During the holiday season, it’s often easier to shop online to find gifts for your loved ones. But while online shopping can save you the trip to the store, it also comes with cybersecurity risks.
Cybercriminals often target online shoppers during the holidays. In a 2020 Experian survey, nearly one quarter—24%—of survey respondents reported being a victim of identity theft or fraud during the holidays. The following tips will help you stay safe and secure while shopping online this holiday season.
Stay private.
Avoid online shopping while connected to a public Wi-Fi network. Stick to a private, protected network.
Protect Your Devices
Keep your devices secure by conducting software updates, utilizing proper privacy settings, creating complex passwords, and implementing multifactor authentication when possible.
Shop smart.
Only buy from trusted sources. Always check a vendor’s reviews to ensure they are reputable, and confirm that their website is legitimate (and encrypted) before shopping.
- URL should start with “https”
- Look for a lock icon near your browser’s location field.
Be wary of scams.
You should be cautious about emails from unknown senders and digital ads that offer holiday deals that seem too good to be true. If you receive links or attachments from an unknown sender, do not click them. Do not respond to suspicious emails or texts. Here are more tips to spot a scam.
Use a credit card.
Consider using a credit card instead of a debit card for online purchases, since the latter could give cybercriminals access to your entire checking account.
Check your statements.
Especially during the holidays, keep an eye on your bank account statements to detect potentially fraudulent activity as quickly as possible.
For more personal risk management guidance, contact us today.
© 2020 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.