By 2024, the e-commerce industry is projected to witness a growth of 9.4%, soaring to a staggering $8 trillion by 2027, marking the first time it reaches this milestone. With the rise in online shopping, cybercriminals are seizing more opportunities to exploit unsuspecting individuals. Particularly during the holiday shopping frenzy.
As we all immerse ourselves in holiday shopping and preparations, it becomes crucial to prioritize security. To ensure a stress-free holiday season, safeguard your personal and professional information. We will help you improve online security on holidays with simple steps.
#1 Learn to Recognize Phishing
Holiday shoppers are frequently targeted by phishing scams. To protect yourself, familiarize yourself with the indicators of a phishing scam, like urgent requests and suspicious attachments. Studies reveal that phishing is the starting point for 80-95% of cyber attacks.
The shipping email scam is the most prevalent type of phishing scam during the holiday shopping season. If you receive an email purportedly from a retail company, avoid opening any attached files or clicking on links. These are likely to contain malware.
#2 Be Careful With Public Wi-Fi
Cybercriminals can access public Wi-Fi without any authentication. They can position themselves between you and the connection point to obtain the data you transmit through the hotspot. To enhance security, it is recommended to avoid using public Wi-Fi networks that lack password protection.
If you must use public Wi-Fi, activate a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to add an extra layer of protection. This will conceal your IP address and activities. A VPN significantly improves online security, especially if you have a decentralized VPN. You can read more about how to use a VPN and the advantages of using a decentralized VPN at the link. In general, it is wise to use a VPN even when connected to a private Wi-Fi network
#3 Implement Passwordless Solutions
Phishing scams, social engineering schemes, and spoofing websites pose increased risks. This happens particularly during the holidays, with traditional password-based authentication methods.
If time permits, consider implementing a passwordless solution to authenticate user identity and grant access to sensitive information and financial data. Otherwise, thoroughly review password policies with employees and strengthen them with multi-factor authentication (MFA).
#4 Use a Secure Digital Wallet
Ensure that the digital wallet service provider has security measures in place when storing your card information. Opt for digital wallet providers with additional security features like tokenization or biometric authentication, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. While using this service reduces the risk of keystroke logging or phishing, it is recommended to choose providers with enhanced security measures.
#5 Limit the Information You Share
Cybercriminals can easily access your personal information by examining what you share online. So, it’s important to restrict the personal information you disclose on social media and other websites. To improve your privacy, you can use Edge VPN free or the version for your browser. This way you can anonymously use social networks or, if you are logged in to your account, hide your location.
It’s a good practice to avoid saving your card details on the Internet. Unless you’re enrolling in an automated payment service, manually entering your credit card information for each transaction helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access. Although it might seem tedious, it is an effective way to minimize the chances of unauthorized access.
#6 Keep Your Software Up To Date
Keeping your software up to date is one of the most effective ways to safeguard yourself against cyber attacks. This includes regularly updating your operating system, web browser, and other frequently used software.
Many may find the task of updating software tedious, but it’s crucial to address any security vulnerabilities that cybercriminals might exploit. Attackers continually seek new ways to breach systems, but software updates can help thwart their efforts and maintain your security.
#7 Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
All business-related software and services utilized by employees must have multifactor authentication (MFA) enabled. Cybercriminals, apart from using malware, often try to gain entry into systems by exploiting stolen account credentials within a business network.
Enabling MFA ensures that malevolent actors with login credentials cannot access network resources without completing additional verification steps, such as confirming a login on a new device through an authentication app.
Conclusion
During the busy holiday season, stay extra vigilant while shopping, booking travel plans, sharing information, or interacting online with friends and family. Follow these tips to enhance your protection and have a cyber-secure holiday with peace of mind.
