How To Frustrate Hackers This Holiday Season

This holiday season many will take to digital world to find that perfect gift. With the passing of Cyber Monday, the time for online shopping has arrived and why not? Many stores carried the same “Black Friday” deals online without the hustle and bustle of the store. This season shoppers will have more options to peruse, buy, and have items shipped directly to their front door like never before. This added convenience is not without its dangers though. Just as criminals may look for victims in the real world, the virtual world can be just as dangerous at times.

There are some simple things you can do though to ensure that your online holiday shopping dreams don’t become nightmares.

Before I provide this year’s round of security tips for online shoppers, let me first begin by saying that internet crime happens the whole year long so these tips will be just as useful in July as they are in December. Simply put, internet criminals never take a holiday, neither should your good information security habits!

Now on to the tips for a safer online holiday season:

1.      Know who you are shopping with: The internet can sometimes be a little murky on whom you are actually buying a product from these days. Popular sites like Amazon, Sears, BestBuy, and others sometimes have products listed on their site from other lesser known or “MarketPlace” dealers.  Understand that these dealers are not the same retailer as the site owner and may have different policies and security methods. To further complicate things, auction sites like eBay are popular this time of year. The same rule applies here, be wary what you purchase and steer away from buying gift cards and/or event tickets on eBay as they are not always legitimate. Mobile applications are great for transactions as long as your connection is secure and the app was actually created by the retailer. There are apps out there posing as famous retailers, so be sure to look at the developer of your apps.

2.      Look for the Lock: Ensure that your transactions are always encrypted and secure. Look for the little padlock and HTTPS in the browser address bar when you check-out. If the transaction is being conducted insecurely you will see HTTP and no padlock. This means your information can be read by anyone and that you should probably consider another retailer or purchasing in person at the store.

3.      Use strong authentication methods (passwords/pass-phrases): Usernames and passwords are the keys to your information. Protect them and do NOT share them or write them on a sticky note or in a computer file. They should be more than 8 characters long, with special characters and numbers mixed in. Be careful not to use obvious passwords or dictionary words. Consider using passwords generated by a password manager or a pass-phrase. Use different passwords for different sites and change passwords if you are notified or learn of a data breach. Some sites even offer “2 Factor Authentication” like having a text message sent to your phone with a code to be used in conjunction with your password. This is highly recommended.

4.      Do NOT use public Wi-Fi for transactions:  Never use public Wi-Fi to perform transactions or to log into your account. These connections are often insecure and un-encrypted. This means that anyone else connected to that network can read your traffic. It is kind of like posting your credit card information on a large billboard.  Furthermore, if your share drives or use Bluetooth, you may be unwittingly providing access to your device. When at home, ensure that you have enabled security (WEP or WPA) on your own Wi-Fi router and have changed the default admin passwords.

5.      Use security software: Antivirus, spyware filters, and other types of security software are a must.

6.      Don’t share personal information: Retailers should seldom need your social security number or other private information. Be careful about sharing this information online or over the phone.  It is also advisable to never email this type of information or post it to social media. Speaking of social media, do not post vacation plans, photos of expensive gifts, or photos of yourself while on vacation to your social media sites. Criminals often troll social media sites looking for the next targets.

7.      Keep track of your transactions and monitoring your accounts: Save your invoices and compare them with your accounts. Look for irregularities in billing, unknown transactions, or errors. Criminals will often test a small transaction before running through a large transaction. Report any discrepancies to your bank or credit card company immediately.

8.      Choose your credit card carefully: Consider using virtual credit cards, credit cards, or gift cards instead of a debit card.

9.      Log off when you are done: When you complete a transaction, log completely out of the site before leaving.

1.      Be wary of scams: If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.  Also be wary of emails or people that require you to click on a link, open an attachment, send money, or provide personal information. Some scam may even involve someone pretending to be a friend or family member in need. Always do your best to verify that something is legitimate through another source before taking action.

The important thing this year is to have a happy and safe holiday season and for all you Star Wars fans out there who are looking forward to your holiday in the theaters, “May The Force Be With You!”