Shop smart and secure with these shopping online tips
The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and that means it's time to think about cybersecurity. With shoppers increasingly turning to online retailers to fill their gift lists for the holidays, cybercriminals are at the ready. We've consulted with our in-house cybersecurity experts to pull together these tips for safe online shopping.
Shopping online tips for safety and security
Here are our best tips for safe online shopping this season and throughout the coming year.
Never buy on public Wi-Fi
It may seem fun to sit at your local coffee shop, soak in the vibe, and do your online shopping. But the truth is, secure Wi-Fi is the only way to go for cybersecurity. Public Wi-Fi can make you easy prey to cybercriminals, who can swipe your financial info and more. If you must shop in public, use a VPN, known as a virtual private network, or link up to your phone as a hotspot.
Clean up your act
Before engaging in online shopping, be sure all of the devices you use are up to date on the most current version of apps, software, and web browsers, to ensure you have the best protection possible.
Complication situation
If you're still using simple passwords for all of your accounts—or the same one across the board, it's time to get complicated. Unique, complex passphrases and multi-factor authentication can protect you and your data from prying eyes. Having strong passwords and authentication tools in place, particularly with the use of a password manager software program can also give you peace of mind—which in reality, simplifies things.
Get suspicious
If an online offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Look to trusted companies for your purchases, and steer clear of online shops you are not familiar with, to protect yourself. In addition, avoid opening emails from senders you don't recognize, or clicking on links in them. If something seems off, trust your gut and shop elsewhere.
Be secure
Look at your browser bar. If the site you are visiting doesn't have HTTPS in the URL, they're not secure. Entering your payment info or other data can put you at risk. Simply shop elsewhere.
Pay attention to your payment
Shopping with your credit card or even a pre-paid debit can provide you with a higher level of protection than overusing your debit card. You may also want to explore other trusted payment forms like Apple Pay, PayPal, or Google Pay.
Keep an eye on things
You've got to watch for more than Santa's sleigh this time of year: keep an eye on your financial accounts. Cybercriminals can have you shouting bah, humbug if they get their grubby hands on your financials. Sign up for alerts from your financial institution or credit card company to really stay up to the minute. And if something suspicious occurs on your accounts, report it immediately.
Stay safe online this holiday season
Those are our tips for safe online shopping. Be sure to review these before you hit the cyber sales, and share them with those you care about. These safe shopping online tips are a little holiday gift from our cybersecurity experts, to you and yours. Happy and safe holidays!
