Black Friday & Cyber Monday Safety
The holiday season is already in full swing! Are you sure you’re ready for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the other amazing deal days these big businesses have?
We are too! But most of all, we want you to stay safe and be smart when making those holiday purchases. Here are some of tips!
Before you even go online to start shopping, check your computer software. Double check to make sure your software and anti-virus is up-to-date and running.
Are you considering using “Public or Free Wi-Fi” like ones that are offered at many coffee shops and businesses? DON’T. If you have to, make sure you are using a Virtual Private Network, or VPN, and that it is working. The best way to stay protected when you shop online is to shop at home on you own personal Wi-Fi.
If the website seems odd, STOP. Unfortunately, more and more bogus sites tend to pop up over the holidays with the amount of people shopping. Prices that seem too good to be true probably are and should be considered a red flag of concern. Bottom line, only shop retailers you know and trust.
Make sure the website you are on is secure. Check your URL bar and look for ‘https://’ or the lock in your browser address bar. If it doesn’t have the ‘s,’ you rethink shopping there.
Don’t give out more information than you need to.
Be sure your accounts have strong passwords. If you’re not sure what makes a strong password, check out our blog on how to create one.
Enable two factor authentication on your account for purchases. Two factor authentication (2FA) means confirming your identity in two different ways: passwords, security questions, texting your phone a special code, a 2FA specific app, etc.
Pay with a credit card instead of a debit card. Even better yet: a virtual credit card. A virtual credit card is a randomly-generated card number that is associated with your actual credit card. Depending on your bank, you may even be able to set up an account limit which would help protect your account even more. You can also set up an expiration date so that the virtual card expires. Check with your bank to see what options you have.
If anything seems suspicious online, stop immediately and keep an eye on your credit card statement for suspicious transactions. During the holidays, it is best to keep an eye on your credit card and bank statements in general and keep your receipts through the holiday season to keep track of your expenses.
Keep all receipts, order confirmation numbers and tracking numbers for all purchases. If you run into problems with delivery, these will be very helpful!
By following these simple tips, you’re setting yourself up for a safe, and hopefully successful, shopping weekend!