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10 Cybersecurity Tips for Online Shoppers During Black Friday

In today’s digital age, online shopping has become a regular part of our lives, but it also comes with risks to our personal and financial security. Whether you’re gearing up for holiday shopping or making everyday purchases, protecting yourself online is more crucial than ever. From creating robust passwords to spotting sophisticated phishing scams, there are several key steps you can take to safeguard your information. This guide, 10 Cybersecurity Tips for Online Shoppers During Black Friday, will walk you through 10 essential tips to help keep your online shopping experience safe and secure.

1. Strong and Unique Passwords

The first tip is to use strong, complex passwords. If you have had the same password for 10 years, you should probably change it. Good, complex passwords have uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Also, you might want to have one password for each account, and then use a password manager to keep track of them. This makes your online profiles more secure. 

2. Beware of Phishing Scams

Be careful of emails, texts, or social media messages that:

  • Seem too good to be true
  • Offer exclusive deals
  • Ask for personal information, like your entire social security number
  • Have links and shortened URLs
  • Use emotional or urgent language

Scammers are becoming smarter and smarter, which means we have to be more careful. When in doubt, don’t click on the link or offer that person your personal information. Read here to learn more about how to defend yourself against phishing attempts. 

3. Secure Wi-Fi Connections

Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks for online shopping, as they are more easy to hack. Use a secure VPN connection instead. This means your connection to the internet is private.

For example, sitting at a Starbucks and doing some online shopping means you are connected to the same guest wifi everyone is. This makes your phone or laptop easy to hack into. But, if you are at home or a trusted person’s home, you are on a more private internet connection.

4. Check Website Security

Before entering your payment information on a shopping website, make sure the website is secure by checking for a padlock icon in the URL bar. This icon looks like a lock, though it may differ from computer to computer. Check it out on your computer or phone and find where this icon is located. It will tell you if your connection is secure or not.

You can also make sure a website is secure by looking for the “s” in “https://” in the URL. “S” stands for secure, so if it does not have that, your connection is not secure. 

5. Limit Card Use

Most people use their credit or debit card to make online purchases. While this can be more secure if you do the things talked about in this article, it still has some risk. 

So instead of using your personal card, consider using prepaid cards for online shopping. This looks like putting money on gift cards (VISA or gift cards for specific places) ahead of time to ensure your personal credit card data is nowhere to be found.

6. Monitor Transactions

Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized charges, especially after making online purchases. If someone got your card information, they are likely using it to make purchases and you will be able to see that. If you do, shut off your card or bank account and contact the card company or bank immediately. 

Many places also let you get alerts every time your card is used, which can be especially useful around times where you are doing a lot of shopping. 

7. Be Cautious of Pop-ups

Avoid clicking on pop-up ads, as they may lead to bad websites or downloads. Your computer and phone have setting options to block pop ups, and there are also apps you can install to block these too. Here are some instructions for blocking pop-up ads when using Google Chrome.

8. Enable Two-Factor Authentication 

Use two-factor authentication whenever possible to add an extra layer of security to your online accounts. Specifically, use this for accounts with personal information, like your online bank account, email, and social media. You can turn this authentication on by going to the settings on these different places. 

9. Shop with Reputable Retailers 

Stick to well-known and trusted online retailers to reduce the risk of encountering fraudulent websites. If you don’t know the site as well, check if it has the “s” in “https://” in the URL. You can also do some research on the company to better understand what it is.

10. Keep Software Updated 

Make sure that your phone and laptop’s operating system, web browser, and antivirus software are up-to-date with the latest security patches.

With Elevated Checking, this is a breeze. This checking account comes with 4 security benefits, including:

  • Dark Web Monitoring which alters you if your personal information is exposed on the dark web.
  • Credit Monitoring which alters you about changes in your credit report to protect against fraud.
  • Identity Monitoring which actively scans thousands of databases for early detection of possible identity theft.
  • Identity Theft Resolution which gives you up to $10,000 in identity theft reimbursement coverage.

Stay Secure 

If you follow these 10 tips, you will have a safer experience online. Protect yourself, your information, and your money by applying these tips. Now, you can be confident that your shopping this Holiday season is secure.