Tips to protect you from online
attacks
It’s that time of year when shopping
centres are bedecked with Christmas decorations and Little Drummer Boy gets put
on what seems like an infinite loop. Most people are getting ready to relax and
recharge their batteries for the year to come. And in the digital age of today,
they are often doing so with their favourite tablet or mobile device in hand.
With so much time spent at home or at
<insert favourite holiday spot>, online activity tends to increase
considerably as more evenings are spent surfing the internet, indulging in some
online retail therapy, playing games, or keeping up with friends via social
media. Consulting firm Deloitte recently estimated that online sales now
account for the equivalent of more than 5.5 million square meters of retail
space. It seems that this year more people than ever will indulge in some
online shopping from the comfort of their own home or while on the move with
their mobile device.
Tips
to protect you from online attacks
However, during these warm and relaxing
summer evenings, it is important to remain vigilant. Just because you’re on
holiday and getting into the festive spirit doesn’t mean that those
opportunistic cybercriminals will also be taking it easy.
During the holiday season especially, more
financial transactions will take place than at any other time of the year.
Cybercriminals have been known to set up fraudulent Web sites that seem to
offer great deals, when in fact they are merely traps hoping to entice
unwitting people to enter their credit card details.
While it is great that South Africans are
benefitting from the convenience and choice that an online shopping experience
brings, it is also important that they protect themselves from the growing
array of online threats out there as they use their cards and personal details
online.
Here are some tips to protect you online
and making sure that it is not the scammers and cybercriminals who are having
happy holidays.
1. Be wary of unsecured or unknown Web sites. When shopping online,
always use reputable dealers and make sure that any transactions you make only
take place across secure pages. These are usually denoted by a padlock sign in
your browser address bar.
Be
wary of unsecured or unknown Web sites
2. Watch out for spam emails. “This year’s top toy 80% cheaper” or “Win
all your holiday gifts and get them delivered direct to your door!” Seem too
good to be true? Well, it most probably is. Cybercriminals are fully aware of
the searches we make online during certain times of the year and they know the
kind of emails we wish would land in our inbox. Always be cautious of any
emails you receive from unknown recipients or that seem just that bit too
generous.
3. Be careful on social networking sites. Gangs have been known to
monitor people’s social profiles to find out when they’re going away (for example
staying with relatives over the holiday period and their home will be left
empty). Be mindful of this when telling the world that you’ll be spending the
two weeks over the festive season away from your own home.
Be
careful on social networking sites
4. Keep personal information secured. Make sure that whatever you
happen to be doing online that you do not to give out any personal information.
Always be cautious when befriending someone online, particularly via social
networking sites where personal information may be easily exposed. People
aren’t always who they say they are.
5. Keep your mobile phone protected. Thieves are always on the lookout
for opportunities. When out in large crowds doing your holiday shopping, always
ensure that you know the whereabouts of your mobile phone and other personal
belongings. Make sure that your phone is pin-protected and that you have
downloaded a security app which allows you to wipe any personal data, should it
be stolen.
