A lot of us are doing some online shopping today.
Last week, it was Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. Today, it’s Cyber Monday, as online retailers offer deep discounts on thousands of items, just in time for holiday shopping. Cybersecurity expert Dr. Eric Cole says cyber-criminals will also be busy today:
“They’re going to go for your identity, they’re going to go for your bank account, your credit cards… anything they can sell on the dark web and make money, they’re going to go after,” Cole says.
He recommends only using a credit card to shop online, as those offer more financial protection in case you get hacked, whereas if you use a debit card your bank account could be drained in minutes. Most credit cards offer $0 liability for fraudulent purchases.
Other tips:
- Only shop at websites you trust
- Don’t use public Wi-Fi to shop
- Create a strong, unique password for each of your accounts
- If you get an unsolicited email from a website you normally shop at, don’t click on it… instead, head to the website on your own. Some hackers have become adept at “spoofing” official online stores’ emails in order to get your personal info.
- Keep your receipt, and if you don’t receive your items on time, call the business to inquire about more details. If necessary, escalate by contacting the Federal Trade Commission.
