Young Australians are putting themselves at risk shopping online during the holiday season which places them right in the path of scammers and cybercriminals, according to the 2025 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report.
Nearly a third of Australians (29 per cent) say they take more risks shopping online during the holiday and sales periods than any other time of the year.
Also revealed was the risky behaviour among younger online shoppers with 43 per cent of Gen Z and 42 per cent of Millennials more likely to cut corners compared to 8 per cent of boomers.
Norton’s latest intelligence reveals scams and fake ads are at an all-time high ahead of the holiday shopping season.
There has been a 14 per cent rise in Australia in malvertising attacks including a 52 per cent spike in malicious push notifications which are designed to grab our attention and persuade us to click on a risky link.
Web skimming attempts, where cybercriminals inject code into online checkouts to steal payment details at time of purchase, have also surged a staggering 721 per cent.
“Online shopping is now the norm, with the majority (95 per cent) of Australians planning to buy gifts online this holiday season,” said Norton Senior Systems Engineer, Dean Williams.
“That convenience is great for shoppers, but it also creates opportunity for cybercriminals.
“Scammers know people are rushing, distracted, and keen to snap up bargains, which makes them more likely to click on something risky.”
One area of concern is social media platforms where the line between shopping and scamming is blurring alarmingly.
Norton’s report found that 42 per cent of Australians have clicked on a social media ad to buy a gift with more than a third purchasing directly through platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
But 31 per cent admit they’ve ended up on a suspicious website while chasing a trending item.
And shoppers are always happy to spend some time chasing bargains.
The report shows 86 per cent of online shoppers will search for discount codes with more than a quarter (26 per cent) prepared to spend more than 30 minutes trying to find one.
And when they come across flash sales almost half (45 per cent) say they’d be willing to buy something on the spot if they see a great deal.
This behaviour spikes among Gen Z (60 per cent) and millennials (59 per cent).
“Our advice is simple,” Williams added.
“Only click through to retailers you know and trust and think twice before handing over your personal or payment information.
“If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
“Taking that extra moment to check could save you from losing money or having your identity stolen.”
Norton’s recommendations for Australian shoppers:
– Slow down and think before clicking on ads or emails.
– Shop through trusted retailers and official apps.
– Be cautious about how much personal information is shared online.
– Stay sceptical of deals that seem “too good to be true.”
– Make sure you have the right cyber safety protection.
“Holiday shopping should be joyful, not stressful,” Williams said.
“By taking a few extra seconds to verify, protect and pause before you purchase, Australians can save themselves not just money, but the heartbreak of falling victim to a scam.”
Norton 360 with AI Scam Detection, Norton Secure VPN, and Norton Mobile Security help protect shoppers by blocking fake websites and ads, spotting phishing attempts, and keeping personal and payment information safe this holiday season.
Read the full report here: https://newsroom.gendigital.com/image/NCSIRHolidayGlobalReport2025.pdf.
