Marin CyberSafe News: Stay Safe in a Season Smart Tech

In This Issue:

• Before You Buy: Choose Secure Gifts
• Shopping Scams: Stay Alert
• When You Unbox: Set Up Devices Safely
• Smart Toys & Children’s Gifts: Extra Care Needed
• Gaming Consoles: Secure the Fun
• Manage Your Growing Smart Home
• After the Holidays: Keep Devices Updated

From the desk of Jason Balderama, CISO, County of Marin

The holiday season brings joy, celebration, and a surge of Internet-connected gifts. From smart speakers to gaming consoles, drones, fitness trackers, and children’s smart toys, many popular gifts can introduce cybersecurity risks if not set up safely.

Let's review some steps you can take to keep yourself, your family, and your new devices secure.

Before You Buy: Choose Secure Gifts

Not all connected devices are created equal. When shopping:

• Check for security features. Look for products from a reputable manufacturer that support multi-factor authentication (MFA) and automatic updates.
• Avoid “no-name” brands. Ultra-cheap smart gadgets may lack basic protections and rarely receive updates.
• Review privacy policies. For children’s toys, make sure the device does not unnecessarily collect location, audio, or behavioral data.

Shopping Scams: Stay Alert

Holiday shopping season is peak time for cybercriminals.

• Beware of fake tracking emails pretending to be Amazon, UPS, USPS, or FedEx.
• Watch for counterfeit storefronts offering impossibly low prices.
• Use secure payment methods like credit cards or trusted digital wallets. Avoid debit cards, direct wire transfers, or peer-to-peer payment apps (like Venmo or Zelle) for online purchases.
• Never save your credit card number with retailers you rarely shop with.

When You Unbox: Set Up Devices Safely

Once the wrapping paper is off, take a few minutes to lock things down.

• Change default passwords immediately. Never keep the factory password, as attackers scan the Internet for these.
• Enable automatic updates so security patches can install without you needing to remember.
• Turn on MFA wherever available (gaming accounts, streaming services, online stores, etc.).
• Connect to a trusted network. Avoid setting up devices over public Wi-Fi.

Smart Toys & Children’s Gifts: Extra Care Needed

Kids’ tech often includes microphones, cameras, and GPS. To protect your family:

• Disable unnecessary features such as voice activation, always-on listening, or location tracking.
• Review app permissions on the companion smartphone or tablet app.
• Create children’s profiles on gaming platforms and restrict in-app purchases, chat features, and content exposure.
• Store devices securely when not in use, especially those with cameras.

Gaming Consoles: Secure the Fun

New video games and consoles are a holiday favorite, but can also be a target for account hijacking.

• Turn on parental controls for age-appropriate content.
• Enable purchase restrictions. Require a pin or other authorization that you control.
• Protect online gaming accounts such as PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, and Nintendo with strong passwords and MFA.
• Teach kids not to share login information or click unknown links sent through in-game chat.

Manage Your Growing Smart Home

If your home is filling up with smart bulbs, speakers, thermostats, and doorbells:

• Segment your network. If your router supports it, use a separate Wi-Fi network for smart home devices.
• Review camera settings. Turn off remote access unless absolutely needed. Cover indoor cameras when not in use.
• Regularly audit connected devices to make sure nothing unfamiliar is on your network.

After the Holidays: Keep Devices Updated

Security isn't a one-time setup.

• Schedule periodic check-ins to install updates and review permissions.
• Uninstall unused apps connected to your devices.
• Perform factory resets on devices you return, recycle, or donate.

Disclaimer

The information provided in Marin CyberSafe News is intended to increase people’s awareness of cybersecurity and to help them behave in a more secure manner. Links in this newsletter are provided because they have information that may be useful. The County of Marin does not warrant the accuracy of any information contained in the links and neither endorses nor intends to promote the advertising of the resources listed herein. The opinions and statements contained in such resources are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the opinions of County of Marin.

Copyright © 2025 County of Marin, All rights reserved.