Simple tips to stay safe while shopping online this holiday season

Ho, ho, ho

Well, the holiday season is upon us yet again -don’t get me wrong, it’s an exciting time of year – but doesn’t it seem like it’s always the holiday season?

With time moving faster than what we can keep up with, the allure of convenience is something that just becomes more and more appealing. This is what leads many consumers to shop online for their holiday gifts.

Staying safe online

This is a great option in terms of time saving and convenience, but the issue of safety always remains. Even though precautions against in-person theft have been heightened with technology such as the chip, there are still people who will worm their way around the system to steal your money, and now they’re more likely to go digital.

The holiday season is the ideal time for their attack since there is an increase in web commerce traffic. So, how can you work to keep yourself, and your money, safe?

Crafty passwords

First off, try to avoid reusing the same password for every account you have.

It may seem convenient to have the same login info for every site and every app, but it drastically reduces your online security.

If one website gets hacked and a thief scores your info, they are likely to try that same login and password on different sites. Although coming up with a different password for everything is a pain, apps like 1Password can help you manage all of your account logins.

Watch your wifi

Next, avoid using public wifi if you are shopping on your phone. While it may seem like a smart idea battery and data-wise, hackers can finagle their way through wifi systems in order to see data on the devices using it.

Also, keep your phone safe by using a non-1234 passcode, or use the thumbprint identification lock. Make sure that if you do have information saved on your phone (such as your social security number) that it isn’t listed obviously in your contacts as “Social Security Number.”

Help yourself out

It is unlikely that a time will come where are we completely safe from hackers and identity theft. However, if you are mindful and keep a few precautionary steps, you can help your future self stay a little safer.

#StaySafe