Holiday lovers aren't the only ones who think this is the most wonderful time of the year. From Black Friday to Cyber Monday to every other day through the end of 2016, millions of shoppers will not only be hitting the mall but also their laptops, tablets and smartphones as they click, click, click items off their lists. This is music to the ears of cybercriminals. Last year, online orders on Cyber Monday alone exceeded $3 billion, an increase in e-commerce activity of nearly 18 percent from 2014.

Cybercrime -- which is any criminal activity that involves the Internet, a computer or computer technology -- has become an unwieldy epidemic that comes in many shapes and forms. And though it is hardly a seasonal problem, cybercrime is heightened during this time of year when an incomprehensible flurry of personal information is being transmitted electronically every second.

The following offers a primer of cybercrime activity and an array of tips for helping you protect yourself -- and your identity -- from the bad guys. 


LOOK, LEARN



Phishing attacks are when cybercriminals try to con users into revealing sensitive information or downloading viruses by means of electronic communication. Phishing can take many forms -- be it spear phishing or whaling, smishing or vishing. This visual playbook breaks down various phishing attacks and offers tips to put you on your best defense (Rule #1: Be suspicious, always). 

READ



With hacking reaching epic proportions, "white hat" cybersecurity experts are struggling to keep pace with "black hat" hackers. This article shares practical steps you can take to strengthen your digital security 

One of the best defenses to protect your private information is a strong password. Avoid these common password habits that put you at risk. |  MORE: How secure is your password? 

F ake retail and product apps are swarming Apple's App Store. Some apps are designed to look like the real thing, while others are for companies that don't have official iPhone apps. Either way, the goal is to trick consumers so they give up information that allows fraudsters to access credit cards.

Fraudsters are flocking to social media to try and lure users into giving up their login information to PayPal and gain access to funds.

WATCH


Take a few moments to check out these YouTube videos (both are less than 3 minutes) to learn how you can protect yourself from fraudsters who go phishing. 


Did you know anyone with an email account is a potential victim to an online attack? Or that there are more than 100,000,000 attempted email attacks by cybercriminals every day? The Office of the Director of National Intelligence shows common tricks fraudsters use to try and get you to give up your personal info.  


Follow some simple do's and don'ts to help you distinguish fake websites and emails from legitimate ones. 

FORWARD



Victims of cybercrime pay a high price -- financially and emotionally. Send this email to others in your life who could benefit from its advice.  

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