Cyber Monday has a history of being the most significant online shopping event of the year, with more than 75 million people participating globally. Estimates from the National Retail Federation have anticipated that this year's Cyber Monday occasion would see the most web traffic ever.
Yet, less than 15% of consumers are concerned about their cyber security. This inevitably creates an opportunity for identity theft, and even facilitates the flow of digital traffic towards sites that could use consumer information for fraud.
For that reason, consumers need to be on high alert when shopping during Cyber Monday.
The following is some of our best security tips in preparation for you Cyber Monday shopping.
1. Use a credit card. Using your credit option as opposed to your debit could protect you from theft attempts that pull straight out of your bank account. You can even go as far as using a virtual credit card, which employs additional security measures like Apple Pay.
2. Watch out for clone websites. Always be sure that the URL you are conducting a transaction at has a prefix of HTTPS as opposed to HTTP, which indicates that the security protocol being used to communicate your information is encrypted between the sending site and the destination site. Your URL should look like https://www.example.com.
3. Be on high alert for phishing attacks. Try to stay away from store promotions that come via email, text, or social media. Make a good habit of accessing the site yourself by manually entering it and avoiding links.
4. Watch what information you share. Be wary of sharing your birthday, your spouses name, your social security information, or bank account number.
5. Don't browse on public WiFi. Try using a personal connection or wifi hotspot instead.
6. Secure your mobile device. Make sure that your device is equipped with anti-viral software and that you have a pin. Ensure that your passcodes are both long and strong.
7. Monitor your credit. Ensure that your accounts do not show suspicious or unauthorized activity. Set up notifications for your transactions.
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