Cyber Monday Security Tips

For some of us, Thanksgiving doesn’t end at dinner. All month long we save our money for that one shopping spree, Black Friday/Cyber Monday! Many people prefer to avoid the crowds and long lines by staying at home and shopping online. Just like being safe when you’re out shopping on Black Friday, you need to be safe shopping online as well. Below we created a list of Cyber Monday security tips.

Use Sites, Not Search Engines

It only takes one click to the wrong site. By using websites you are more familiar with, instead of using Google, you can avoid getting links to unsecure or faulty URLs. 

Credit Cards vs Debit Cards

When making a purchase online it’s inevitable that you provide your card information, but you can take measures to keep your information safe. If you have a credit card, it’s safer to use rather than debit. This is because your debit card is linked directly to your bank. 

Sharing 

Like in person, there are boundaries online! Many sites like to ask shoppers for too much information. Be careful about sharing your information. Other than checking out, websites should never ask for personal information beyond an email address.

Private Wi-Fi

Hopefully, you’re able to shop from the comfort of your own home. If not, make sure that wherever you’re shopping from the Wi-Fi is private and secure. It’s easy for hackers to get information from an unsecured or public Wi-Fi.

Monitor Accounts

It can be difficult to look at your accounts after spending a lot of money, yet it’s smart to look at the accounts to make sure your purchases are correct. When checking your account if you find that there’s a fraudulent charge, you should call the bank immediately. 

If you’re going to shop online, it’s important to be safe! Taking these easy steps to ensure you and your personal information is protected will make it harder for hackers to compromise you. Remember to stay safe, and happy shopping from Bank of the Lowcountry!