Holiday Season Means More Cyberattacks and Scams

The holiday season is finally upon us once again. The most anticipated and appreciated time of the year is also a synonym for retailers to boost their sales using extraordinary discounts on some of our favorite gifts. As we all know, more and more customers turn to online shopping because it’s more convenient. In 2015, web sales grossed more than $440 billion in total, and the holiday season took no small part in the increasing figures, which are expected to grow even further. However, there is a dark side to online commercialism, because hackers and other cybercriminals will be on the prowl for their own slice of the cake. Each passing year, more and more customers fall victim of scams and hacking attempts. In addition, ordinary-looking websites may turn out to be phishing schemes, not to mention the fake pop-up ads that flood your browser, and even having the goods delivered to your home can be dangerous.

Check and double-check

Many websites’ seemingly trustworthy image can be no more than a scheme created by cybercriminals to steal your billing information, tricking you into purchasing amazingly cheap products, such as the latest smartphones, gaming consoles and more. In this measure, always make sure to check whether a website’s URL starts HTTPS, which indicates that a website is secured using SSL encryption. Also, keep an eye out for strange layouts and too much personal information inquiries. Identity thieves and credit/debit card frauds are on their peak at this time of the year, because more unsuspecting people resort to online shopping. Pay attention to what personal details you provide, including your address for the shipping.

Even if you managed to survive the minefield of online shopping during the holiday season (congratulations by the way), the threats aren’t out of the way. As we told before, when a legit purchase and delivery is made, you can’t lean back and start fantasizing about the brand new iPhone you just ordered. If you happen to be away from home at the time your package is being delivered, the product is left at your door waiting for you. This is more than an invite to see it stolen and an indicator for whoever passes by that your house is empty. Installing a surveillance camera on your front door – a doorbell camera would also be useful – can help you receive the package in perfect condition and enjoy your purchase once and for all.