Are you thinking about buying gifts for the special women in your life this Mother’s Day? If you’re planning to shop online, it’s important to do so safely. During the holidays, cybercriminals often increase their scams to take advantage of people shopping for gifts online. These scams can include fake offers and giveaways, all aimed at stealing your money and personal information. With technology constantly evolving, it’s crucial to stay updated on the best practices for online shopping to protect yourself from cyber threats. In this article, we’ll discuss the safest ways to pay for your online purchases, common scams to watch out for, and the top online shopping practices to keep you safe.
How to Make Online Purchases Safely
Avoid using debit cards: Debit cards are directly linked to your bank account, making it challenging to recover your money in case of a fraudulent transaction. Instead, use your credit card or a third-party payment system. Credit cards offer extensive fraud monitoring, which can quickly detect and dispute suspicious transactions.
Consider using virtual credit cards: Some credit card companies offer virtual credit cards, which provide a random 16-digit number, a three-digit CVV, and an expiration date for online or in-store purchases. These cards are linked to your real accounts but prevent retailers from seeing your actual card details, enhancing your security.
Use third-party payment tools: Tools like PayPal offer secure transactions without exchanging personal information with the seller, keeping your financial data safe.
Online Shopping Best Practices
Shop from legitimate websites: Be cautious of fake websites that mimic reputable retailers. Always visit the official website to make your purchases.
Be wary of unrealistic offers: If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Verify the deal by visiting the retailer’s website directly.
Avoid clicking on promo links in emails: Cybercriminals often send spoof emails with fake offers. Avoid clicking on these links to prevent malware infections.
Use a VPN: A Virtual Private Network (VPN) hides your location and browsing information, enhancing your online privacy and security.
Don’t save your payment information: While password tools may offer convenience by saving your payment information, it also makes you more vulnerable to theft. Avoid saving sensitive information online.
Use unique logins for loyalty accounts: Avoid using the same email and password combination for all your loyalty accounts. This prevents hackers from accessing multiple accounts if one is compromised.
Set up alerts: Enable notifications in your banking system to receive alerts for any purchases or transactions over a certain amount. This allows you to quickly report any suspicious activity.
By following these best practices, you can protect yourself from online scams and cyber threats. It’s equally important for your business to stay vigilant against cybercriminals. If you’re unsure about your company’s security or want to ensure there are no vulnerabilities in your system, consider getting a FREE Network Security Assessment. This assessment will help identify potential risks and protect your business from cyber threats.