As the holiday season comes into focus, you might find yourself shopping online more than before. Whether you’re buying gifts for loved ones or taking advantage of holiday season sales for yourself, you’ll want to keep your information and data protected when shopping.
Before you start your holiday shopping spree, consider these ways to keep yourself safe and ensure your data remains secured.
Check your URL
Before considering a purchase, make sure the site you’re shopping on is secure. One way to check is to look for "https" in the URL which indicates the site uses encryption to protect your data.
If you’ve clicked a link via email, it’s especially important to check the entire URL before making a purchase. A prevalent email scam may look like it's coming from your favorite shopping site, but really redirects you to a fake site with the same look and feel. If you enter your credit card information on that fake site it will be at risk for theft.
Use strong passwords
Make sure your passwords are strong, using a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols, between 12-16 characters, and not using any keywords like your name or address. This will make it nearly impossible for hackers to uncover your password. Also, don’t reuse passwords across multiple sites or else you could have multiple accounts hacked at the same time.
Consider advanced security features
There are several advanced security features you can consider that are easy to implement and can help protect your online shopping experience.
- Two-factor authentication (2FA): This requires you to verify your identity a second time via a text message, email, or other method, which can keep you safe even if your password is compromised.
- Biometric authentication: Utilizes fingerprint, facial recognition, or voice identification to verify your identity before completing a transaction.
- Password manager: Helps generate strong, unique passwords for each site you use, and reduces the risk of hacking.
- Virtual private network (VPN): Protects your data by encrypting your internet connection. This can be especially useful if you’re using public Wi-Fi.
Monitor your financial statements and credit reports
While your bank will hopefully alert you to any suspicious activity, it can still be a good idea to check your bank and credit card statements during the holiday season to ensure a fraudster isn’t spending your money. If you do see a suspicious charge, notify your financial institution right away to get it resolved.
You can also check your credit report for free through the major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to ensure that no one has opened unauthorized accounts or credit inquiries in your name.
Stay safe, shop smart
Dealing with identity theft or fraud during the holidays season can put a damper on what is supposed to be a joyous time of year. You can reduce your chances of having a financial mishap by taking these steps to protect your data, and identity online. Of course, if you do believe that you’ve been the target of fraud or theft, make sure to contact your financial institution or the appropriate authorities to protect yourself from further damage.