Don't get cyber-Scrooged! Tips for safe online shopping
NEW YORK (AP) — 'Tis the season to be jolly — but it's also the season for identity theft, phishing and credit card fraud.
"People just need to have their radar up, so that when they're trying to get their perfect gift to grandma's house in time for Christmas day, they're not clicking on things they shouldn't," says Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance.
Improvements in credit card fraud detection have pushed hackers to focus on stealing legitimate login credentials, so adding an extra layer of protection to these accounts is a must, says John Dickson with the cybersecurity firm Denim Group.
Hackers could be lurking on the networks, ready to use that connection to steal credit-card numbers or other personal information.
If you're using free Wi-Fi, at least wait till you get home to check your bank account balances, Kaiser says.
Emails that offer great deals on holiday gifts or donation pitches from charities could actually be attempts to steal your credit card or login information.
Fake emails supposedly sent by online retailers or shipping companies.
Avoid debit cards — running up a credit card balance is one thing and can be challenged; draining your life's savings is another.
[...] if something advertised on a website or social media looks too good to be true, it probably is, says Brian Reed, chief marketing officer for ZeroFox, a cybersecurity firm that focuses on social media.
Instead of getting a great deal on a North Face jacket or a free iPhone, shoppers are getting their money and personal information stolen.
Experts worry that they could be used to breach a home or business network and let hackers access another device that holds private information.