SHIP'S CHRONICLE: 19 November 2023: "Scurvy Cyber Tricks: Dodging Black Friday Scams and Digital Plunderers"

Ahoy, me hearties! As the holiday season draws nigh and the Black Friday frenzy looms over the horizon, it's time to hoist the sails and navigate the treacherous waters of online shopping scams and malicious campaigns. I've plundered some intel from various sources to arm ye with knowledge against these devious scallywags. Let's dive into the murky depths of these digital perils.

"Scurvy Cyber Tricks: Dodging Black Friday Scams and Digital Plunderers"

Ahoy! Captain's Highlights:

1. Web Threats on the Rise: Since July 2022, there's been an uptick in payment card skimming attacks against e-commerce stores, especially targeting Magento and Presta Shop platforms​​.
2. Stealthy and Long-lasting Attacks: These skimming campaigns are notably sneaky, staying under the radar for months and often going undetected by security vendors​​.
3. Black Friday Spam and Scams: The Black Friday period witnesses a significant increase in spam emails, with nearly half marked as scams, impersonating big retail brands for devious purposes​​.
4. Global and Localized Attacks: Scammers use geo-targeting tools, with some scams being restricted to specific locations. They entice victims with fake deals and promotions, aiming to steal personal and payment information​​.

The deTales:

• Skimming Variants and Tactics: These skimming attacks involve injecting malicious JavaScript code into e-commerce sites. The code waits for unsuspecting shoppers to enter their payment details on the checkout page and then exfiltrates this data to the attacker's server​​.
• Specific Targets and Techniques: The attacks are crafted to target specific types of e-commerce platforms and payment processors, with the skimming code adapted accordingly​​.
• Evolving Threats: Threat actors keep adapting their methods. For instance, in November 2022, a new, highly obfuscated variant of JavaScript skimmer was observed, disguised within legitimate jQuery libraries​​.

Protecting Yer Booty:

• Vigilance on Deck: Users must be wary of unauthorized payments and contact their banks or payment authorities if they notice strange transactions​​.
• Update Yer Defenses: E-commerce store owners should regularly update their software and scan their servers for any signs of tampering or unfamiliar files​​.
• Guard Against Imposters: Be cautious of emails and messages that impersonate well-known brands or offer too-good-to-be-true deals​​.

In summary, the cyber seas be fraught with danger during the Black Friday season. Ye need to be both savvy and alert to navigate these treacherous waters. Keep a sharp eye on yer inbox and transactions, and don't let the allure of a bargain lead ye to Davy Jones' Locker. Remember, the best defense against these cyber pirates is a vigilant crew and a ship well-armed with knowledge and caution.

Safe sailin', cyber corsairs, and may yer holiday shopping be free of digital brigands!