5 Ways to Protect Your Identity Online This Holiday Season
5 Ways to Safeguard Your Online Shopping This Holiday Season
The holidays are filled with joy and festivities, but they’re also a time when online scammers work overtime. From fake shopping deals to phishing attempts, cybercriminals know people are busier and more trusting this time of year, making them prime targets for fraud.
Last year, online retail sales in the U.S. hit a record $75 billion from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday — 79% of that activity happened on mobile devices. If you plan to use your mobile device to shop online this holiday season, here are five tips that can help you do it safely.
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Secure your mobile device. Keep your operating system updated to safeguard against vulnerabilities and add biometrics, such as face recognition or fingerprints, to your secure passcode to help enhance your online security.
Limit app permissions. Review and restrict app permissions to only what is necessary. Avoid granting access to sensitive information, such as your contacts or location, unless it’s essential. Taking these steps will help protect your privacy and enhance your overall security.
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Beware of suspicious calls and texts. Don’t engage with calls and texts from unknown numbers. Cybercriminals may try to trick you into revealing personal information, such as passwords or credit card details, by posing as legitimate businesses.
Use secure Wi-Fi for online transactions. If you must make a transaction in a public setting, look for an HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) connection. While public Wi-Fi is convenient, if it’s easy for you to access a public network, it’s easy for cybercriminals to do so too!
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Monitor your financial accounts. Keep a close eye on your accounts for unauthorized activity or suspicious transactions. By monitoring regularly, you can detect possible fraud early, take action, and minimize potential losses.
If you believe you have been the victim of an online scam, report it to the authorities immediately. If your personal or financial information has been stolen or compromised, visit IdentityTheft.gov for resources and additional support.
For additional tips to protect yourself from fraud, visit nycers.org/fraud.
