shop online and bolster their defenses against cybercriminals and scammers.
Leyla Bilge from Norton advises, “The holidays can be a hectic time, and when we are busy or looking for ways to save money, sometimes we let our guard down. This Cyber Safety Sunday, we encourage everyone to take a few simple steps to stay safe online: stick to sites you trust, stay educated on common scams, update passwords, set fraud alerts, and always think twice before sharing your personal information.”
As more Americans opt for online shopping, concerns about cybercrime have heightened. Sixty-two percent are worried about becoming victims of cybercrime this season, with 47% specifically fearing sophisticated holiday shopping scams.
The data reveals increasing concerns from last year, with 71% of U.S. consumers worried about their personal details being compromised, up 8% year-over-year. With rising costs, 87% of U.S. online shoppers are spending extra time looking for discount codes. However, this hunt for savings can lead to significant privacy risks.
Rising scams during online holiday shopping
Personal details such as names, emails, and payment information can fall into the wrong hands if the website is not secure. The report found that two-thirds of people have taken actions like signing up for mail lists or posting on social media to receive a discount code, yet malvertising and adware are prevalent cyber threats that increase during the holiday season.
Both retailers and consumers are leveraging AI tools to ease the stress of holiday shopping. Nearly a quarter of people have interacted with an AI chatbot or assistant, and 43% have noticed AI-enhanced search results. However, trust in AI remains low, with only 26% of shoppers trusting AI to handle their personal information securely.
Despite general distrust, 37% of Americans have purchased a holiday gift from a social ad, mainly through Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. However, social media ads can expose people to risks like phishing attacks, malware infections, and privacy breaches. This Cyber Safety Sunday, it is encouraged to use AI-powered tools like Genie, which can check if messages or links are scams, ensuring safer online transactions.
The study was conducted online within the United States by Dynata on behalf of Gen from August 30th to September 11th, 2024, among 1,000 adults ages 18 and older.
