If we plan our purchases well and follow some simple guidelines, we will avoid falling into the traps of cybercriminals and we will keep our personal information safe.
Online sales on Black Friday this year will increase by 10% compared to the last edition, according to the latest Google report. On this day, shops are filled with striking discounts that encourage us to buy and many users take the opportunity to make their Christmas purchases.
However, the high volume of purchases through the Internet that occur on this day, and on the following days such as Cyber Monday, is an opportunity that cybercriminals take advantage of to try to capture personal data, credentials, or money to use them for their own benefit or resell to a third party. In fact, Entergy, The BusinessTech Consultancy, has confirmed that on occasions like Singles Day, the Chinese Black Friday that sets online sales records every year, the number of attacks of this type increases massively.
From Entergy Innotec Security, specialists in cybersecurity, they offer us a series of tips so that this day our money and personal data are safe:
- Buy only on trusted websites: on the occasion of Black Friday, there are many shops and brands that offer very interesting discounts. However, there are also clones of these pages that are difficult to detect, which take advantage of their vulnerabilities to introduce some type of virus. To avoid scares, it is advisable to write the URL directly in the browser and, once we access, check that it begins with HTTPS (not HTTP) along with the padlock symbol next to it.
- Keep your device protected and updated: whether it is a computer, tablet, or mobile, it is very important to have an antivirus installed on devices that connect to the Internet and to keep the operating system, programs, and applications updated since these updates usually solve problems and vulnerabilities. It is also essential to use strong and non-obvious passwords, including numbers, symbols, upper and lower case.
- Avoid public WiFi networks: these WiFi networks are a very accessible gateway for the cybercriminal. When making purchases online, it is advisable not to use these networks or public equipment and choose private networks to guarantee our security
- Pay through secure platforms: payment by card or virtual POS is the most widespread method when we buy online, but there are also platforms in which we only have to enter a username and password to make the payment (such as PayPal or Google Pay ). In this way, the data will always be on a single platform. In addition, the use of virtual credit cards can also be useful as a double protection against attacks and fraudulent promotions.
- Be wary of dubious or unknown offers: through WhatsApp chains or email we can receive very attractive offers with great discounts. However, these types of chains are usually a trap with which cybercriminals will try to lead us to fake online stores, fraudulent payment services, or cause you to download an infected file.
- Online shopping is a solution for many consumers who want to save time and money on their products, but on days like Black Friday, big discounts and promotions can confuse us and make us not be aware of the security of our data. If we plan our purchases well and follow simple guidelines, we will avoid falling into the traps of cybercriminals and we will keep our personal information safe adds Félix Muñoz, Director of Entergy Innotec Security.
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