Holiday Cybersecurity Tips

The holidays can be a hectic time of year – buying gifts online, making travel arrangements and wanting to give back to charitable organizations. It’s also a busy time for cybercriminals who are trying to take advantage of you. But you can fight back against thieves and better protect your personal information.

Shopping Online

When shopping online there are several tips that will help to avoid falling victim to an online scam.

  • Keep a clean machine. Ensure your devices are free from malware and infections by using the latest versions of software and apps.
  • Use secure Wi-Fi. Avoid public Wi-Fi for shopping. Use a VPN or your phone's hotspot instead.
  • Lock down your login. Use strong, unique passphrases and enable multifactor authentication, when available.
  • Resist the urge. Avoid deals that seem too good to be true, and buy only from trusted retailers.
  • Think before you click.  Be wary of emails from unknown senders and avoid clicking on suspicious links.
  • Shop securely.  Check to make sure you’re shopping on a site that uses SSL protection. Look for "https" in the URL to ensure the site is secure.
  • Pay wisely. Use credit cards or reliable payment services like Google Pay, Apple Pay or PayPal.
  • Monitor your accounts. Regularly check your financial accounts for any suspicious activity.

Giving Online

Online thieves know the holidays spark the desire to give back, making charity donations a hot target.

  • Do your research first. Never feel pressured to give on the spot. Uses resources such as Charity Navigator, CharityWatch or GiveWell, to verify organizations before donating.
  • Ignore unsolicited requests. Be cautious of emails and calls asking for donations. Donate directly through official websites.
  • Think before you pay. Never wire money or send cash. Use secure payment methods.
  • Doublecheck the website. Cybercriminals often create websites and names that are very similar to legitimate, reputable organizations. Check the spelling of the organization's name and make sure the URL is correct.

While Traveling

No one is exempt from the threat of cybercrime, at home or on the go, but you can follow these simple tips to stay safe online when traveling during the holidays.

  • Avoid free Wi-Fi. Use a VPN or your mobile hotspot instead of public Wi-Fi.
  • Confirm your network. If you do connect to public Wi-Fi, verify the network name and login procedures with staff before connecting.
  • Disable auto-connect on your devices. Manually connect to networks and Bluetooth devices  only when you want to.
  • Secure your devices. Keep track of your laptop, smartphone, tablet and even accessories and don’t leave them unattended in public places.
  • Avoid shared computers. Don’t make purchases or log into email on publicly shared computers. You don’t know if the systems are up to date with the latest security software or if the machines are safe.
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