Black Friday Cybersecurity Tips: Avoid Scams Like a Pro

Strong protection measures must be put in place to make sure that shopping on Black Friday 2024 is safe. These safety tips will help you stay away from scams and keep your personal and business data safe:

Only Shop on Websites You Know You Can Trust

Before you buy anything, you should always make sure the website is real. Search for URLs that begin with “https://” and look for a lock icon in the address bar. This means that the connection is safe.

Still, you need to know if the website is trustworthy, so we recommend searching on Google for “(website name) reviews” and check on a website like Trustpilot or similar for the experiences of other users, so it’s better to check first the reputation of a given e-commerce website if it’s unknown to you.

Stay away from new sites that offer deals that seem too good to be true and stick to stores that you know and trust.

Be careful with offers and emails

Watch out for fake emails that look like they came from reputable stores. Often, these have links or attachments that may be phishing websites or contain malware. Check the sender’s email address twice at all times.

If you get marketing emails, don’t click on the links inside them. Instead, check out any deals on the store’s main website.

Make your passwords strong and unique.

Make your online passwords strong, and don’t use the same ones on different sites. You might want to use a password manager to help you make and keep safe complicated passwords.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) should be turned on whenever it is possible. This makes things safer by needing a second way to prove who you are besides your password. For enhanced security, we recommend checking the article: Tips On How To Manage Passwords Securely.

Don’t shop on public Wi-Fi

Cybercriminals can easily steal your information from public Wi-Fi networks because they are often unprotected. If you have to use public Wi-Fi, you might want to protect your connection with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) such as Proton VPN which offers the perfect balance between browsing speed and privacy and it has a free plan or premium plans currently with a whopping 70% discount for Black Friday, also you can take advantage of the different IPs from different countries to check offers as some discounts are only for certain countries. Here are some of its main features:

• 8600+ servers in 110+ countries
• Highest VPN speed for streaming services
• Protect up to 10 devices
• Ad-blocker and malware protection
• Custom DNS
• Premium Live Support

For alternatives to Proton VPN, and in case you require the maximum levels of privacy and anonymity you can check our article: IVPN vs Mullvad vs Proton VPN: Features, Pricing, Pros And Cons, or for other types of protection other than VPNs you can check: TOR Alternatives: Their Pros & Cons.

Keep your gadgets up to date

Always check for updates on your phone or computer, as these usually patch security holes. Also, try to keep your browsers and shopping apps up to date to ensure maximum security.

Also, pay close attention to your credit card and bank records, especially when you’re shopping for gifts. Report any strange behavior right away.

Keep an eye out for fake websites and apps

Scammers often make fake shopping apps or websites that look like those of well-known stores, as we talked about in the article: Advanced Phishing Protection: How to Spot Sophisticated Phishing Websites we recommend checking it out to learn to better identify those kinds of websites and stay safer during your online shopping. You should only get apps from reputable stores like the App Store or Google Play, and you should read reviews of them first.

Check the site’s URL and look for security signs to make sure it is safe before entering your payment information.

Watch out for “Black Friday Deals” ads on social media

Social media sites are often used by scammers to post fake deals. Instead of clicking on links in ads or sales, you should always check the store’s official website to make sure of deals.

Learn more about the latest scams

Stay aware of common scams that happen during Black Friday shopping, such as AI-powered phishing schemes and deepfake technology that is used in fake emails.

Use safe ways to make payments

Instead of debit cards, choose safe ways to pay like credit cards or payment services like PayPal. These are better at protecting you from scams than debit cards.

Following these safety tips will make it much less likely that you will fall for scams on Black Friday 2024, so you can do your shopping without worrying. As you look for deals this holiday season, be careful and put your online safety first.