In this day in age, it is very common for people to use online shopping. It has become a favorite way to buy presents during the holidays. No matter what holiday you celebrate, online shopping has become the new way of life. A lot of people use online shopping because it is very convenient. You can shop from the comfort of your own home and have gifts shipped directly to your doorstep. Businesses do their shopping online as well. Whether it is buying for your business, or employees, or allowing your employees to surf the web while using company equipment, make sure you are protected.
Cyber Safety During The Holidays
Although shopping online is very convenient, it is important to be aware of the dangers along with it. One of the biggest dangers of online shopping is cybercrime. Cybercriminals are always looking for ways to take advantage of people. The holiday season is a prime time for them to strike. There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from cybercrime when you are shopping online.
Tips For Staying Safe During The Holidays
There are many ways to stay safe when the holiday shopping season begins. Here are some simple cybersecurity tips to help you out this holiday shopping season.
Shop On Secure Websites
During the holidays, only shop on websites that you know are safe and you can trust. Verify that the website’s URL includes “HTTPS”, this means the site is secure. Another way to make sure the site you are on is safe is to look for the lock icon that appears on the right of the URL. If there is no lock, it is safe to say that it is not a secure site. You also want to make sure that the URL is spelled correctly. It is common to come across sites that are almost the exact same as the secure site but the URL is spelled wrong.
Emails
Never click on email links from people you don’t know. Cyber-criminals often send phishing emails that look like they are from a reputable website. A good way to check this is to click on the sender and check the actual email. Most times it will look like the sender is reputable but the email isn’t. Be aware that the links these people send can be fake websites. People will create websites that look like real websites. These websites are created for the sole purpose of stealing your personal information. Do not enter any personal information on these websites.
Check Your Accounts Regularly
When you are checking your accounts, you will be able to catch any fraudulent activity. This way you can report it and get your money back. Some websites will ask you to save your card information. Make sure that you do not save your payment information to any website/app. Even if the website is secure, cyber-criminals can still hack your account and get your information.
Passwords
When you are shopping online, it is important to keep your personal information safe. Be sure to use a different password for each website you shop on. Your passwords should be strong. It should include a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. Strong passwords will make it harder for online thieves to get into your accounts and steal your financial information. If a cyber-criminal gets a hold of your password, they will have access to all of your accounts.
Protect Your Information During The Holiday Season
When shopping online, you want to make sure you do everything to protect your personal details. By following the tips above, you can help keep yourself safe from cyber-criminals. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be aware of the dangers that come along with shopping online. Make sure you take the necessary security tips and precautions to protect yourself.
FAQs
What is the best way to stay safe when shopping online during the holidays?
The top 4 ways to make sure you are safe online are:
- Make sure to only shop on secure sites
- Never click on emails if you don’t know the sender
- Check your account regularly
- Make sure you use strong passwords and never use the same password for your accounts
Why is it important to be cautious during the holidays?
Cybercriminals are more active during the holidays because people are shopping online more. They know that people are busy and may not be paying as much attention to their personal information. This is why it is important to be extra cautious and make sure you are taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself.
What is the number one way people try to steal information during the holidays?
The number one way people try to steal information during the holidays is through phishing emails. These are emails that look like they are from a reputable website or company but are actually fake. The email will contain a link that takes you to a fake website. This website is created to look like the real website but is actually a fraud. Do not enter any personal information on these websites.
Let Elevated Technologies Help You
Protect yourself and your business from the risks of identity theft and scams. Elevated Technologies is a cyber security company you can trust! During the holiday season, we want to make sure our clients stay as safe as possible. Contact us today to learn more about how Elevated Technologies can help you stay safe when you shop online.
