Here's a security bulletin from ADS Consulting Group with vital cybersecurity guidance as we approach the July 4th holiday. Feel free to share it internally or with your clients.
As fireworks light up the sky and offices close their doors, cybercriminals are just getting started. Independence Day is not just a time of celebration—it’s also one of the most dangerous periods for cybersecurity breaches.
📅 Important: July 4th, 2025, is a Friday, creating a long weekend—a prime opportunity for hackers to strike while defenses are down. Be sure to turn off your computer before leaving for the long weekend.
Why July 4th Is a High-Risk Period
Hackers are opportunists, and holidays are golden opportunities for them. Here’s why:
- Reduced IT Staffing: Many security teams are operating with skeleton crews or are offline.
- Slow Response Time: Alerts may go unnoticed or unresolved for hours or days.
- Phishing Spikes: Attackers disguise emails as festive greetings or fake alerts.
- Neglected Systems: Unpatched vulnerabilities and stale credentials are easy entry points.
- Strategic Ransomware: Threat actors time their campaigns to coincide with delayed recovery efforts.
🧠 Example: Several U.S. companies experienced significant breaches during last year’s Thanksgiving and Memorial Day holidays, resulting in financial loss and public exposure.
Smart Moves Before You Log Off
Protect your infrastructure before the long weekend hits:
✅ Run a Pre-Holiday Cyber Checkup
- Patch all software and OS updates.
- Disable unused remote access ports.
- Audit user access and remove unnecessary permissions.
✅ Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Ensure MFA is required for all admin and remote logins.
- Review and rotate any shared credentials.
✅ Conduct a Mini Phishing Refresher
- Host a 15-minute training or send out tips to your team.
- Emphasize the scrutiny of attachments and links, even from known sources.
✅ Backup Everything—and Test It
- Ensure backups are recent, complete, and tested for restore.
- Store at least one backup offline or in an isolated network segment.
✅ Confirm Your Incident Response Plan
- Know who's on-call, including escalation contacts.
- Pre-draft internal and external communications for a breach scenario.
Celebrate With Peace of Mind
You’ve worked hard to build your business.
Don’t let one oversight undo it. Take proactive steps to ensure your digital security over the July 4th holiday.
From all of us at ADS Consulting Group:
Stay safe, stay vigilant, and enjoy a secure Independence Day.