‘Tis the season, and if you’re like most of us, that means your holiday shopping is in full swing. According to an article published by Boston Herald which cites the National Retail Federation survey, “[a]bout 30.6 million people reportedly plan to shop either in-store or online Thanksgiving Day, 108 million on Black Friday, 58.1 million on Small Business Saturday, 31.2 million on Sunday, and 62.8 million on Cyber Monday.”

Online shopping has grown tremendously in the last several years due to the convenience of ordering from the comforts of home with many online retailers offering one- and two-day delivery. Not only is online shopping convenient for shoppers and beneficial for businesses but it is also a target for cybercriminals and fraudulent activity. 

To help keep your personal information safe while shopping online, we recommend the following tips:

1. Don’t use public Wi-Fi. Most public places that offer free Wi-Fi have an unsecured network to make accessing the internet easier for guests. Do not use unsecured networks to enter private information such as checking account information or credit card information. Unsecured networks are much easier for a hacker to access compared to a secure, password-protected network. Make sure you are doing your shopping from a secure network such as your home internet to ensure your personal information does not wind up in the wrong hands.
2. Only shop at sites you trust. According to an article published by Stay Safe Online, “Fraudsters are fond of setting up fake e-commerce sites. Prior to making a purchase, read reviews to hear what others say about the merchant. Check trusted sources, like the Better Business Bureau, as well. In addition, look for a physical location and any customer service information. It’s also a good idea to call the merchant to confirm that they are legitimate.”
3. Check for secured websites and spelling. Before making a purchase, you want to first check the URL and make sure you are at the correct website. Scam-based websites can appear to look almost identical to the actual website. According to Stansberry Research, “[m]any scam-based websites will look almost like the real thing. Sites with ".co" after them are often fake sites and may also have hackers lurking.” You also want to make sure the URL has an ‘s’ after http (https://), to signify that the website you are using is secured. Most browsers also show a padlock either beside the URL or at the bottom of the website to indicate that the website is secure. If a website is not secure, do not enter your personal information as it is much easier for hackers to obtain your information.
4. Pay with a credit card. Using your credit card for online purchases is a better option than using your debit card as there are more consumer protections for a credit card should something go wrong. You may also consider using a third-party payment service such as PayPal when purchasing online to help protect your banking information.

We hope these tips help you avoid potential harm while shopping online. Please keep these tips in mind anytime you are shopping online, not just during the holidays. Happy shopping!

NHTC is a local broadband provider serving the New Hope, Grant, Owens Cross Roads and Gurley communities in Northern Alabama. NHTC has been in business for 70 years and was founded by the local community. NHTC is 100% fiber-to-the-premise and offers Broadband Internet speeds up to 1 Gbps. If you are looking for fast, reliable Internet speeds backed by exceptional customer service, look no further than NHTC. Call to learn more today. 256-723-4211