Be Cyber-Smart this Holiday Season

The holiday season is here and that means many of us will break out our credit cards to shop for gifts, make travel arrangements and give back through donations to our favorite charities as we celebrate this special time of year.

This is also a cybercriminals’ favorite time of year, so it is important to be wary of your personal finances so you can stay merry. Here are some ways you can protect your accounts and financial information from cyber thieves this holiday season.

Shop Smart Online

Shopping online is an easy and convenient way to take care of your holiday gift list, but you will want to pay close attention to the sites you visit and the information you share. 

Shop on Websites You Know and Trust — Limit your shopping to reliable, established online retailers and websites of business you know.  Sites with solid reputation are less likely to trick you into sharing sensitive information or engage in other risky behavior.

Only Order from Secure Websites – To keep your personal information private, look for a small lock icon in the corner of the URL field. This helps ensure that your information is protected while shopping online.

Protect Your Personal Information — When making a purchase online, only provide information required to complete the transaction. Even though it is convenient, don’t save your credit card number with the online retailer.

Think Before You Click — Pay attention to emails and text messages you receive. Don’t open emails from unknown senders or click on links if the message seems suspicious.

Monitor Your Accounts. Check your online financial accounts regularly for suspicious spending. Also, take advantage of text and email alerting services that most credit card providers offer.

Travel Cyber Safety

No one is exempt from the threat of cybercrime, at home or on the go, but you can follow these simple tips to stay safe online when traveling.

Avoid Free Wi-Fi. Although connecting to free public Wi-Fi sounds great, it is often unsecure and can expose your devices and personal information to hackers. Instead, use a VPN or your mobile phone as a hotspot when going online.

Disable Auto-Connect on Your Devices. If your mobile phone or tablet automatically connects to wireless networks or Bluetooth devices, disable those features, and connect manually only when you want to.

Secure Your Devices. Keep track of your laptop, smartphone, tablet and even accessories such as USB drives – especially while on the go, and don’t leave your devices unattended in public places.

Avoid Shared Computers. If using computers at hotel business centers and other places that offer shared systems, avoid making purchases or logging into email. You don’t know if the systems are up to date with the latest security software or if the machines are safe.

Online Giving

Online thieves know the holidays spark the desire to give back, making charity donations a favorite target.

Do Your Research First.  Never feel pressured to give on the spot. Visit the website of the Internal Revenue Service’s website to learn more about what types of organizations can get tax-deductible donations. Also, use other online resources, such as Charity Navigator, CharityWatch or GiveWell, to learn about charities and how they spend the money they receive.

Ignore Unsolicited Requests. Be wary of emails and phone calls asking for donations, especially from organizations unfamiliar to you. If you want to donate, visit their websites directly or call to make a donation.

Doublecheck the Website. Check website URLs carefully since cybercriminals often create websites and names that are very similar to legitimate, reputable organizations. Check the spelling of the organization’s name and the URL very closely for discrepancies.

Think Before You Pay. Never wire money or send cash. If you donate online, make sure the website is secure by looking for the s in https at the beginning of the URL. When writing a check, make it payable to the organization or pay via credit card.

If you have questions about how you can keep your accounts and personal information safe and secure, schedule an appointment here to speak with a Town & Country representative.