Holiday Purchasing Online

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The holidays are right around the corner and that means food, fun, parties, and lots of online shopping. Online shopping can be a great solution, allowing you to find the perfect gift and saving time, but it can also end with identity theft, malware, and other cyber unpleasantness. Rather than letting it ruin your holiday season, you can take a few simple security precautions to help reduce the chances of being a cyber victim.

When purchasing online this holiday season - and all year long - keep these tips in mid to help minimize your risk:

Do not use public computers or public wireless Internet access for your online shopping.Public computers and wireless networks may contain viruses and other malware that steal your information, which can lead to identity theft and financial fraud.
Secure your computer and mobile devices.Be sure to keep the operating system, software, and/or apps updated/patched on all of your computers and mobile devices. Use up-to-date antivirus protection and make sure it is receiving updates.
Use strong passwords.The use of strong, unique passwords is one of the simplest and most important steps to take in securing your devices, computers, and online accounts. If you need to create an account with the merchant, be sure to use a strong, unique password. Always use more than ten characters, with numbers, special characters, and upper and lower case letters. Use a unique password for every unique site. The August Newsletter contains more information about the dangers of password reuse and is available at: http://msisac.cisecurity.org/newsletters/2015-08.cfm
Know your online shopping merchants.Limit your online shopping to merchants you know and trust. If you have questions about a merchant, check with the Better Business Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission. Confirm the online seller's physical address, where available, and phone number in case you have questions or problems.Do not create an online account with a merchant you don’t trust.
Pay online with one credit card.A safer way to shop on the Internet is to pay with a credit card rather than debit card. Debit cards do not have the same consumer protections as credit cards. Credit cards are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act and may limit your liability if your information was stolen or used improperly. By using one credit card, with a lower balance, for all your online shopping you also limit the potential for financial fraud to affect all of your accounts. Always check your statements regularly and carefully, though.
Look for "https" in the Internet address (URL) when making an online purchase.
The "s" in "https" stands for "secure" and indicates that communication with the webpage is encrypted. This helps to ensure your information is transmitted safely to the merchant and no one can spy on it. Alternatively, look for the lock symbol (it’s sometimes green) in the Internet address bar.
Do not respond to pop-ups.When a window pops up promising you cash or gift cards for answering a question or taking a survey, close it by pressing Control + F4 on a Windows computer and Command + W on a Mac. These could be social engineering attempts designed to convince you to open malware or click on a malicious link.
Do not auto-save your personal information.When purchasing online, you may be given the option to save your personal information online for future use. Consider if the convenience is really worth the risk. The convenience of not having to reenter the information is insignificant compared to the significant amount of time you’ll spend trying to repair the loss of your stolen personal information.
Use common sense to avoid scams.Don't give out your personal or financial information via email or text. Information on many current scams can be found on the website of the Internet Crime Complaint Center: http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspxand the Federal Trade Commission: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts.
Review privacy policies. Review the privacy policy for the website/merchant you are visiting. Know what information the merchant is collecting about you, how it will be stored, how it will be used, and if it will be shared with others.