Woburn, MA – December 12, 2017 – A new report from Kaspersky Lab has found that consumers could find themselves faced with an unexpected bill this holiday season if cybercriminals compromise their trusted devices. According to the report, “Not logging on, but living on,” consumers estimate that it would cost them an average of $636 to replace data that has been lost or stolen.

With 83 percent of people planning to shop online this holiday season, a reliance on connected devices to purchase gifts, food and personal items has become the norm – but it has also created a lucrative attack vector for cybercriminals. From ransomware attacks denying consumers access to their data until they make a payment, to phishing emails that result in bank account details being sold on the underground market, cyberattacks on personal devices have become a rich source of profit for cybercriminals around the world.

While consumers estimate that it would be costly to replace lost data, many also admit that much of the data held on laptops and smartphones could not be recovered at all if compromised. Kaspersky Lab research found that one-in-five consumers (20%) admit that they could never recover photos and videos of their children if their device was lost or stolen. Additionally, 22 percent of people say that they could not replace text messages from a lost or compromised device.

Despite the potential risks of data loss, Kaspersky Lab research shows that only half of consumers (50%) back up information from their devices. Particularly during the holiday season, when people rely on devices to take photos and exchange well wishes with family and friends, losing personal data could have a devastating effect.

“The risk of data being compromised is heightened at this time of year,” said Andrei Mochola, head of consumer business at Kaspersky Lab. “Consumers are spending more time and money online; using email more frequently to check orders and delivery dates; and relying on public Wi-Fi when out and about to check prices and make purchases. With the party season also in full swing, the likelihood of people losing their phone or being more careless with its security is also increased. This makes it crucial to put measures in place to safeguard the information and precious memories on our devices.”

Protecting personal data is critical, no matter when, where or how often consumers use their devices. Kaspersky Lab recommends the following tips for consumers to secure their data – not only during the holiday season, but also throughout the year:

• Install a security solution. Make sure you have some form of security software on your device, especially if you shop online or use public Wi-Fi. Using advanced security solutions while online will block network attacks, fix software vulnerabilities and track system processes for malicious activities, preventing your personal files from being destroyed, altered or stolen.
• Rely on trusted websites. Only make purchases through trusted websites and services with the “https” prefix in their address, meaning that data transactions are encrypted. Always remember, if an online offer or vendor email seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Remain extra vigilant in pursuit of the perfect purchase.
• Back up your data. Keep your precious memories intact for years to come with encrypted backups. This means that only you can access your files with a password, keeping data safe should your device be lost, stolen or infected with malware.
• Turn to the cloud. Make several copies of your valuable data, with at least one copy on a reliable cloud service. This means that should the worst happen, you will be able to restore and access files from anywhere at any time.
• Use strong passwords. It is important to create strong and reliable passwords for all accounts and services you use. Do not use the same password across different accounts, as this will leave them all compromised should your device be infiltrated.

To help safeguard precious data all year round, Kaspersky Total Security provides complete protection against malware, phishing and malicious websites across all devices. Its file backup and encryption feature makes backup copies of photos, music and files, giving you complete peace of mind through the holiday season and beyond.