Yes, Die Hard is a Christmas movie, and at Net-Defence, we tackle cyber security the same way John McClane tackles Hans Gruber…
Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy spent with family and friends, sharing food, drink and gifts. But cyber criminals look to prey on these festivities by tempting you with unbelievable offers, tricking you into sharing personal details or sending money. If an offer seems too good to be true, it most likely is.
Whether you believe it to be a Christmas film on or not, we can all agree that Die Hard teaches us some valuable lessons about how to outsmart and stay ahead of your opponents. So, let’s take some inspiration to help keep you safe online. John McClane faced down cyber and physical threats in the classic film with wit and tenacity, and you can do the same online.
Here are five Die Hard-inspired tips to protect yourself online this holiday season:
1. Get to know your terrain like it’s Nakatomi Plaza
- In the movie: John McClane quickly learns the layout of Nakatomi Plaza to get the upper hand over Hans Gruber and his crew.
- Online tip: Just like John scoped out the building, you should scope out your security and privacy settings and adjust them to limit data-sharing, control permissions, and enable strong two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect your accounts.
2. Stay unpredictable, like McClane’s tactics
In the movie: McClane uses non-standard methods, like crawling through air ducts and surprising his enemies. He never stays in one place too long, which keeps him one step ahead.
Online tip: Use long, unique passwords for each account (a password manager can help with this). Change them from time to time, and don’t recycle them across accounts. Keeping your “moves” unknown makes it harder for hackers to guess their way in.
3. Don’t trust easily – be cautious, like McClane with Ellis
- In the movie: Ellis tries to negotiate with Hans, thinking he can charm his way through. McClane knows better and doesn’t trust the situation, understanding the stakes.
- Online tip: Never trust messages or requests at face value, even if they seem friendly or known. Verify the source of emails, texts, or calls, especially if they ask for personal info or money. Scammers often pretend to be trusted contacts, thus being cautious goes a long way in not becoming their ‘Ellis’.
4. Have a back-up plan, just like McClane’s barefoot strategy
- In the movie: McClane is always thinking ahead, even when things look bleak (like the classic “shooting out the glass” moment). He endures pain to stay mobile and avoid capture.
- Online tip: Make sure you back up your data regularly, either in a secure cloud service or offline. If something goes wrong (like a ransomware attack or hardware failure), you’ll have a way to “keep running barefoot,” lessening the damage and keeping your data safe and intact.
5. Stay cool under pressure and call in the pros when needed
- In the movie: When things get intense, McClane stays calm (mostly) and resourceful, and he knows when to communicate with allies, like Sgt Al Powell.
- Online tip: If you find yourself in a tough spot, don’t panic. If your account is hacked or you encounter something suspicious, call in your IT support team. They’re trained to help, just like Powell backed up McClane when the going got rough.
How can Net-Defence help?
In the end, being attentive, adaptable, and aware just like John McClane is the best way to survive the online world this Christmas. Net-Defence can help you and your employees channel their inner McClane with a robust suite of cyber resilience services.
From attaining industry-recognised certifications to tailored phishing simulations, we’re here to make sure your organisation can stay one step ahead of cyber threats that are constantly evolving.
Contact us today for support and have a very Merry Christmas!
