Cyber Security Tips for Online Shopping

This holiday season, don’t get lost in the excitement of celebration and gift giving. Remember to always be on the lookout for odd or suspicious activity, especially for deals that seem too good to be true.
 

• When possible, purchase from websites you already know, trust, and have done business with previously. For a new website, verify it has a legitimate mailing address and a phone number for sales or support-related questions.
• Look for obvious warning signs, like deals that are obviously too good to be true or the use of poor grammar and spelling. 
• Hover over all URLs and make sure they are going to a legitimate website. Watch out for "lookalikes" such as "Amazon.co" instead of "Amazon.com"
• Pay close attention to the sender's email address. The domain name should match the retailer's legitimate website. If you're reading email on your cell phone, expand the sender name to see the address.
• Regularly review your credit card and bank statements to ensure there are no suspicious charges, especially after you have used your cards to make online purchases.
• Ensure the computer or mobile device you are using to make online purchases is secure by installing the latest updates and running antivirus software. 
   

Remember, Black Friday and Cyber Monday scams depend on creating a sense of urgency, using these special shopping days to spur immediate action and grab deals before they're gone. Resist the sense of urgency. Stop and think before you click. (Sources: SANS.org, us-cert.gov/ncas, and darkreading.com)

If you haven’t completed your November Information Security Training please go to the Information Security Echo Page to sign in and complete the training.