With December already in full swing, the rush for purchasing presents and sending email Christmas cards has begun. As the focus of shopping has shifted away from physical stores and into online websites and mobile apps, cybersecurity becomes more important than ever.  We have collected some great tips from I.T Professionals to ensure that your private information isn’t a cybercriminal’s Christmas present!  

1. Only Visit Trusted Sites  

   • Shopping online is a fantastic way to get the gifts list done quickly, if the site is legitimate. Never give personal information or purchase items from websites you are not familiar with. If you are unsure, go directly to the website rather than following links. 

2. Be Wary of Emails  

   • While everyone loves fantastic deals and Christmas cards from family and friends, emails have been a historic favorite by scammers during the Holidays. Be skeptical of unprompted emails such as purchase orders, greeting cards from relatives that don’t exist, or subscriptions demanding urgent payments. Do not interact with emails that you are unsure are legitimate, instead check via legitimate apps or websites. Companies will never ask for your personal information in an email. 

3.  Watch Your Bank Account 

   •  Always be aware of purchases going out of your bank account, as identity theft can be recognized quickly once unauthorized purchases start coming in. It is recommended to use credit rather than debit, as credit cards do not come out of your bank account immediately and give time to act in the event of a surprise Christmas spending spree. 

4.  Beef Up Security 

   •  We all have that one password, the old reliable we fall back upon for any new password screen. Now is a good time to see how many websites use that old reliable, and change them to a stronger, unique password. Never use default passwords and turn on two-factor authentication whenever possible. Stronger passwords mean safer data. 

Sources:  

cisa.gov 

pfbt.com