During the holiday season, online shopping drastically increases by both businesses and individuals. With this influx in online activity brings cybersecurity hackers who are also busy trying to get ahold of your private information. We’ve put together a list of 3 holiday cybersecurity tips to help you avoid these cybercriminals and keep your environment safe:
- Beware of Scams
- Secure Your Devices
- Use Secure Authentication Mechanisms
Let’s take a look at some practical ways that you can implement safe cybersecurity:
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Beware of Scams
“Free” Gift Cards
The majority, if not all, “free” items are not free. It’s a scam or trick for malicious actors to obtain personal information about you.
“Missed Delivery” Notices
With all the packages that are being shipped this holiday season, malicious actors assume if they send you a delivery notice, you will open it. Instead of opening the potentially malicious email, go directly to the shipper’s website to check on the delivery status with your tracking number.
Shop through Trusted Sources
Only shop at sites you know and trust. It’s easy for a malicious actor to create a fake website with fake merchandise. Make sure the website address is correctly spelled and properly formatted. Avoid clicking on links to visit shopping websites, and instead, manually type the website address into your browser’s address bar.
Use Safe Methods for Purchasing
Do you trust the website you are putting your credit card into? If not, don’t do it! Only shop with reputable companies.
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Secure Your Devices
Endpoint Protection
Make sure the device you are using to make your purchases is secure. This means having endpoint protection software (antivirus/edr/epp) that is receiving regular threat definition/signature updates.
Run Security Updates
Download and install system updates on your devices to keep up to date with the latest and greatest security patches.
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Use Secure Authentication Mechanisms
Strong Passwords
Use strong passwords. A quick way to make your password secure is to use multiple words with spaces. If you are not sure if a password is strong enough, you can use this site to check: https://haveibeenpwned.com/Passwords
Multi-Factor Authentication
Whenever possible, always use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all your accounts.
Password Managers
Never store your passwords in your browser or write them in a book, a sticky note, or a document on your computer. Instead, use a password manager application to securely store credentials. One solution is LastPass: https://www.lastpass.com/
Contact Us:
Need help implementing a cybersecurity program? Reach out and talk with one of our cybersecurity experts today! Give us a call at 877-319-3051 or email us at sales@rmsource.com.