Black Friday is here signaling the beginning of the holiday shopping frenzy. Followed by Cyber Monday and throughout the holiday season, more and more shopping is done online as shoppers seek to avoid lines and the inconveniences of shopping at brick-and-mortar stores.
There are certainly great deals to be found online. We’re tempted by huge discounts and fast shipping. The convenience of shopping online is undeniable – just a few clicks and your order will be on its way. The surge in cyber shopping activity brings with it opportunistic scammers seeking to defraud consumers through bogus discounts, phishing scams, and online storefronts masquerading as reputable retailers in an attempt to find their way to your wallet.
The message is simple. We must be vigilant and aware of our cyber surroundings in order to avoid becoming the next victims. If you’ve been keeping up with us at Profection Security, the tips I’m about to share are not new. We need to be aware of these threats year round. However, at this time of year we must match the increased intensity of the threats with a heightened awareness and increased scrutiny of our online shopping endeavors.
Shop with reputable retailers – you’ll reduce the risk and stand a better chance of getting your money back if something does go awry.
Avoid scams – Huge deals and discounts abound but remember, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
Secure your shopping and banking accounts with strong passwords and 2-factor authentication.
Use a credit card rather than your “bank card.” If your bank account is compromised, you’re putting real money as risk that may be difficult to recover quickly.
Be mindful of protecting your privacy and limit what you share about your purchases on social media.
So go forth and score that deal with the confidence knowing that you are #cyberaware and equipped with the tools to secure your accounts and protect your privacy. Stay safe cyber shoppers!
#simplesecurity
