‘Tis the season to be cautious! Holiday shopping is in full swing, and online shopping is more popular than ever before. Due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, there are many who are still avoiding stores and buying more online. While this is an extremely convenient alternative, it is important that online shoppers understand the risks and many warning signs that come with shopping on the internet. Read to discover 7 cybersecurity shopping tips for the holiday season to help keep your data secure.
Never use public Wi-Fi for shopping activity
Using public Wi-Fi is always risky, especially during the holiday season. Even though it is convenient to connect to public Wi-Fi when you are out and about, these are unsecured networks that can often lead to hackers gaining access to usernames, passwords, text messages, and emails. While it is recommended to steer clear of public Wi-Fi in general, if you do need to utilize a public network, always double-check that you are logged out of all personal accounts and that you never enable autoconnection. Features such as auto-connect are only safe when you are near a trusted source such as your home’s network.
Keep your systems updated
Every day, developers are finding new system weaknesses that make it easier for hackers to steal sensitive data. This is why there are updates for your devices on a regular basis. Now that the holiday season is upon us, it is the perfect time to ensure that all your devices are up to date. System updates are essential to repairing these vulnerabilities and keeping your information secured.
Update and diversify your passwords
No matter what time of year it may be, regularly updating and diversifying your passwords is crucial when it comes to data security. There is no doubt that just about everyone has their go-to password, but actually using different passwords for different platforms and accounts is a great way to avoid falling victim to a hacker. The more diversified your passwords are, the less likely it will be for your systems to get hacked. This is arguably one of the best tips to consider during the online holiday shopping season.
Make sure the website is legit
We all know holiday shopping can be stressful. While it may be tempting to snag the best deals you can find online, always be alert about where those cheaper prices are coming from. When shopping online, it is important to take the time to do some searching to ensure that certain websites and retailers are legitimate. One good way to do this is to check for online reviews from past purchasers. Ensuring that the website has “HTTPS” at the beginning of the URL is another way to be sure that the website is secure. Lastly, be wary about advertisements on social media platforms. Oftentimes, social platforms do not verify if these businesses are legitimate sellers before including their ads on your feed.
Keep an eye on your credit
Nothing is worse than the panic you feel when you realize your credit or debit card information has been stolen. During this time of year, it is especially important to keep an eye on your credit and debit statements to ensure that nothing out of the ordinary has taken place.
Beware of SMS phishing scams
Online users are not the only ones who need to be cautious of consumer fraud. More retailers have been taking advantage of the new SMS campaign trend to engage more with their customers. Unfortunately, this has also opened a new window for hackers. Even if you are subscribed to certain brands, always be careful when you receive a text message with special offers and links because they could very well be fraudulent.
Always use a hosts’ website rather than potentially compromised email links
If you receive an email from your bank or other provider company that you engage with frequently, it is important to always cross-check that their contact information is authentic, especially if the email is requesting personal information or suggesting clicking a link. It’s safer to log in manually on your provider’s secured website when asked to authenticate account information, as opposed to clicking on a link in an email. One simple click of a button can grant hackers access to your personal information leading to a plethora of unwanted consequences.
Trusted Information Security Services in Jacksonville
In today’s data-driven world, cyber threats continue to expand in businesses of all sizes and industries. At BrightLink Technology, our trained IT professionals will help mitigate vulnerabilities within your business network and create a business continuity plan in case of any future data breach. If you are searching for professional IT services in Jacksonville, we encourage you to contact our office today.