The season for giving is here, a time for spreading cheer and presents to those near and dear. Cyber Monday has become a popular way to shop for holiday deals. With mobile devices being the choice gift of the season and a convenient way to shop too. In fact, 58 percent of U.S. consumers used smartphones and 42 percent used tablets to shop during Cyber Monday 2012 according to IBM.
Though, online shopping from unsecured devices poses the risk of cybergrinches – looking to snatch your personal information and spread scams for financial gain. Don’t let cybercriminals steal your holiday cheer. Keep the season bright with these holiday shopping safety tips.
Holiday shopping safety tips:
Internet Safety – If your device connects to the Internet, you’ll need security software to make sure you’re protected against outside threats. Download a solution like Norton 360 Multi-Device that will protect up to five devices (including mobile devices), regardless of platform or brand.
Password protect your devices – Though it may seem a hassle to input a password every time you want to access your device, the benefits far outweigh the risks. If your device is ever lost or stolen, a password is your first line of defense for protecting personal information stored on your mobile.
Holiday phishing scams – Have your guard up for emails and texts advertising holiday deals that seem to good to be true – they likely are. Although spam can seem harmless, avoid clicking on links and downloading files from people you don’t know.