Black Friday is a week away, which, for me doesn’t mean much beyond seeing a million Black Friday status updates on my Facebook timeline. I don’t participate in Black Friday. The idea of shopping amongst a thousand rabid people who are determined to get that newest version of Tickle Me Elmo for their children at any cost just doesn’t sound like my idea of a good time. But, unfortunately, there are some things that can make your Monday blacker than Black Friday. So, to stay safe we have included a few Cyber Monday safety tips which are listed below.
Cyber Monday Safety Tips
Get the Best Password Protection
Passwords are what we typically think of when we think online security but, ironically, they’re also the most overlooked. Far too often we’ll see people with passwords like myinitials123 or worse, birthdays. If your passwords are that simple, you may end up becoming a hacker’s latest online victim. To best protect your financial assets make sure your passwords are at least 8 characters or more, feature a combination of numbers, letters and symbols and avoid having the same passwords for all of your accounts. Password protection is at the top of our Cyber Monday safety tips for a reason so please don’t overlook your passwords.
Don’t Buy Products on Public Wi-Fi
While it might be tempting to buy that new jacket right now in the Starbucks café it might not be worth your time. Public Wi-Fi tends to be a stomping ground for hackers and if you’re using that free Wi-Fi you don’t have the additional protection of your own Wi-Fi network. So, if you can, please just wait until you get home. You will be much safer there.
Keep an Eye on Your Bank Statements
Even if you take all of the proper precautions there are still ways that your card could end up in the hands of a hacker. On the days on and around Black Friday through Cyber Monday make sure you are keeping tabs on your bank statements. If any suspicious activity suddenly appears contact your bank immediately. They’ll be able to protect your financial assets and make sure you are protected and reimbursed.
These Cyber Monday safety tips will keep you safe from hackers and ensure that you can conduct your holiday shopping in peace. So, with that, stay safe and, from all of us here at TCI, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!