During the pandemic, the demand for e-commerce, or electronic commerce, grew exponentially. Thousands of users purchased a product for the first time through a virtual store. Now, with the Christmas holidays at the door, millions of people are expected to purchase their gifts through the internet.
According to a study carried out by the Institute for Business Value 202188% of the consumers surveyed plan to make Christmas purchases, of this sample 38% plan to do it 100% online. In this context, it is important to consult some security measures to avoid falling into fraud.
Being ‘hyper-vigilant’ is particularly important as cybercriminals are likely to seek opportunities to obtain personal information, spread malware, and take advantage of the wealth of data that is shared during the hectic Christmas season.
Tips to avoid falling for cyber fraud
Here are some tips to keep in mind if you are going to make purchases online. These tips, from IBM, apply for this and any other season.
- Do not save your information: Never store your credit card information on shopping websites and web browsers, especially those that you don’t use.
- Beware of unexpected package tracking emails: It is common for cybercriminals to use package tracking emails to install malware.
- Always use your credit card if you don’t feel safe: Credit cards are more protected and if it is compromised, there will be no impact on your main bank account.
- Do not click on the links if you are not absolutely sure: Can’t remember ordering something? Log in to your merchant account and check it out directly. Don’t trust your email.
- Please use a different email address for purchases: Have a separate email address from your personal address for shopping or dealing with commerce websites.
- Be wary of coupons or discount codes: If it is an email, do not click on any links or buttons. Write the codes directly on the merchant’s website to validate them.
- Use unique passwords for each online store: Never reuse the same credentials on multiple websites. You can use a password manager so you don’t have to memorize them.
- Examine the URLs or links of the shops: Do you see an “L” instead of an “i”? Take a close look at the URLs and if you’re not sure, don’t click. Reputable brands have simple and clear websites.
- Use Multifactor Authentication (MFA): Even if someone has access to your password, using MFA is the last line of defense as it adds an additional layer in which the user remains in control.
- Get creative with password recovery answers: Never opt for questions whose answers are predictable or that could be on social media such as “the name of the street you grew up on.” Instead, select an opinion question such as “what is your favorite movie of all time.”
It never hurts to be cautious
On issues of cybersecurity it is good to trust instinct, If something is too good to be true, it is probably not true. Although it is particularly important to be cautious during the season because there is a notable increase in cyber threats, awareness around cybersecurity should be part of the daily routine because cybercriminals are looking to capitalize on opportunities to execute attacks all year long.
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