Cyber Monday: 7 Tips to Protect Yourself From Hackers

By Kasandra Brabaw

As Cyber Monday extends the retail frenzy into the work week, identity thieves are gearing up for a shopping spree.

For the best ways to protect yourself, and your money, check out these tips from The International Business Times and the Better Business Bureau.

Use Reputable Websites

Lots of Black Friday websites pop up around this time of year, offering deals you won’t find in the stores. The BBB suggests looking into the website to make sure you’re not falling into a scam. Some things to look out for:

• Do they have a phone number and a physical address?
• How long have they been in business?
• Do they have a good track record from previous customers?

Watch Out for Fake Retail Apps

Just like fake websites, fake apps are built at this time of year to take advantage of people who prefer shopping from their phones. The IBT asks shoppers to be especially wary of phone shopping apps, as even those marked with an Amazon or Ebay logo could be faking it.

Use a Credit Card

While it may not keep hackers from getting their hands on your card number, using a credit card is safer than reaching for your debit. Credit cards have more security features than debit cards and credit companies are more willing to replace your stolen money than most banks, according to IBT.

Be Wary of Promotional Emails

Scammers know Black Friday is around the corner and everyone’s looking for the best deal. So the IBT says to treat all promotional emails that aren’t coming from a trusted retailer as dangerous material. Even if you open the email, do not click on any links inside.

Use Strong Passwords

The BBB defines a strong passwords as one with numbers, capital and lowercase letters and a symbol. A strong password should be used on all of your accounts, including email and online banking.

Update Your Operating System

As annoying as they might be, all those updates for your computer are designed to fix vulnerabilities in the system. The IBT says ignoring them could be dangerous.

Use a Secure WiFi Connection

Hoping on the free connection from down the street can be tempting, but unsecure network connections leave your information open to the scammers waiting for you to click connect. IBT says public computers are also a no-go.

image via shutterstock

See Also:

Top 10 Holiday Scams to Guard Against

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