Filipinos are known to enjoy the brightest of Holidays as an opportunity to relax, have fun, and reconnect with loved ones. All that comes with the natural willingness to spend on themselves and others, especially with the convenience of doing their shopping online.
While it is definitely the time to bask in the holiday spirit, the season for Christmas shopping is also a time to be extra vigilant about online security. During this time, individuals may be more vulnerable to “holiday scams” that come in various forms: special deals and vouchers, online shopping-related scams, advertisement traps, and even fake charities.
Understanding this vulnerability, Ashwin Pal, Director of Security Services for global IT company Unisys, shares simple but essential reminders that will surely allow individuals to enjoy Christmas shopping and festivities without falling into the risks of cyber theft and fraud.
CHOOSE APPS CAREFULLY
As is expected, it may be tempting to download a bunch of apps to sift through the best shopping and travel deals. However, it is best to avoid downloading unnecessary apps, particularly those that have been sent via links or advertisements.
Steer clear from downloading apps from non-restricted third-party app stores as well. Always use legitimate stores such as App Store and Google Play to reduce the risk of compromised security or worse, that may infect devices with ransomware and other .
While easily forgotten, it is crucial to keep apps and including browsers updated. Aside from topping up with new features, many updates are provided to address security issues. “Failure to update may give criminals with an opportunity to hack into your computer and steal data,” Pal says.
KEEP SAFE WHILE ONLINE SHOPPING
The convenience and quickness of online shopping makes it the perfect way to beat the rush, especially because traffic in the Philippines reaches its worst state during the Christmas season. Without being careful, this may also be hackers’ gateway to individuals’ personal data.
Visiting and subscribing to legitimate websites or shopping platforms that most people know of is the first and most trusted step to ensure cybersecurity while shopping. Links to websites from random emails are best avoided.
Always make sure to visit only secure websites by looking for the “https://www…” in the address bar.
Learn to gauge how much identification is required. Photos of IDs or credit card information are not to be shared unless one can positively validate the need for these. As an advise, Pal says that “if in doubt, do not provide the information.”
Using adequate account security is also essential. This is maintained using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication for sensitive websites such as those for online banking.
LOCK IN SECURITY OF DEVICES
With the advent of mobile technology, it is not hard to see how we have become reliant on everything mobile as we go on our daily lives. All is convenient and fun with these devices especially when security is ensured. Just as apps are supposed to be kept updated, devices’ operating systems must be so as well to make sure any new security features are properly integrated.
Data in all personal devices are also safeguarded through well-known anti-malware products, personal firewalls, or security softwares. These must be kept updated as well.
Passwords for devices including Wi-Fi network and smart devices such as phones, watches and TVs should never be underestimated. Strong passwords with at least 8 characters and a mix of letters, numbers and symbols, plus multi-factor authentication also keep data in these interconnected devices secure.
While all these reminders are strong precautionary measures, unfortunate things can and do still happen. This makes the regular backup of data extremely crucial. Creating a backup of important data allows one to easily recover them in case their personal devices become infected by ransomware.
Being proactive in keeping our personal data safe online even during our breaks can be as simple as the reminders shared. Like all things, using our devices, the internet, and our personal data to shop and make other transactions online require responsibility from the users’ end. By keeping in mind and practicing these measures, Filipinos can ensure that nothing can stop the Christmas fun and festivities —not even threats to cybersecurity.