Your Black Friday and Cyber Monday Guide for Safe Shopping
The holiday shopping season is upon us! You want to take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday savings, but you also want to keep yourself safe! Keep these important tips in mind as you head out to take care of your holiday shopping this year.
1. Pay attention to deals that seem "too good to be true."
As the old saying goes, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Let's face it: you're not going to find a KitchenAid mixer for $100, nor are you going to find this season's hottest toy sitting in mass quantities at an online retailer for less than the sticker price.
2. Use trusted vendor apps, not your web browser, when possible.
As Cyber Monday rolls around, many people continue their Black Friday shopping sprees online. If you're using your tablet or phone for your shopping, use trusted vendor apps, not your web browser. Most of these apps contain additional layers of security designed to help protect your private payment information.
3. Install ad tracker blockers.
You don't have to give websites permission to track your ad views, nor do they need to know what you're accessing. Hackers abuse ads to try to download malware onto your computer. Installing ad tracker blockers adds peace of mind to your privacy when you shop.
4. Update your browser.
All too many people have fallen into the habit of ignoring updates to their devices and software. Those updates, however, may be more important than you realize. Many times, updates close security holes and help protect your private data. If you fail to update your browser, those security holes may still be there--and, as a result, you may fall prey to a hacker.
5. Use a VPN on public WiFi.
As you head out to do your shopping, you may bounce from store to store, connecting to different public WiFi along the way so that you can use your phone without using up all of your data for the month. Unfortunately, public WiFi often poses its own set of security risks. To protect yourself as you do your holiday shopping, consider using a VPN when you're on a public network. This simple step can provide an extra layer of protection for your private data as you stand in line at your favorite store and make an online purchase at another at the same time.
6. Read your emails with care.
Did you get an email filled with discounts and coupon codes? This time of year, chances are excellent that you're being inundated with them. While these emails are a great way to save on purchases, they're also a great way for scammers to get their hooks in you. As soon as you read the email, take a moment to check to make sure it is not a phishing email.
7. Turn off your computer when you aren't using it.
Keeping your laptop or desktop on all the time provides an added layer of convenience: you can easily swoop in and pick it up when you need it, whether you want to check information online or make a quick purchase. Unfortunately, this step can also leave your computer more vulnerable to hackers: when it's on, they can work to get through your firewall and get access to your private information. Accept the extra minute or two that it takes to boot your computer up when you walk up to it and turn it off when it's not in use.
8. Keep your money close (and secure).
On Black Friday, consider carrying your wallet in an inner pocket, where it's harder to get to. If you must carry a bag or purse, carry it across your body, and keep it on you at all times, rather than leaving it in a shopping cart. If you have an RFID-enabled card, consider RFID-blocking technology that can help protect your information from being skimmed or stolen.
9. Report lost or stolen cards immediately.
As you do your holiday shopping, you may be in and out of a number of different stores. It may take until you get to the front of yet another line to realize that your card has disappeared. Don't wait until you're able to backtrack and try to locate it! Instead, freeze your card immediately. In some cases, the bank may be able to temporarily freeze your card (or you might be able to do it from your banking app). In others, you may need to accept the loss and order a new card.
10. Try to limit your shopping to one card.
At least if a data breach occurs, you'll know exactly which card was breached and be able to deal with it accordingly. Limiting your shopping to one card can also make it easier to track your holiday spending and identify unauthorized transactions.
11. Save your receipts.
If you do notice unauthorized activity on your credit card statement, having your receipts can make it easier to see which purchases were yours and which ones weren't. Saving receipts can also make your life easier if, for example, if you notice that a purchase seems larger than it should be.
Holiday shopping season is almost here. Chances are, you have a list every bit as long as Santa's, and you can't wait to start checking off those important items. As you're doing your holiday shopping, however, you need to protect yourself against scammers. Don't take your security--or your bank account information--for granted. Instead, follow these critical steps to help maintain your security during the busy holiday season.