As the holidays are around the corner and Black Friday sales start earlier every year, we want to keep our users safe and secure by providing the following online shopping tips: 

Is Everything Up-To-Date?

Before you start your online shopping, ensure that your preferred web browser is up-to-date. Most browsers list update information in the Help or About sections of their main menu and updates are a critical component of avoiding the latest security and privacy threats.

Additionally, ensure your operating system is up-to-date and that the latest security updates are downloaded and installed on the system. Most operating systems download and install critical system updates automatically so most users can skip this part. Windows users who’ve disabled this automatic update feature can search for the Windows Update interface. In Windows 7, this is accessible through the Start Menu search bar by typing “Windows Update.” In Windows 8, click the Windows icon in the left corner to open the Start Screen and scroll to the far right– select the magnifying glass icon on the top right corner and search for Windows Update. Select “Check for updates” or “Check Now” depending on the respective operating system to verify that your version is up-to-date.

Check your antivirus software – are the latest virus definitions and updates installed? The user interface of your antivirus program should indicate whether additional updates are required. 

Is it a Trusted Website?

While it may be tempting to look for the best deal using a search engine, such searches can be rigged to list illegitimate or unsecured websites at the top of the results page. Additionally, in an attempt to acquire sensitive information such as passwords or credit card details, some websites are made to look like a convincing replica of an official online retailer and get themselves listed on search engines. Almost every retailer has an official online merchant site, typically the name of their business followed by ‘.com.’ If a website looks illegitimate to you, look around: frequent misspelling, broken links, and missing information on an official merchant website may be the sign of a phishing site. Do your homework and don’t be rushed into making a purchase by the threat of a “limited supply” warning, a sales tactic often used on infomercials. 

If you are purchasing a specialty item at a small or unknown online retailer, perform additional searches to verify their legitimacy. Reputable online businesses should readily list information about themselves, including a location and customer service contact number. Furthermore, you can perform additional searches to check if there are reports of wrongdoing on the part of the business; for example, before making a purchase from a retailer named “Flowers By Irene,” you can enter “Flowers By Irene Scam” into a search engine to see if any prevalent records of wrongdoing exist. 

Look at the Address Bar

Before providing your credit card details, make sure that the beginning of the URL on the website you’re using begins with https instead of just http. Https ensures that the information you send is encrypted and difficult to decipher if it is intercepted by cybercriminals. 

Web browsers will indicate if a website is secure by displaying a locked padlock symbol either before or following the URL in the browser’s address field. Each browser uses a different variation of this symbol – if it is not located in the address bar check the bottom of the browser window. If you can’t find the symbol it indicates a problem with the website’s security settings. 

Don’t let the promise of deals and the stress of last-minute holiday shopping force you to compromise your secure online browsing habits. We hope the aforementioned tips can help you and your family stay secure while shopping online for this coming holiday season.