Be The Clever Online Shopper This Holiday Season

With holiday shopping season right around the corner, it’s time to think about protecting yourself from identity theft. When making purchases online, securing your personal information is critical. Identity thieves know that we’re rushing to order our Christmas gifts online and may not be all too careful when reaching a checkout page or receiving a dubious holiday season offer in our inbox. The security experts at IPVanish, the number 1 ranked VPN provider on Best Reviews for 2014, has come up with a number of tips to shop online safely this holiday season.

Shop familiar brands

Scam artists often set up fake websites for well-known companies. Do your research before buying from an online merchant. Better yet, stick to brands and vendors you already know and trust, especially if you’re in a hurry. If you’re buying from a new vendor, make sure they’re registered with the Better Business Bureau, TRUSTe or VeriSign and check customer reviews for them. Reputable vendors list their associations with these organizations on their websites.

Research the products you want to buy

Research product features and prices to make sure you’re getting a good deal on your online purchase.

Secure your Internet connection

Make sure your Wi-Fi connection is protected with a secure password. Avoid making online purchases when connected to a public Wi-Fi hotspot, as criminals often use public Wi-Fi hotspots to collect personal information.

Use unique passwords

If you use the same password on every site, you’re putting all of your personal information at risk. Create different passwords for different accounts while trying to make your passwords as strong as possible. One way to do this is to substitute numbers or symbols for letters in your password.

Make sure your transaction is encrypted

Before entering information into a payment form, make sure the page is secure. This is indicated by a URL beginning with “https” or “shttp”. You can click on the lock symbol next to the site address in your Internet browser to verify if the SSL certificate used for securing your data is valid and belongs to the site you’re currently on.

Watch out for suspicious emails and text messages

Don’t respond to messages asking for your personal information. Avoid clicking links in emails or text messages as they could lead to fraudulent websites.

Be careful with social media updates

Avoid announcing to everyone in your network that you’ll be away for the holidays. While it can be tempting to let everyone know about your holiday activities, it’s not a good idea to let everyone know you won’t be home. Verify that your home alarm system is functioning as it should, and check in on our golden home security tips for frequent travellers and your security company’s travelling advice.

Use a VPN for on-the-go shopping

Connecting to a VPN like IPVanish or HideMyAss is a great way to secure your personal information when using a public Wi-Fi hotspot. VPNs allow you to keep your information private while surfing the Internet. The best part about VPNs is that they’re completely free to try and offer a money back guarantee. You can VPN at no cost during the holidays, then decide whether you want you keep it.

By taking a few simple steps to protect your identity, you’ll avoid having your holiday ruined by identity theft. Follow the tips above to keep your personal information safe this holiday. Happy shopping!