Cyber Monday Shopping Safety Tips

At Stanton Insurance Agency we want you to grab up those bargains, but we also want you to stay safe while shopping online. Follow these great tips to keep your personal information protected. 

Shop from a secure computer

A computer or Android phone that isn’t protected by antivirus software is more likely to be compromised by malware. Otherwise, all data entered into or transmitted from that phone or computer is at risk, including all forms of personally identifiable information, credit-card numbers and bank accounts. Be sure to keep the operating system and all internet-facing apps updated to the latest software versions.

Shop using a secure connection

Data can be at risk during transit if an attacker controls the network or uses packet-sniffing software. Web protocols such as HTTPS encrypt communications, but in some advanced attacks even those could fall to a “man-in-the-middle” attack. Nonetheless, always look for the HTTPS lock symbol in your browser address window when performing an online purchase.

Search for deals on retailer sites, not on search engines.

Scammers “poison” search results with malicious or deceptive links. Want that latest game console? Run a search on the Best Buy, Amazon or GameStop sites rather than on Google.

Use trusted vendors

Any website can be attacked by hackers, but limiting your shopping to established and trusted vendors limits your exposure. Bookmark the most trusted online retail sites to make sure you don’t get redirected to fakes.

Don’t fall for ‘too-good-to-be-true’ deals

Cyber Monday features a lot of incredible, legitimate deals offered by trusted mainstream retailers. But cybercriminals will prey on shoppers’ desire for the lowest prices and will try to slip in a lot of fake deals. Watch out especially for emails, text messages, pop-up browser windows and Facebook and Twitter posts promising fantastic savings. Clicking on links in the messages or posts could lead to scams, phishing sites or sites distributing malware. And don’t open attachments in emails promising fantastic deals.

Plan ahead and don’t be rushed                                

Cyberattacks take but a split second to occur. Sometimes all that’s required is clicking on a link in an email. Look for clues to malicious links, such as an extra “.cc” at the end of what would otherwise be a trusted domain name. Take the time to make sure you’re on the correct website.

Review credit-card and bank statements regularly during the shopping season

Malware can infect credit-card readers in stores, and unscrupulous cashiers often steal card numbers as well. If you find a transaction that doesn’t match your purchases, your account may have been compromised. If so, contact your bank or card issuer.

Don’t use debit cards online                                         

You’ve got far less protection against fraud on a debit card than you do with a credit card. Stick to credit cards when shopping online. If you absolutely must use a debit card, use the prepaid kind with a set spending limit.

Use unique passwords and logon information for every site you visit

Yes, it’s a pain to remember all those passwords. But if one of them is stolen, a cybercrook will try using it on other websites. Passwords should be as long as possible and contain a mix of upper- and lower-case characters, numbers, punctuation and symbols — and they shouldn’t be reused, especially for any website that handles your money. If you have trouble handling them all, use a password manager.

If you’re shopping from a tablet or smartphone on Cyber Monday, use a trusted vendor’s app, not a web browser

Vendors have more control over their own apps than they do over mobile browsers, which often don’t display the web addresses of the sites to which you’re giving your credit-card information.

Never install software on your mobile device from a website link or code

Software from locations other than the device’s official “store,” such as Apple’s iTunes App Store or the Google Play Store, has a greater chance of being malicious. Even then, check to make sure that the app developer is the official retailer — a lot of Amazon-related apps in Google Play have no connection to Amazon.

As an independent insurance agency, we can meet all of your insurance needs with the companies we represent, providing personal and business solutions under one roof! Head over to our website or give us a call to learn more. Stanton Insurance Agency, Inc.  (781) 893-3200 www.stantonins.com