Holiday Security Lessons from Christmas Classics

• by Anthony Orjally
• Advent IM Blog

Christmas movies are full of chaos, comedy, and unforgettable moments, but hidden beneath the laughs are some surprisingly relatable security lessons. From a house left alone, to a town full of predictable routines, to an overly trusting elf in New York, these films show how small oversights can lead to big problems. In this post, we’ll explore Home Alone, The Grinch, and Elf, highlighting the security flaws each story exposes and what we can do to avoid the same mistakes in real life.

Home Alone

In Home Alone, Kevin isn’t left behind because no one checked, he’s left behind because the family relied on a rushed headcount rather than confirming who was present. They counted the correct number of children, but one of the neighbours was briefly included in the group, masking the mistake. It’s a simple example of how numbers can look right while reality is wrong, especially when checks are rushed and people are distracted.

From a security perspective, rushing through checks can easily lead to mistakes, just like the family’s hurried headcount. In the real world, this could mean sending sensitive data to the wrong person or misconfiguring a system. Similarly, assuming everything is fine because it “looks right” can be dangerous – phishing emails, for example, may appear legitimate at first glance, but a careful inspection often reveals the red flags. Taking the time to pause, verify, and double check is a simple but powerful way to prevent errors before they become serious incidents.

The Grinch

In The Grinch, his success comes from how predictable Whoville is. He understands their routines, timings, and expectations – when people are asleep, when no one is watching, and how little resistance there will be. Because nothing unusual is expected, his presence goes largely unquestioned. The Whos don’t anticipate misuse of their openness, creating an environment where exploitation is easy.

This reflects how familiarity can lead to complacency. When routines go unchecked and behaviour isn’t questioned because it feels “normal,” gaps emerge. In organisations, this can mean not reviewing access, ignoring unusual activity, or assuming trusted processes can’t be abused. Regular review, monitoring, and challenging what’s considered “business as usual” are key to preventing these kinds of oversights.

Elf

Buddy the Elf is endlessly enthusiastic and trusting, which works well for spreading cheer… but from a security perspective, it’s a problem. He often believes what he’s told without verifying, wanders into restricted areas, and freely shares operational details – like Santa’s workshop processes or personal plans – with anyone he meets. His good intentions don’t prevent mistakes, and they could easily lead to compromise in a real-world scenario.

This mirrors how social engineering and human error create risk in organisations. Just because something seems friendly, urgent, or legitimate doesn’t mean it is. Verifying identities, questioning unusual requests, and pausing before acting can prevent “Elf-style” security mishaps. Awareness, vigilance, and simple verification steps are often enough to stop errors before they become incidents.

These holiday classics may be full of laughs and nostalgia, but they also show us that security failures often come from simple human mistakes: rushing, overconfidence, or blind trust. Whether it’s a forgotten child, predictable routines, or sharing too much information, the lessons are clear. Taking the time to double-check, question assumptions, and stay vigilant can prevent small errors from turning into big problems – all while keeping your organisation safe this festive season!