The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offers
the below computer security tips:
The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes
celebrations and gift-giving. An increasing number of consumers are conducting
their holiday shopping online. You have probably heard of “Cyber Monday,” a
marketing term for today, the Monday following Thanksgiving, when online
retailers often begin to offer discounts and promotions to shoppers.
While online shopping
offers increased convenience, it also provides opportunities for scammers to
target consumers through fake websites, phony offers, and malicious apps.
Ensure you have a safe and secure holiday shopping experience by following the
tips below.
Improve your cyber
posture and avoid online shopping scams by:
·
Remembering to hover over hyperlinks and
think before you click.
A common phishing tactic during the holidays is a phony email saying an order
has shipped, with links like “Click here for expected delivery date” or prompts
for your login and password to a particular website.
·
Avoiding making purchases over public Wi-Fi. Use your cellular data for
financial transactions instead.
·
Using your credit card rather than your
debit card for online purchases. Credit cards offer more consumer protections if your card is
compromised and will not impact your checking account like a debit card.
Continue to monitor your credit card and bank statements regularly to detect
any fraudulent activity that might go unnoticed.
·
Choosing encrypted shopping websites for
safer transactions.
There are two ways to tell if a site uses encryption: a closed padlock icon in
the status bar at the bottom of your browser window or at the top of the
browser window, or a website address that begins with “https:” rather than just
“http:”.
·
Heeding “certificate error” messages. If you receive a notice that says
“certificate error,” examine who issued the certificate, ensure the name
matches the site you are visiting, and ensure the certificate has not expired.
·
Downloading vetted apps. Never install software outside of your
phone’s designated app store, and only use trusted vendor apps when shopping
from your phone.
·
Creating strong passwords. Avoid using the same password for your
online accounts; otherwise, one compromised account can translate to multiple
compromised accounts.
Thank, Paul, for highlighting the many traps I have probably fallen into with my computers. I remain a dunce about such matters. But I'm learning. Best wishes from the old goat on the Gulf coast.
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RT, Best wishes to you as well...
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