15 Dec Cyber Security & Online Shopping Over The Holidays
Posted at 12:18h
in Security
Cyber Security & Online Shopping
Online shopping has become more popular than ever. This holiday season maybe you decided to skip the crazy malls and shop from the comfort of your own home in your pajamas. It’s efficient, comfortable and feels like the best idea ever… until you have your identity stolen.
Scammers & cybercriminals love to target during this time because of the heavy volume or purchasing and it’s harder for credit card companies to distinguish what’s real and what’s not. Here are a few ways pieces of advice from our tech experts at SOS Support to help protect yourself while online shopping this year.
- Read carefully: When making a purchase online, be alert to the kinds of information being collected to complete the transaction. Make sure you think it is necessary for the vendor to request that information. Remember, you only need to fill out required fields at checkout. No online shopping store needs your social security number or your birthday to do business.
- Check to be sure the site is security enabled: Look for web addresses with https:// indicating extra measures to help secure your information. Never ever, ever buy anything online using your credit card from a site that doesn’t have SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption installed—at the very least.
- Keep a clean machine: All web-connected devices ‒ including PCs, smartphones, and tablets ‒ free from malware and infections by running only the most current versions of software and apps.
- Use safe payment options: Credit cards are generally the safest option because they allow buyers to seek a credit from the issuer if the product isn’t delivered or isn’t what was ordered. Never, ever give anyone your credit card over email.
- Limit the type of business you conduct over open public Wi-Fi connections: This includes logging on to key accounts, such as email and banking. Adjust the security settings on your device to limit who can access your phone.
- Make better passwords: If your passwords are weak, improve them by adding capital letters, numbers and symbols and using different passwords for every account.
- Start at a trusted site rather than shopping with a search engine: Search results can be rigged to lead you astray, especially when you drift past the first few pages of links.
- Check your bills: Don’t wait for your bill to come at the end of the month. Go online regularly during the holiday season and look at electronic statements for your credit card, debit card, and checking accounts.
For more information on cybersecurity & online shopping check out the following links: