Top Tips for Staying Safe Online during the Holidays
The holiday season is fast approaching and this year, so many families are going to need to do virtual visits and more people will do their shopping online. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), received more than 68,000 complaints in 2019 from victims over age 60 who experienced losses of more than $835 million.
This holiday season, we want to make sure you and your personal information are protected. Here are 5 quick tips to stay safe online this holiday season.
Tip 1: Be Cautious of Phone Scams
Phone scams occur year ‘round but tend to increase around the holidays. They often pretend to be a representative from a known agency or organization. Common disguises that scammers use include:
The IRS
The Social Security Administration
The Police
A relative
An unknown charity
A charity you have donated to
A well- known company like Microsoft, Amazon, or Apple
If you receive a call from one of these types of organizations or any call that seems suspicious, tell them you will call the organization back directly and hang up.
As a rule of thumb, it is best practice not to give personal information out on the phone to someone you do not know, this includes (but is not limited) to your address, banking information, social security number and passwords.
And, NEVER allow someone you don’t know to access your computer unless you have a pre-scheduled appointment that you have requested in advance.
Read more about hackers and gift card scams here.
Tip 2: Be Cautious of Email Scams
Email scams are common around the holidays and the main purpose is to gain access to personal information including credit card information, usernames and passwords.
It is common for these emails to be disguised as emails from your bank, a credit card company, app or online payment website or online store. They can even include the company’s logo!
Here are some tips to help you avoid email scams:
If you receive an email saying that they’ve noticed suspicious activity, multiple failed login attempts, ask you to confirm personal information, claim there is an issue with your account or ask you to make a payment, lookup the company’s customer service line and call to confirm!
Avoid opening or downloading any attachments in the email.
Make sure to read the link before clicking because often the link may be a character or two off from the real company’s website. If you’re unsure if a link is safe, it is best to not click it.
Ignore and delete emails claiming that you won something free, gift cards or vacations because they are likely malicious.
Tip 3: Use Strong Passwords
A great way to protect your personal information is to use strong passwords when creating accounts. Below is a list of some best practices for creating strong passwords.
It is best to use lowercase and uppercase letters and a special character like ! or @ in your password.
The longer your password, the better!
Avoid using personal information like your birthday or family member’s name.
Make sure it’s easy to remember.
Write it down in a safe place.
You may want to explore a password manager to help you stay organized. This is a secure way to store passwords and also give a loved one access to your passwords in a safe way.
Tip 4: Backup your Data
If you accidentally click or download a malicious link, we want to make sure that we can help you recover all your information! It is best practice to regularly backup all your information on all your devices including smartphones, tablets and computers.
You can use an external hard drive or backup to a cloud storage.
Tip 5: What to do if you think you have been hacked
Stay extra alert to any suspicious activity on any of your credit cards or accounts because this time of year is also primetime for scams.
If you suspect suspicious activity on any of your credit cards or accounts, alert the organization’s customer service line! They will be able to advise you on next steps to help re-secure your account and information.
If you do fall victim to a scam and think someone has accessed your computer, disconnect the device from the Internet as soon as possible and call a professional to check for and get rid of Malware.
Candoo is here to help! If you need assistance with learning how to backup your devices, install password managers or check for malware, call us at 646-758-6606 or email support@candootech.com to schedule an appointment.