The Risk Hidden in the “Just One Quick Purchase”
It’s tempting. A team member logs into their work laptop for a moment, spots a great deal on a pair of headphones, and clicks “Buy Now.” The transaction seems harmless. But when personal shopping happens on a company-issued device or via the corporate network, the seemingly innocent event can open the door to serious cyber risk.
At Fortis Cyber Solutions, we often caution that cybersecurity hinges on correcting everyday behaviours that often undermine best practices.
Why Shopping on Work Devices Matters
1. Shared context = shared risk
When an employee uses a work device (or connected network) to shop online, that device is often configured for access to corporate systems, sensitive data, and internal resources. Connecting that environment with personal shopping creates unexpected exposure. The minute malware, phishing, or insecure payment flows occur on that device, the attacker’s “foothold” may expand quickly. (Hoxhunt)
2. Phishing + malware = amplified danger
Fake deal emails, impersonated retail sites, and ad-driven scam links are common vehicles for credential theft and malware. These tactics spike during peak shopping seasons like Black Friday (Lifehacker; Cybersecurity Dive). If an employee mistakenly clicks a fake delivery notification or enters credentials on a fake retailer login, attackers may gain access to stored passwords or corporate account information.
3. Policy and monitoring gaps
Many companies do not explicitly restrict personal shopping on work machines, which leaves employees unaware of the risks (East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre). Without clear boundaries, even innocent shopping can bypass a business’s monitoring or security controls.
4. Productivity risk and reputational risk
While some leaders worry about time wasted during online shopping, the more dangerous consequence is a potential breach that violates standards such as HIPAA or GLBA. One phishing click triggered by a fake shopping email can cost far more than lost productivity.
A Real-World Threat: Password Reuse
Employees frequently reuse the same or similar passwords across shopping accounts, social media, and work applications. If a shopping website is compromised, attackers can harvest passwords and attempt to use them on corporate systems (Proofpoint). In environments lacking multi-factor authentication, this can lead to full account takeover.
How Organizations Can Reduce the Risk
✔ Create clear “acceptable use” policies
Define whether work devices can be used for personal tasks, including online purchases, and explain the risks behind the rule.
✔ Integrate the issue into employee training
Use real case studies about shopping-related phishing attacks, especially around holidays.
✔ Enforce technical controls
Use device management, endpoint protection, MFA, secure browsing settings, and network segmentation to reduce exposure.
✔ Monitor and restrict unsafe retail domains if needed
Filtering non-authorized shopping sites during peak retail seasons can prevent threats before they happen.
✔ Prepare for incidents
Run tabletop exercises that simulate a breach caused by holiday shopping scams.
Contact Fortis Cyber Solutions for cybersecurity training for your employees.
