We are in the middle of Black Friday week and season, so you will certainly have already been inundated with emails, SMSs, app notifications and posts on social media. Everything and anything about the most fantastic Black Friday discounts, offers and deals.
As tempting as business may be, take a few seconds to think about these five cybersecurity tips. Black Friday may be the time of year with the most attractive offers, but it is also the one that attracts the most fraud and cybercrime in the online world.
Good practices and security tips to keep in mind
Briefly, these are the main tips highlighted by Exclusive Networks to stay safe while taking advantage of the opportunities and discounts of the occasion.
1. Be careful with links in email, social media or text messages. It is increasingly difficult to differentiate an email or message from a legitimate website from a scam. phishing. In practice, a false link can lead to a website that almost perfectly mirrors the retailer’s online store.
Please note that any information you place on this site may be stolen. Therefore, if it seems strange, choose to do the research on your PC or phone, without following the link, and confirm the veracity of the information.
two. Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks to shop online. Public Wi-Fi networks are not secure and your personal information could be intercepted by cybercriminals if you use it to make online purchases.
3. Advertising on social media is not synonymous with a safe source. They exist posts sponsored on social media, with fantastic offers, which are very similar to “official” stores. However, they direct you to fake stores that keep the money or sell counterfeit products.
So, if a promotion piques your interest, avoid clicking on the publication and look for the offer on your PC. Presence on a social network is not synonymous with secure connection or promotion.
4. Strong passwords and 2-factor authentication. It is important to create strong and unique passwords for the most varied online shopping accounts.
Avoid using the same password on multiple sites, because if one account is compromised, all of our accounts could be at risk. Therefore, whenever possible, activate two-factor authentication, this adds an extra level of protection.
5. Monitor accounts. Pay attention and regularly check your bank and credit card statements to detect any unauthorized or suspicious transactions. We can also set up transaction alerts if your bank offers them. In practice, these alerts can notify you of any unusual activity on your account.
Finally, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas are the favorite times for cyberattacks. All because users make more purchases, spend more money, look for good deals and increasingly turn to online, and less to physical stores.
