The holiday season is once again in full swing and as expected, everywhere is in a frenzy. From Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Small Business Saturday, holiday shopping is in full course and isn’t about to end. Of course, in times like this, when there’s so much going on, it’s easy to get a little carried away, making it possible to fall into the hands of cybercrime scammers. In 2020 alone, retailers saw a 20% increase in cyberattacks during the festive season compared to other years. Bad actors have increased and are actively on the lookout, getting ready to leverage on businesses’ cybersecurity mistakes. It might be something as minor as logging into your bank account over public Wi-Fi, downloading a malware attachment, or using the same password on multiple sites. Whatever the case may be, you want to do all you can to keep your information out of the hands of threat actors. Here are five things you can do to avoid common cybersecurity mistakes:
#1. Use Stronger Passwords
Hacking software can try over 10 million password combinations in a single second, making it necessary to utilize password best practices. This includes updating your passwords regularly and opting for stronger, more complex passwords. Using the same passwords for multiple sites could pose severe risks along the line, making it possible for cyber schemers to attack and steal your information. Using a simple, easy-to-remember password may be tempting, but you risk being compromised by cyberattacks like password spraying campaigns and credential stuffing. Consider using secure password generators and managers if you find it challenging creating unique passwords each time you’re required to fill in one. You could use two-factor authentication as well as this requires users to verify their identity using something other than the password
#2. Apply Caution When Banking Online
Online banking has become a thing in recent times. It’s convenient, fast, and almost seamless. Except it also exposes users to cybercrime risks. Malicious actors could use your money to transact online if they access your bank or credit card accounts. One of the ways they do this is by phishing. You could wake up one morning to fake mail from your bank or credit card company. The mail would usually require sending them your login, card, or other sensitive details like your Social Security Number. Once you do any of these, they automatically gain access to your account. That’s why it’s never advisable to open unsolicited emails, even if they appear to have been sent by your bank. It’s always best to call customer care if you receive a message that you perceive to be fake or malicious.
#3. Don’t Use Public Wi-Fi For Your Shopping Activity
Public Wi-Fi can be dangerous, worse still if you’re using it to shop online. Holiday shopping is part of the fun in festive seasons like these. However, resist the urge to use public Wi-Fi for your online shopping activity as this can expose you to harm or a breach of your data security. We can’t excuse the convenience they may bring, but they aren’t also secure, and so they can grant bad actors access to things like your passwords, usernames, emails, and texts. If you’re going to use one, be sure to confirm that it’s legitimate. This means that before using a public network, you must confirm first that the business or company building is nearby. If you’re going to use a public Wi-Fi network, make sure you don’t set up an auto connection, also log out of all personal accounts, especially your banking sites. Using your data may be slower, but if you’re willing to wait it out for Santa to deliver your ordered presents from Alibaba, waiting some extra seconds to secure your data wouldn’t hurt.
#4. Use Only Secure Sites
You know that small lock symbol that shows up at the upper right corner of your browser just before the URL bar. Yeah, the one that tells you whether your connection is secure or not, watch out for it. Before entering your personal or financial details into any site, ensure that the site is secure and can be trusted. Also, check to see that the website’s URL has “HTTPS” at the beginning. The lock symbol and extra “S” indicate that the site protects your data by encrypting it. When downloading videos, games, or other files online, always double-check to confirm that the sites are legitimate and that your connection is secure.
#5. Take A Holiday Break From Your Debit Card
If you’re going to be shopping online this holiday, consider using a payment service or your credit card instead of your debit card. This is because your debit card is usually directly linked to your bank account, which implies more liability for you if you happen to be compromised. On the contrary, credit card companies offer more protection reducing the liability on your end.
#6. Be Smarter Than The Scammers
We can go on and on about the things you could do to prevent yourself from being a victim of cybercrimes, but in the end, the real work is in being smart enough not to fall prey to petty traps. You want to always be one step ahead of scammers by securing every loose end. This implies updating your software and operating system when needed. Most software updates help you improve your security by fixing weak ends in your device and ensuring all available grounds are covered. The holiday season usually comes with multiple discount offers and special offerings. While many of these are genuine, fraudsters could also employ this medium to send out malware and virus (another reason to update your anti-virus). Again, it’s necessary to be careful when opening emails from a site you have never visited or from someone you do not know. Unless it’s essential, always ignore unsolicited emails.
Bottom Line
A data breach could cost you a lot, hence why you need to remain cyber-safe at all times. As cyber criminals devise more ways to perpetrate their schemes, there’s no better time to level up in knowledge than now.