Holiday shopping is in full swing- so are cyber crimes. During this season, many people are looking to make a quick buck- at your expense. Cyber Monday 2013 had record sales this year with more and more people shopping online. Whether you are browsing on your own computer or shopping (on your break) at work, here are some tips to protect your money and identity this season.
If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is.
Emails and other advertisements that make outrageously good offers are typically false and malicious; which can lead to malware infections. Only make purchases from trusted and well-known sites.
When entering data, make sure the site is secure
‘https’ is in a website address shows that the web page is secure. This is especially important when adding account information for a purchase and other personal information.
Use your credit card so wrongful purchases can be disputed
If you use a credit card, charges can be disputed if an item was never received.
Check your statements regularly
Monitor your accounts to make sure there are not unauthorized purchases.
Keep your computer up to data.
Is your computer up to date? This includes systems updates and anti-virus updates. Keeping your systems up to date will prevent security compromises.