In any other year, many of us would be\ngearing up for airline travel, big family dinners, cocktail hours or potlucks\nwith friends, and much more. But with all the challenges this year has brought\nin terms of how we work and connect during a global pandemic, I\u2019m guessing all\nour plans look a little different than we thought they would. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since most of us are now online more\nthan ever before for work, school, personal connection, shopping, etc., it\u2019s\ncritical that take extra steps to keep our digital selves safe. With that in\nmind, we\u2019ve put together a list of 6 (ish) tips to help you and your family\nstay safe online this holiday season, no matter how or where you celebrate it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What follows are just a few of the ways scammers may target you this holiday season. We recommend you install easy-to-use tools such as Fakespot<\/a>, which is an add-on that protects consumers by detecting fraudulent product reviews and third-party sellers in real time, to help you avoid the fakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s the giving season and, thanks to the pandemic, natural disasters, and other current events, there are plenty of people in the world who could use a little extra help. Good on you for contributing to the public good! Unfortunately, not even charities are sacred to scammers, and they will take advantage of your desire to help others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s critical to do your research! We\nrecommend you visit trusted organizations, like Charity Watch<\/a>,\nto learn more about the charities you\u2019ve chosen and their efficiency,\ngovernance and accountability before committing money. Additionally, be\nsuspicious of aggressive pitches including multiple calls and emails or tactics\nthat require immediate donation. Lastly, never pay by gift card of wire\ntransfer. Use a credit card instead, as it\u2019s easier to track and recover\nfraudulent transactions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When we say \u201csmart devices,\u201d we don\u2019t just mean things like Alexa or Google Home. There are internet-enabled fridges that tell you when you\u2019re low on groceries, let you hear and speak to someone at your front door, function as a baby monitor, and even tell you when your laundry\u2019s done. There are also smart thermostats, garage door openers, light fixtures, and so much more. All of these gadgets form a network of connected devices known as the Internet of Things (IoT). And each one could potentially let a hacker into your home network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be selective when it comes to purchasing connected smart home and IoT devices. Choose reputable brands that include security, such as the ability to change passwords and perform firmware updates. Cheaper knockoffs of name brand devices might be easier on your wallet, but they are often designed without security in mind. Additionally, since the business model for knockoffs is typically to turn a profit as quickly as possible, there\u2019s no guarantee the device manufacturer will even be around in a year or two to send out security updates or offer support if your device malfunctions<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get a cool new gadget in the family gift swap? (Or buy something awesome just for yourself? Don\u2019t worry, we won\u2019t tell the kids.) Protect that tech investment by installing security right away. It\u2019s not the most exciting thing to do with a new toy, but it\u2019ll help make sure you get to enjoy it without worrying about malicious actors joining in on the fun<\/p>\n\n\n\n When planning your virtual holiday get-togethers, use trusted video conferencing providers like Zoom, who have paid close attention to security issues this year and adapted product defaults to enable safer user experiences. Also, be cautious of any websites that request permissions from your browser to access your camera and microphone. If you get one of these notifications, close out of your browser. Do not engage with the permissions request in any way<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve said it before, we\u2019ll say it again. Good online habits are your best defense \u2013 and it really doesn\u2019t take much effort to keep yourself and your family safe<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>During the holidays, the number of promotional emails you receive is likely to go up as online stores run flash sales. With that in mind, scammers are likely to up their game, mimicking legitimate offer emails and websites in the hopes that your desire for a sweet deal will pay out for them. Use extra caution and don\u2019t click anything in an offer email. Go to the retailer\u2019s official website (type it directly into your browser instead of clicking a link in an email) to help ensure you\u2019re shopping securely. <\/li>
You may get offers for \u201cfree\u201d gift cards to online retailers, such as Amazon, Walmart or Target. Remember: very little in life is free. This is another way that criminals may try to trick you into downloading malware or exposing sensitive information that they can use to steal your money or identity.<\/li>
<\/strong>Since 94% of people<\/a> are shopping online more or about the same as they were pre-pandemic, fake package notifications are another way that cybercriminals may target you. If you receive an email or text message about a missed delivery, be sure to double-check the details, such as the shipper (for example, maybe you\u2019re only expecting a Prime or USPS delivery, so a FedEx notification should throw a red flag), the tracking numbers, etc. And, of course, don\u2019t click or download anything in the text or email message itself<\/li>
<\/strong>If you see an ad or email for a high-ticket item that suddenly costs less than 10% of the regular retail price, it\u2019s practically guaranteed to be 100% fake. Let\u2019s face it: there\u2019s just no way you\u2019re going to get real Ray-Bans for the low, low price of $24.99. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n2. Use caution with your charitable donations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Research your smart devices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Secure any new tech toys right away<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Use reputable video chatting services to connect with loved ones<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
6. Remember the basics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n