Online Shopping Safety Tips

By Michael White

It’s the holiday season and many are choosing to shop online – from Black Friday to Cyber Monday. Keep your personal information, your money and ultimately you more secure while online:

Enhance Your Security. If you regularly engage in financial transactions online it’s advised that you use a personal firewall & security software package. Make sure that you access your online financial account only on a secure web page. A secure website connection starts with “https” instead of just “http” and has a key or closed padlock in the status bar.

Tip: It’s still possible that it may not be secure. Some phishers make fraudulent websites to appear to have padlocks. It’s important to double-check. Click on the padlock icon to view the security certificate for that site. The “Issued to” name should match the site you think you’ve visited. If the name is different, you’re probably on a fraudulent site.

Know What You’re Downloading. You risk downloading malicious software when downloading from an unknown source. Malicious software is often hidden in files or programs that seem benign.

Use Your Own Computer If You Can. Generally it’s safer to access your online financial accounts from your own computer. Using a computer other than your own possibly exposes you to unknown viruses or spyware. Be sure to delete all of your “Temporary Internet Files” and clear all of your “History” after you log off your account.

Don’t Respond to Emails of Personal Information Requests. Your financial institute will not request personal information from you. Legitimate entities don’t make it a practice to require their customers to provide or verify personally sensitive information in a non-secure means such as an email. Pick up the phone or visit their local branch office or location and do that in person.

Tip: Even though a web address provided in an email looks legitimate, fraudsters will often mask the true destination. Don’t click on the link, type the web address into your browser yourself.

Your Password Should Be Creative. The best passwords are ones that are difficult to guess. Use a password that is a combination of numbers, letters (both upper case & lower case), punctuation, & special characters. Change your password regularly & don’t use the same password for all of your online accounts. Don’t store your password on your computer. If you need to write passwords down, store them in a secure, private place. Don’t file them under Passwords.

Be Cautious with Wireless Connections. Wireless networks may not provide as much security as wired Internet connections. Many “hotspots” – wireless networks in public areas like airports, hotels, restaurants, & coffee shops – reduce their security so it’s easier to access & use their wireless networks.

Go All the Way with Logging Out. Closing or minimizing your browser may not be enough to actually end your session. Click on the “log out” button to terminate your online session. Never permit your browser to “remember” your username & password information. This potentially could give access to your activity & information.