Cybersecurity Best Practices for Black Friday and Cyber Monday

The holidays are a magical time of the year. Black Friday and Cyber Monday allow us to surprise friends and family with special gifts at a fraction of the cost. The best part is, you don’t need to leave the comfort of your home (or office) to score the best deals.

Online shopping is more advantageous than ever—many retailers have taken security precautions to avoid the potential physical dangers associated with Black Friday crowds and moved their doorbuster deals online. With a considerable number of employees working from home, many people are using personal equipment for work. Unsafely shopping online could pose a risk to company data or systems.

With more people choosing to forego crowds and do their holiday shopping online this year, how can you protect your network and data from hackers? We’ve put together a list of cybersecurity tips to help keep you safe and protect your equipment through the entire holiday shopping season.

1. Be Critical of Email Deals

Email marketing is still one of the main avenues businesses use to promote deals and products — it’s also one of the main avenues threat actors use to hack into your system.

If you’ve opened your email at all in November, you’ve probably seen a subject line or two announcing a BIG CYBER MONDAY DEAL!!!. Before you open the email, make sure you can identify the sender and that the email address looks legitimate. Phishing attacks are among the most common types of cyberattacks we experience as cybersecurity professionals at High Touch. Hackers also use “last minute” deals to instigate users. Click carefully.

2. Avoid Emails With Attachments

If hackers can get into your system, they can eventually find a way to get their hands on any file they want. One of the most common ways hackers gain access to devices is through email attachments. Harmful files can easily be disguised as an exclusive Black Friday or Cyber Monday coupon or secret best customer deal. Avoid downloading email attachments unless you personally know the sender and you’re expecting the attached file.

Email filtering and advanced threat protection (ATP) can help prevent harmful attachments from reaching your inbox.

3. Research Deals With Retailers

If you receive an exclusive Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal, the odds are favorable that other customers have too. Do your research. Browse the retailer’s website to see if they’re advertising that specific deal. When in doubt, contact the retailer’s customer service department to verify the deal using the contact information provided on the retailer’s website.

Here’s how you can find what you want faster on Google.

4. Update Your Browser

Browsers require consistent security updates to keep you protected from the latest cyberthreats. If you’re using an old, outdated browser, you’re not protecting yourself against recently developed cyberattacks. Verify you’re using the most recently released version of your preferred browser before you start your online holiday shopping spree.

5. Verify You’re Using a Safe Connection (HTTPS)

When you navigate to a retailer’s website, make sure the URL begins with https. Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) ensures the website has a valid Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate and that the information you provide is encrypted. Encryption makes it difficult for hackers to tamper with or steal the information that you’re communicating.

6. Use Strong Passwords

In general, it’s recommended that you use strong, unique passwords for your online accounts. If you’re using simple passwords or reusing passwords, hackers can quickly gain access to your digital information, including bank accounts, business accounts, files, and personal information. High Touch recommends using an extensive combination of letters, numbers, and symbols when creating passwords. When in doubt, use a password manager with multifactor authentication to manage your account information.

7. Avoid Public Wi-Fi

We strongly discourage sharing personal information, including online shopping data, over public Wi-Fi connections. Generally, these connections have weak security precautions and allow hackers to steal your information as its being transmitted.

8. Use Credit Cards, Not Debit Cards

Credit cards offer an extra layer of protection when you’re shopping online. Unlike debit cards that are directly linked to your bank account, credit cards usually offer greater protection in case your account is compromised. Also, you won’t have to worry about a stolen credit card number affecting your personal checking account for the entire holiday shopping season.

9. Verify Your Account Statements

After the holiday season, verify that account statements match your purchase activity. If you notice any unknown transaction activity, report it immediately.

We Keep Your Business Safe.

High Touch offers cybersecurity solutions, including firewalls, endpoint protection, email security, and consulting services. Contact us to learn how High Touch can help keep your business safe.