Holiday Cyber Security Tips 2022: Stay Safe from Online Threats this Thanksgiving

The holidays are finally here. It is that time of the year when we celebrate festivities with loved ones and go along with events like holiday sales. But as you plan your weekend getaway or begin shopping for gifts online, you might forget something very important: your online security.

In spite of Thanksgiving and other holidays, scammers and other online criminals are always active. Scams are, in fact, more common during these holidays, according to research.

According to Adobe, consumers will spend $11.2 billion on Cyber Monday, up 5.1% from last year. On the other hand, Black Friday digital sales will increase by 1% to $9 billion.

While people and businesses are at their peak busiest, scammers and hackers might join the holiday rush and target the next unsuspecting online shopper.

Following are important steps to take if you become a victim of a scam or cyberattack over the holidays, as well as ways to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Secure Your Device, Passwords, and Online Accounts

Whether you use a phone or a laptop, you will never be safe from hackers unless you take some safety measures.

Your devices contain a lot of your personal information, and an unsecured phone or laptop is a perfect target for online criminals who can steal your identity as well as much of your digital data. They can then use it to gain access to your bank accounts and other sensitive information.

These tips from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) will help you stand your ground against criminals on the Internet.

According to the cybersecurity agency, one of the best ways to secure your devices is to ensure that the device and the apps you use with it are all up to date. This is due to the fact that online threats evolve, and providers install additional protection via software updates and patches.

Furthermore, after purchasing an internet-connected device, change the default password and create unique and complex passwords for each one. You should also consider using a password manager to assist you. Now this one should be a no-brainer: choose a secure password. This article can help you with that.

Next, verify the privacy and security settings on the device to ensure that you are aware of how your information will be used and stored. Be careful not to disclose any more information than you are required to.

Make certain that you are dealing with a reputable, established vendor before providing any personal or financial information.

Criminals look at social media profiles to see when people are taking weekend trips. Think twice before sharing when or where you are traveling or posting vacation photos, advises CNBC. When traveling, the report advises disabling geotagging to prevent your precise location from being known.

Furthermore, avoid using unsecured public WiFi, especially when conducting business or shopping. Additionally, unless you are sure of their source, avoid clicking links or downloading attachments. If you're not sure if an email is authentic, type the retailer's or other company's URL into your web browser rather than clicking the link.

Scammed? Hacked? Contact Authorities

Have you fallen victim to a phishing scam or a fraudulent shopping website? It is not too late to contact authorities.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

• Email: spam@ftc.gov
• Phone: 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357)
• Online complaint form: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en

FBI/Internet Crime Complaint Center

• Phone: (800) 221-4424
• Online complaint form: https://www.ic3.gov/complaint/default.aspx

FTC - Identity theft

• More information: https://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/defend.html

National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch

• Phone: 1-800-876-7060
• Report form: https://secure.nclforms.org/nficweb/nfic.htm

You can also contact your local police.