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Cyber Safety Sunday arrives every last Sunday of November, urging holiday shoppers to arm themselves with knowledge for secure online transactions. As digital threats escalate, this day emphasizes protecting personal data and financial information from scammers. Take action by updating software, using strong passwords, and recognizing phishing attempts to shop confidently.
History of Cyber Safety Sunday
While online shopping is fun and convenient, the recent rise in cyberattacks has made shoppers feel less merry and more wary about their online safety.Â
In response to increasing online shopping risks, Norton introduced Cyber Safety Sunday to take place every Sunday after Thanksgiving as an annual day of action and awareness for people to prepare themselves to confidently shop online by learning about current online scams and securing their devices in protection against scammers and cybercriminals during the holiday shopping season.Â
The rise of online shopping in the 1990s brought convenience to consumers but also introduced new security risks. Early on, phishing scams began targeting popular platforms like eBay and PayPal. As online transactions grew, so did threats like malware, data breaches, and identity theft, prompting the introduction of security measures such as SSL encryption and two-factor authentication (2FA).
The early 2000s brought about a rapid rise in e-commerce businesses and new risks to consumers. By 2008, fake e-commerce websites were being created by cybercriminals to steal consumers’ credit card information.Â
As online threats evolved, so did consumer awareness around the risks of online shopping. Major incidents like the 2013 Target data breach served as a wake-up call and drove the development of new standards, ensuring that retailers securely handle credit card information while prompting consumers to be more cautious with their personal data.
The introduction of EMV chip cards in the U.S. in 2015 helped reduce physical card fraud but also pushed cybercriminals to focus more on online shopping scams. By 2017, retailers began widely adopting two-factor authentication (2FA), adding a second layer of security to consumer accounts.Â
As e-commerce surged during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, an increase in cybercrime targeting consumers seeking essential items followed suit. Now, people are encouraged to look for signs of secure websites, avoid clicking on suspicious links, use strong, unique passwords, and enable security features and software protections.Â
To address these ongoing and evolving risks, Norton introduced Cyber Safety Sunday in 2023, a day dedicated for consumers to educate themselves on the latest scams and take proactive steps to protect themselves from cyberattacks during their holiday shopping. Cyber Safety Sunday helps raise awareness during peak shopping periods, reminding users to stay vigilant against phishing, fake websites, and other online scams.
Cyber Safety Sunday timeline
Bob Thomas creates the first virus, called Creeper, as an experiment. It spreads across ARPANET, a precursor to the internet.
Michael Aldrich invents the early conceptual groundwork for online shopping and e-commerce by connecting a television to a transaction processing computer via a telephone line.
The World Wide Web becomes publicly available, allowing businesses to begin developing online presences and opening the possibility for online transactions.
The first secure online transaction takes place—a pizza from Pizza Hut—using encryption technology, laying the foundation for safe online shopping. This marks the beginning of e-commerce as we know it.
Amazon launches as an online bookstore, later expanding and becoming one of the largest e-commerce platforms. In the same year, eBay is founded, becoming the first major online auction platform.
Phishing scams begin targeting online shopping platforms like eBay and PayPal. Cybercriminals send fake emails to steal login credentials, marking one of the first major online shopping cybercrime efforts.
The early 2000s see a huge increase in the number of e-commerce businesses. Though many companies failed during the bust, successful platforms like Amazon and eBay solidify their roles as major players in e-commerce.
With the growth of online shopping, cybercriminals begin creating fake online stores to steal consumers' credit card information. This sparks the need for more consumer education on safe online shopping.
During the holiday season, hackers steal 40 million credit and debit card records from Target. This attack raises widespread concern about the safety of online and in-store transactions, spurring retailers to enhance cybersecurity measures, especially for payment systems.
EMV chip becomes the standard for physical card transactions. This reduces card fraud but also drives cybercriminals to focus more on online shopping fraud.
Online retailers and payment platforms begin encouraging 2FA to secure consumer accounts, requiring a second form of authentication to make purchases safer for users.
As online shopping skyrockets during the pandemic, so does cybercrime. Fake e-commerce sites and phishing attacks targeting consumers shopping for essential items become rampant, driving home the importance of verifying the legitimacy of online retailers.
Consumers are warned to watch for fake deals and fraudulent stores as cybercriminals ramp up phishing and fake website scams to take advantage of the increase in online purchases during peak shopping times.
Norton introduces Cyber Safety Sunday as a day to encourage consumers to proactively protect themselves against cyberattacks and scammers during their holiday shopping.
Cyber Safety Sunday FAQs
When is Cyber Safety Sunday?
Cyber Safety Sunday 2026 falls on Sunday, November 29, urging shoppers to prepare for a secure holiday season. This day serves as a critical reminder before the busiest online shopping period begins.
How many people are affected by cyber scams?
Reports indicate that roughly one-third of holiday online shoppers are targeted by scammers, highlighting the widespread risk during peak seasons. Millions of consumers face phishing attempts, fake websites, and fraudulent deals annually.
What is the economic impact of cybercrime?
The global cost of cybercrime is projected to reach trillions of dollars annually, encompassing financial losses, data breaches, and recovery expenses. This figure underscores the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures for individuals and economies.
What are common cyber threats during the holidays?
During the holidays, common cyber threats include phishing emails disguised as shipping notifications or special offers, fake e-commerce websites mimicking legitimate retailers, and malware hidden in enticing digital greeting cards. Unsecured public Wi-Fi networks also pose a risk.
How to Observe Cyber Safety Sunday
Make your list and check it twice
Prepare your gift list and sites you’ll visit in advance. Try to shop exclusively on trusted retail sites with web addresses that start with HTTPS. On mobile devices, shop through apps directly provided by retailers rather than your web browser.
Update your passwords for shopping sites
Before you start filling your cart, make sure your passwords are updated, strong, and unique for each site. Shopping on password-protected sites can add a layer of protection. Keep track of passwords by using a password manager.
Set alerts on your accounts to warn you of unusual activity
Protect your bank account by only using credit cards when shopping online. Credit card companies have fraud liability protections that debit cards do not. Identity software like LifeLock can also alert you to suspicious activity. If you see something wrong, report it at once.
Have a package delivery plan
Keep track of what you buy, and when and where it is shipping. Postal delivery phishing scams via text, email or phone call are on the rise. Make sure you are shipping your gifts to secure locations or mailboxes to thwart the plans of porch pirates.
Use services and apps to fortify your defenses
Install device protection software, such as Norton 360 Deluxe, to help protect and alert you of potential scams, and identity protection like LifeLock. Additionally, Norton Genie is a free AI-powered scam detection app that provides a fast, easy, and free way to check if something could be a scam.
5 Facts About Festive Shopping Cybercrimes
'Tis the season for shopping and scamming
Nearly a third of Americans (31%) say they've been targeted by a holiday shopping scam before, and over half (51%) of those targeted actually fell victim.
All I want for Christmas is… a sketchy deal
Despite concern over AI-powered scams and shady sellers, nearly two-thirds (62%) of Americans say they're likely to jump on a holiday deal the moment they see it, and often without vetting the source. In fact, more than half (54%) of Americans have made holiday purchases through social media ads, up 10 points from last year.
AI is helping with gifts — and grinches
Over two in five (38%) of Americans plan to use tools like ChatGPT to generate gift ideas this year, especially millennials (55%). But trust hasn't caught up with usage: nearly two-thirds (62%) say they're worried about falling for an AI-generated shopping scam.
Reels, deals, and holiday feels
Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are becoming digital gift guides for 50% of holiday shoppers.
From wishlist to risk list
70% of millennials are willing to take unconventional and risky steps to get high-demand gifts, from clicking questionable social ads (42%) and buying from strangers on social media (28%), to clicking on unknown sellers or suspicious links (21%) or even purchasing counterfeits (16%).
Three Reasons to Celebrate Cyber Safety Sunday with Norton This Year
Shop smarter and safer
Observing Cyber Safety Sunday can save you time, money, and a lot of potential hassle by arming you with the ability to recognize legitimate deals, know which websites are secure, and avoid seasonal scams—which ensures you protect your personal data and don’t lose money to fraudulent offers and cybercrimes during the holiday rush.
Stay ahead of scams
Schemers and scammers come out of the woodwork every holiday with more sophisticated and believable tactics. Protecting yourself early before their attacks peak will keep your devices safe and let you focus on enjoying the holidays.
Secure your digital life year-round
Taking time to learn about scams and set up protections on your devices for you and your family not only protects you from scroogey scammers during the holiday season, but it also gives you security and peace of mind to live your digital life with freedom and confidence throughout the year.Â
Cyber Safety Sunday dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | November 29 | Sunday |
| 2027 | November 28 | Sunday |
| 2028 | November 26 | Sunday |
| 2029 | November 25 | Sunday |
| 2030 | December 1 | Sunday |
