A group who definitely won’t be making it on Santa’s nice list this year are cyber-criminals who are ready to cash in on the sales rush. Follow our top-tips to have yourself a cyber-safe Christmas and avoid handing over fraudsters an early present this festive period!
Not all sites are as legitimate as they appear to be, spoofing remains one of the most popular ways to fool online shoppers – due to its simplistic and effective nature, however the devil is in the detail of spoofed sites. On closer inspection you may spot spelling mistakes or grammatical errors that you wouldn’t expect to find on official retailer websites.
Fraudsters understand we’re a nation of bargain hunters, but to ensure you secure the real deal – if an online offer seems too good to be true, use a search engine or the retailer’s official website to verify any offers to have yourself a fraud-free Christmas!
For flash sales and discount codes, pop-ups and ads can be great to save yourself some extra cash when shopping online. We recommend remaining vigilant when it comes to clicking on links – again, if you’re unsure it’s best to verify any offers you see online yourself – always better to be safe than sorry!
Most online retailers now also offer mobile phone apps to shop, we recommend only downloading authorised apps directly from the Apple Store or Google Play Store and remain wary of links from suspicious sources!
When you’re trying to checkout, we understand being asked to click on all the squares that contain a bicycle can be annoying, but these CAPTCHA challenges are used to prove you’re not a bot who is accessing the website maliciously. These additional security measures ensure your data is safer than other websites who don’t ask you to verify your identity.
If you’re using public Wi-Fi networks to make purchases online, you could potentially be getting more than you bargained for. Public Wi-Fi networks require no authentication to establish a connection – what this means is, it is much easier for fraudsters to potentially steal login passwords, financial details and other sensitive information.
Whilst we’re on the subject of passwords…there’s no time like the present to change yours! If you’re someone who uses the same password for your online accounts (or passwords that can be easily guessed) then you’re vulnerable to a cyber-attack. Hackers often use one of your cracked passwords to access other accounts. We recommend using different passwords for your really important accounts (online banking/email/social media). Better yet, activate multi-factor authentication where you can which adds an additional layer of security when it comes to your logins.
Not sure what to change your password to? Click here for our top 5 tips!
At this time of year, cyber-criminals are working extra hard at crafting increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks landing in inboxes all around the world. Phishing remains one of the most popular ways in which hackers attempt to steal your personal data. If you’re offered freebies or rock-bottom prices, usually these deals are designed to reel unsuspecting shoppers in who think they’re getting the real deal! We recommend that you remain extra vigilant and remember, if in doubt – throw it out!
Not only are Infuse great at giving you the best tips to become cyber-safe this Christmas, but we also offer great security services for businesses all year round! We cover everything from strategy to security audits, so you can be assured that your organisation is in safe hands with us.
Get in touch with one of our advisors today by emailing hello@infusetech.co.uk to get started.
PS We’ll still be around to provide IT support across the festive period – except for the 25th and 28th December and the 1st of January.
We look forward to seeing you again in 2021!
Talk through your IT needs with one of our friendly technicians – no commitment, no cost!
Complete our contact form and one of our experts will be in touch, or call our team on 01332 374444.
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