4 Online Shopping Safety Tips

Online sales on Black Friday hit a new record this year, according to Adobe Analytics. Shoppers spent $6.22 billion online on Black Friday, up from $5.03 billion last year. More than $2 billion in sales were done on smartphones, double the amount from last year.

Unfortunately, the high number of digital consumers presents a huge opportunity for cyberthieves.

Here are few tips from the Federal Trade Commission and Identity Theft Resource Center on how to protect your digital profile.

Do a digital audit: When was the last time you checked to see what personal information is out there? Go ahead, Google yourself. You may be surprised what old social media profiles, emails or other accounts may pop up.

Set up alerts: Put that smartphone and connectivity to good use. Set up text and email alerts so you’ll know immediately about any suspicious transactions or activity ranging from password changes to login attempts. It is also recommended to enable two-factor authentication. While it may feel a time-consuming extra step to get a 6-digit code to access or authorize something, experts say it’s worth the added security you’ll receive in return.

Update passwords: The general rule is if it’s easy for you to remember then it’s easy for thieves to figure out as well. Experts say the exception to this rule is using a seven to 10-digit phrase and swapping numbers, capital letters and symbols in for letters. The odds are in your favor that it won’t be as easy to hack. While we are talking updates, you should also take the time to do those software, app and operating system updates. Yes, they can be annoying, but you will be saving the headache of your personal data being more vulnerable to thieves.

Know where you are shopping: Experts say it’s never been easier to shop on a secure site. Look for the lock symbol, which indicates a site is secure, and do your best to ensure you are on the actual retail site.

By Myriam DiGiovanni
Courtesy of CUInsight