The holiday season is a time for joy, shopping, and staying connected with loved ones. But as you browse for gifts, or share special festive moments online, cybercriminals are looking for ways to gain access to your account. So, here are ten tips for safe browsing to help you deck the halls securely this season.
1. Stick to trusted websites
When you’re doing your online shopping, use websites that you are familiar with and that you have used before. Remember to look for the “https” or padlock next to the website’s name in the address bar, and check that the website name is correct. If you’re using the app on your phone, make sure that it’s the company’s official app and download it from the official app store.
2. Be careful when clicking pop-ups and ads
Holiday-themed ads can be tempting, especially when they’re offering great discounts. But avoid clicking pop-ups as it may take you to a malicious website or download malware on your device. Remember that if a deal sounds too good to be true, don’t click. This is often a tell-take sign of a scam. Instead, you should visit the official website directly to browse the deals they have available.
3. Protect your payment information
You must always use secure payment methods, don’t trust a new payment method that you are unfamiliar with. And don’t save your payment details unnecessarily. Many websites will offer to save your card details for convenience, but it’s much safer for you to re-enter your details when you make your next purchase.
4. Monitor your accounts regularly
While you may be having a splendid time swiping your card for each festive activity, check your accounts regularly for any suspicious transactions. The sooner you are aware of any strange activities, the sooner you can report it and continue enjoying your holiday.
5. Improve your Wi-Fi security
You will probably be using your Wi-Fi at home to shop online, stream the latest festive movie, or share your favourite pictures, but ensure that you are doing it securely. You need to change any default passwords on your router and connected devices, and make the password strong, complex and unique for extra security.
If you need to use public Wi-Fi, don’t use it for any sensitive transactions like banking. Use a VPN if possible.
6. Update your software
It is so easy to postpone those software updates, but they often contain security patches that could fix a known vulnerability. Install the updates as soon as they are available and set your software to update automatically to make it even easier.
This applies to your internet browser too. Ensure that your browser is updated to the latest version, and regularly clear your browser’s cache to remove cookies and browsing history to protect your data.
7. The phish is not on vacation
Scammers will continue with their phishing attempts and probably use holiday-themed phishing emails to try to trick you. Remember not to click on any links you don’t know. Take your time to check the URL before clicking any links and verify the sender by checking the email address before responding to them. If there is anything that seems a bit phishy, report it immediately.
8. Secure your accounts
Take some time this festive to secure your accounts by updating your passwords (make your new password strong and unique), enabling multifactor authentication (MFA), and checking for any unknown login attempts.
9. Consider using a VPN
VPN stands for “virtual private network”. A VPN keeps your information safe by creating a secure connection to keep your internet browsing private. Just make sure that you choose a reputable VPN provider and always use it when accessing public Wi-Fi.
10. Don’t be a grinch, share with others
Cybersecurity is important for everyone. Share your knowledge, beginning with these tips for safe browsing, with your friends and family to ensure that they are not the next victims to fall for a scam. As the famous saying goes “knowledge is power” and knowing how to keep yourself safe and secure online, is a wonderful gift to share with others.
Now let’s get back to having fun and may all your browsing be merry and bright!
