It’s that time of the year again for week-long festivities, yummy food, and 24-hour hunting and shopping. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are quickly approaching. Because of estimated spikes; the Haz Technologies team compiled a list of 7 things to do this season to stay safe online.
According to Adobe’s yearly shopping insights report, retailers reported a whopping $10.8 billion in overall revenue on Cyber Monday versus Black Friday’s $9.0 billion in 2020.
- Make Sure Your Devices are Up to Date and Have the Most Recent Patches
Updates should include security software and web browsers, and most devices these days automatically update. Still, It would not hurt to go in and ensure you are all good. - Employ an MFA (Multifactor Authentication) If Able
Many retailers now offer this feature. When able, always use MFA/2FA. Here are 7 retailers that offer this level of security. - Only Shop with Reputable Retailers
You will want to do this because many promotions and discount ads come out a week in advance, and you want to ensure you come back to the site. A good rule is to bookmark those sites, so you prevent being scammed by sites that pop up in and around when those items are available for purchase. - Use Password Managers like LastPass or 1Password
Password managers protect the data they store through what’s known as encryption. This process scrambles data so that it’s more challenging for hackers, cyber crooks, and others to access your personal information, such as Social Security numbers and credit card numbers. - Look for sites that use HTTPS:// for a Secure Shopping Experience
When you shop for this year’s hot ticket items, make sure the site’s URL starts with HTTPS and not HTTP. You may have to click on the URL to see the HTTPS. Secure sites use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption to keep data in transit hidden from hackers. If the site is secure, it’s safe to enter your payment information and order your items. - Don’t Shop While on Public or Open Wi-Fi.
Using open or public Wi-Fi is often an easy way to get a faster shopping experience. Still, it can open the door to malicious activity, stealing your data and monitoring your webs activities. - Check Banking and Credit Activity Post-holiday Rush
Using Credit Karma and Credit Wise can help you spot dangerous actions before they dig deep and hurt your financial position. Another tip is to lock your credit card and debit card while not shopping. Many major banks and credit cards issuers offer this service for free and can help reduce exposure.
There you have it. 7 tips for you to shop safely during the holiday season. Enjoy!
Sources: Adobe, Money Talk News
