---
title: ACT now to get ahead of the holiday hacker season!
description: "ACT now to get ahead of the Black Friday hacker season! Small Business: You are the prime holiday target for computer hackers! Keep your customers’ data and your business safe. Our 12-blog series will show how small retailers can ACT now to repel data thieves during this prime shopping season.  Awareness, Checking security controls and Testing security now will help your business lock down your systems before the holiday rush."
image: https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/hubfs/ACT.png
---

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# [ACT now to get ahead of the holiday hacker season!](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/act-now-black-friday-hacker-season)

 Posted by [Laura K. Gray](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/author/laura-k-gray) on 6 Nov, 2015 in [Small Business](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/topic/small-business) and [Holidays](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/topic/holidays)

![ACT.png](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/hs-fs/hubfs/ACT.png?width=800&name=ACT.png "ACT.png")

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*Small Business: You are the prime holiday target for computer hackers! Why should you be concerned?*

**

- **71%** of hacker attacks hit businesses with under 100 employees
- **69%** of consumers worry about theft of their payment card data
- Last year, the average hacking cost a small business **$20,752**, up from $8,600 in 2013
- **60%** of small businesses breached close in six months

What are you doing *now* to keep your customers’ data and your business safe? 

Our [12-post series](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/blog/topic/small-business) explores how small retailers can **ACT now** to repel data thieves during this prime shopping season.  **A**wareness, **C**hecking security controls and **T**esting security now will help your business lock down your systems before the holiday rush.  

Here’s what you can look forward to in the series:

Be **A**WARE. First, we’ll look at some of the leading threats to your business:

- Skimming – copying card data to make counterfeit cards and steal money.
- Malware – software created to damage computers and steal passwords/money.
- Web app attacks – hackers penetrate your website to gain control of visitors’ accounts and steal money.
- Unauthorized access – someone who sneaks into your computer or point of sale terminal to steal card data.

**C**HECK controls. Next, we’ll explore key security measures that can help you protect against these threats:

- Patches – software update to fix mistakes in coding.
- Passwords – words, phrases or string of random characters providing access to computers and systems.
- Firewalls – software that controls data flow in and out of networks and computers.
- Encryption – software that makes plaintext data unreadable.

**T**EST security. And finally, we’ll provide some practical tips for putting your **ACT**ion plan into place:

- Is your anti-hacking software working?
- Who’s checked your point-of-sale for skimming devices?
- Are you using tested products and vendors?
- Could you and your employees pass a security awareness test?

Read our [blog posts](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/blog/topic/small-business). Protect your business. And **ACT now**!

Merchants looking for more information on payment security essentials should start here:

[![Payment Security Essentials for Merchants](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/281302/07b993b4-2ba8-4a34-8bf5-afbb43bca162.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/281302/07b993b4-2ba8-4a34-8bf5-afbb43bca162)

 

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![Laura K. Gray](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/hubfs/Headshots/laura-gray.jpg)

[ Laura K. Gray ](https://blog.pcisecuritystandards.org/author/laura-k-gray)

[Twitter ](https://www.twitter.com/pcissc) [Email](mailto:blog@pcisecuritystandards.org) [Website](http://www.pcisecuritystandards.org)

 The PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) is a global forum that brings together payments industry stakeholders to develop and drive adoption of data security standards and resources for safe payments worldwide.

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