The holidays are upon us, and with them comes the shopping season. Many of us have mixed feelings about this, stuck between bargain prices and the hesitation to go into the fray on Black Friday. However, just because you’re not braving the mob doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise proper techniques that will keep you and your information safe. Here are some tips to help you shop safe during this busy season.
Change the Passwords
The holidays roll around and I realize I haven’t changed my passwords in a year. Why? Because they are changed every time I start to shop heavily online. Change your e-mail and banking passwords at least, so that if people try to hack into your Facebook account, they won’t accidentally get the password to your banking account too.
Log Out
If you’re in the habit of just closing a browsing tab when you’re done purchasing something, get out of that habit now. Log out of whatever account you’ve logged into once you’re done with your purchases.
Look for the HTTPS
Browse smart! If a website doesn’t have a HTTPS in the front, or it doesn’t have a green safe-browse lock next to it, chances are it’s not safe to purchase on. The green lock guarantees the website is safe, and if it’s not there, double-check your URL to make sure you’re in the right place.