We understand that there is a lot on your mind during this busy period, but good preparation is half the battle if you don’t want to be the target of cyberattacks. Don’t worry. We’ll make sure you know what to expect and how best to protect yourself.

The most common cyberthreats.

 

DDoS attacks.

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is one of the most common methods of taking an online shop offline. Hackers send a huge amount of traffic to the website, causing it to become overloaded so that legitimate visitors can’t access it. These attacks can also be used to extort money with hackers offering to stop the attack in exchange for a ransom. In addition to the financial impact, downtime often leads to a loss of reputation and customer dissatisfaction.

 

Data theft.

During busy periods such as Black Friday, attackers are extra vigilant in their hunt for vulnerabilities, which sees online shops becoming the targets of SQL injections and cross-site scripting attacks in double-quick time. Hackers try to exploit security weaknesses to gain access to sensitive data, such as login credentials and payment information and a successful attack can lead to identity fraud, loss of customer trust and significant financial penalties from data breaches.

 

Phishing and fraud.

Phishing attacks are commonplace on Black Friday. Hackers set up fake websites that mimic legitimate online stores and use phishing e-mails to trick customers. These rogue sites often include convincing deals and discounts to get unsuspecting consumers’ personal or payment information. The Black Friday frenzy makes customers less alert, meaning it is much more likely for them to fall into these traps.

Another issue is the growing use of AI bots to collect data without permission. Companies such as Bytespider and GPTBot scan websites looking for valuable content for their AI models, making online shops particularly vulnerable during very busy periods.

Protect your online shop with a Web Application Firewall (WAF).

A Web Application Firewall (WAF) provides a powerful layer of defence against these threats, monitoring all the shop’s incoming and outgoing traffic and blocking malicious requests before they can do any damage. There are various ways a WAF can protect online stores, including:

Protection against DDoS attacks – A WAF filters malicious traffic and prevents DDoS attacks from reaching the shop’s servers, keeping the website operational even during attacks, reducing the risk of downtime and protecting revenue. A WAF also responds dynamically to the intensity of the attack, ensuring the shop’s availability even during peak times.

Blocking SQL injection and XSS attacks etc. – SQL injections and cross-site scripting (XSS) are common methods hackers use to steal data or modify websites. A WAF detects suspicious code in requests and blocks them before they can be executed, preventing hackers from gaining access to the shop’s backend and keeping customer data safe.

Protection against zero-day attacks – Zero-day attacks exploit as yet unknown vulnerabilities in software. Because these vulnerabilities have not yet been discovered by security experts, they are difficult to detect. A WAF continuously monitors all traffic for suspicious patterns and interferes with zero-day attacks, providing additional protection even against unknown threats.

 

Additional tips for staying protected on and after Black Friday.

In addition to implementing a WAF, there are other important security measures you can take to protect your online store:

  • Use SSL certificates – Encrypt the connection between the online shop and the customer to prevent sensitive information from being intercepted. SSL certificates provide a secure and reliable connection, recognisable by the HTTPS protocol and the padlock icon in the browser.
  • Regularly patch and update software – Make sure all software used is up-to-date to reduce vulnerabilities. Hackers often look for known weaknesses in outdated systems and a consistent patching policy reduces the risk of attacks.
  • Monitor traffic and deploy incident response teams – Monitor traffic to and from the website to detect suspicious activity in good time. Incident response teams must be able to react quickly to limit damage and protect the shop during attacks.

 

Conclusion.

The risk of cyberattacks is significantly higher during Black Friday and other busy periods. Hackers use various techniques—from DDoS attacks to AI bots—to disrupt online shops and steal customer data. Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) provides an indispensable layer of protection against these threats.

A WAF not only helps block attacks and protect customer data, but also ensures the shop remains online and provides scalable security during peak times. By combining this technology with good security practices such as SSL certificates, regular software updates and proactive monitoring, online shops can operate securely during busy periods. With a solid security strategy, online stores can offer their customers a safe and secure shopping experience, even during the Black Friday peak.

 

 

Want to know how secure your online shop is and where there are potential vulnerabilities? Let me help you! Get in touch for a free consultation.

 

Profile image Joris Roojackers smilingJoris Rooijackers

Solution Consultant Security
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* f5.com/labs/articles/threat-intelligence/bots-target-retailers-for-black-friday-bargains