Stay Cyber Safe This Holiday Season 

The holiday season is a prime time for cybercriminals to take advantage of increased online activity. Here are some tips to help you stay safe: 

  1.  Be Wary of Fake Alerts: Cybercriminals often send fake alerts about suspicious activity on your accounts or shipping notices. Always verify such messages through official channels before responding. 
  2. Monitor Your Financial Statements: Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions. Report any suspicious activity immediately. 
  3. Watch for Payment Red Flags: Legitimate stores have straightforward payment processes. Be cautious of overly complicated ones. 
  4. Don't Save Credit Card Info in Browsers: Avoid storing sensitive information in your browser. 
  5. Shop from Familiar Retailers/Websites: Stick to well-known and trusted stores. Ensure the websites you shop on are secure by looking for "https://" in the URL and a padlock icon in the address bar. 
  6. Research and Read Reviews: Check reviews on other websites and do your homework before making a purchase. 
  7. Use strong, unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): Add an extra layer of security where possible and consider using a password manager to keep track of your passwords. 

General Advice: 

  • Common Sense: If something seems off, trust your instincts. "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." 

*The above article is a MS Copilot summarization of content from: canada.ca/en/communications-security/news/2024/11/shoppers-beware-of-cyber-scams-this-black-friday-and-cyber-monday-federal-partners-warn.html  

And washingtonpost.com/business/2021/11/24/safe-online-holiday-shopping-tips/