Tightening up your cybersecurity should be a year-round priority.
The holiday season is here and this is the perfect time to focus your attention on any suspicious online activity. You can expect the number of fraudulent emails, phone calls, texts etc. to increase during the holiday months. Remember to check in on your credit report to catch any illegal activity, too.
Here are a few tips for staying safe this holiday season:
1. Be Ready
When shopping online, use only reputable websites. Look for “https” in websites’ URL — that indicates an extra layer of cybersecurity. Use a credit card when buying goods, as that provides more fraud protection than your debit card. If a purchase price or sale seem too good to be true, it likely is.
A common holiday con to keep an eye out for is the "non-delivery scam". With non-delivery scams, you order an item online and give your credit card information, your card is charged, then the item never shows up. Often online criminals use your account number and other information to try and steal more of your money or your identity. The more vigilant you are about shopping this holiday season, the merrier it will be.
2. Change Your Passwords
Yes, changing passwords can be a pain. And yes, it is also necessary. If you’re having trouble coming up with complicated passwords, use a password manager app that will automatically create and track extremely complex and safe passwords.
3. Get Private
Any emails, phone calls, texts or direct messages on social media that ask for personal information should be viewed suspiciously. Don’t give out private information like your name, Social Security number, and address.
4. Browse Wisely
You shouldn’t use public Wi-Fi when browsing online. Hackers can easily target information that travels over public internet networks. Wait to use your own private Wi-Fi at home.
Our collection of Learning Hub Security articles offers you helpful tips on safeguarding your personal financial information and avoiding online scams.
