With Black Friday and Cyber Monday approaching, the risk of cyberattacks is rising.
A recent Sophos report reveals that malicious emails are the second most common cause of ransomware attacks, accounting for 25% of cases in critical sectors. These threats escalate during peak shopping days when employees often shop online from work devices, increasing organizational exposure to phishing and malicious links.
To protect yourself and your organization, follow these essential cybersecurity tips:
- Block Ads: Use ad blockers like uBlock Origin or Ghostery to prevent exposure to malicious ads and deceptive content. This also improves browsing speed and reduces data usage.
- Enable Private Browsing: Use private browsing (Firefox) or incognito mode (Chrome) to block tracking cookies and keep your online shopping discreet.
- Use Privacy Extensions: Install tools like the Privacy Badger extension by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) to block invisible trackers and enhance browsing privacy.
- Avoid Single-Account Logins: Refrain from using “Sign in with Facebook” or “Sign in with Google.” Create unique logins to keep your shopping habits private.
- Opt for Guest Checkout: When possible, use guest login options instead of creating new accounts to minimize shared personal information.
- Don’t Save Payment Details: Avoid storing credit card details on e-commerce sites. This reduces the risk of theft if the site gets hacked.
- Use Temporary Card Numbers: Take advantage of disposable credit card numbers offered by some financial institutions to protect against fraud.
- Prefer Credit Over Debit: Credit cards provide better fraud protection and dispute handling than debit cards.
- Beware of Suspicious Links: Avoid clicking on unsolicited emails or messages offering unbelievable deals. Stick to trusted websites and recommendations from reliable sources.
- Be Cautious with Social Media Offers: Avoid deals shared via direct messages or suspicious social media ads, as these could lead to fraudulent websites.
