| It’s that time of year again – a time to be merry, jolly and purchase wonderful gifts for loved ones! We’re all on the lookout for the perfect gift at a bargain price, and most of us will flock to online stores to avoid the mall rush. Besides the regular Daily Deal, we also have Black Friday and Cyber Monday on the horizon. While it’s great to get the best bargain, it’s important to remember that cyber criminals are doing their own form of bargain hunting… trying to steal your info!
Don’t fall prey to these criminals, keep yourself safe by following these 7 tips:
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| Think before you click!
Be vigilant when clicking on any links and ensure that you know and trust the sender. Criminals enjoy sending fake (phishing) emails to try to obtain your credentials. If you’re unsure, rather log on directly to the website to check if anything requires your attention.
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| Use safe passwords
Make sure that you use strong, long and complex passwords. Use a different password for each website, and do NOT share your password with anyone. If a criminal obtains your password for one website, they will not be able to use it for another website thereby limiting the damage. |
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Use MFA whenever possible
Multifactor authentication (MFA) strengthens your account’s security by forcing another form of authentication in addition to your password, such as a one-time pin (OTP). Most websites and apps have MFA available – use it! If someone gains access to your password and tries to logon to your account, the MFA will stop any further processing because YOU need to provide the final authentication to proceed.
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| Avoid unsafe websites
Whenever possible, try to use websites that are secure, i.e. they have the https:// before the web address or there is a lock next to the website’s address. This means that there is a secure connection between you and the website. When using online payment services, ONLY use these websites so that your details are kept safe. |
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Don’t use public wi-fi for shopping
Public wi-fi is great to save costs on data but it can also be a door for criminals to obtain information from your device. Only connect to wi-fi connections that you are familiar with, try to use a VPN whenever possible, and don’t perform any sensitive transactions.
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| Keep your device safe
Whether using your computer or smart phone for online shopping, ensure that you have an anti-virus (AV) software installed. The AV checks for malicious files and prevents installations from these files thereby keeping your device safe from malicious software. Lastly, keep your AV up-to-date. New attacks are released daily so you want to keep your AV updated to ensure that your device does not become vulnerable to attacks. |
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Don’t fall victim to scams
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you are unsure if a deal is valid, check the product’s price on a reliable, well-known website to be certain. Also, it’s not likely that you have won the jackpot or a Greek Island Cruise if you haven’t entered any competitions.
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