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Every year, Thanksgiving feels like the calm before a retail storm. Families gather, shoppers refresh their carts, and businesses brace for a revenue surge. But behind the scenes, another group is gearing up for its own holiday tradition — cybercriminals.
As Cybersecurity Dive reports, the Thanksgiving‑to‑Black‑Friday stretch marks one of the highest‑risk periods for ransomware attacks, social engineering campaigns, and corporate network intrusions. It’s the perfect storm: distracted staff, reduced IT coverage, and a spike in online activity.
Why Holidays Supercharge Cyber Threats
During the holiday season, corporate teams scatter across time zones and airports. Many work limited hours or check in from remote or unfamiliar networks. This drastically reduces visibility for IT and security teams — and attackers know it.
“Many security teams operate at reduced capacity during the holidays,” said Scott Algeier of the Information Technology ISAC. “However, this does not mean that networks are left undefended.”
Unfortunately, ransomware groups and threat actors see this staffing drop as open season. Research from Semperis, based on surveys of 1,500 IT professionals worldwide, shows that more than half of all ransomware attacks over the last year happened during weekends or holidays.
Here’s the alarming part: eight out of every ten companies reduce security staffing by at least 50% during holiday periods.
When One Weekend Costs $400 Million
A major example came from the U.K.’s Marks & Spencer, which suffered a damaging social engineering attack right before Easter. The breach ultimately led to more than $400 million in losses and exposed the retail sector’s vulnerability during holiday downtime.
It wasn’t an isolated case. Attacks tied to the Scattered Spider group later rippled across global retail, compromising millions in revenue and customer data.
“During the holiday season, we know that most security teams are operating with reduced staff,” said Matt Brady of Palo Alto Networks. “Cyber criminals are fully aware of this.”
Retailers and hospitality organizations, according to RH‑ISAC, now prepare months ahead with simulations, refresher training, and improved incident response planning.
After-Hours Encryption: Hackers’ Favorite Window
Google’s Threat Intelligence Group adds another chilling statistic: in 2024, more than 70% of ransomware encryptions happened between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m., and 30% started on weekends.
“Encryption during non-working hours allows threat actors more time to complete their operation,” said GTIG analyst Zach Riddle.
Yes — even hackers take time off during holidays. But not before they run their playbook.
What This Means for Small Businesses
Large enterprises aren’t the only targets. Small businesses — who often have even tighter staffing — face equal or greater risk. A quiet long weekend could be the difference between running smoothly and waking up Monday to encrypted systems and halted operations.
This is where proactive, always‑on monitoring and good cyber hygiene become critical.
Where TNT Nerds Fits In
At TNT Nerds, we’ve seen firsthand how holiday distractions create the perfect entry point for attackers. That’s why we help businesses strengthen remote access, improve identity controls, deploy proactive monitoring, and establish always‑awake security practices — even when your team is enjoying pumpkin pie.
Whether you’re an online retailer, a local shop, or a growing startup, tightening your cybersecurity perimeter before peak shopping season is no longer optional — it’s survival.
Stay Alert This Holiday Season
The holidays bring joy, family time, and huge sales spikes — but also heightened cyber risk. Awareness is the first defense. Preparation is the second.
If your business wants to stay protected during the year’s busiest and riskiest time, TNT Nerds is here to help keep the lights on, the network safe, and the attackers frustrated.
Source: Cybersecurity Dive
