Change your passwords now because chances are, you haven't
in a long time. Change your e-mail account password, change your banking
password, and change the passwords for online shopping accounts like at Amazon.
A good tip for choosing new passwords is to use at least four random words
separated by spaces, as demonstrated in this XKCD comic. Not all sites accept
spaces (such as Microsoft accounts), but many do -- including Google and Amazon.
It's a good idea to change them again after you've completed all your seasonal
shopping, too.
Log out when you're done. Cookies can often keep you logged
in to accounts even after you close the browsing tab, an obvious no-no. Get in
the habit of clicking that "log out" button.
Use two browsers to minimize your exposure to
vulnerabilities. I use one browser for mission critical transactions such as
e-mail and banking, and another for casual browsing.
Browse smarter by looking for HTTPS in the URL bar and green
security badges on your shopping sites. If you think you're looking at a legit
site and it doesn't have either of those, I would check the URL twice to make
sure you're not getting phished.
Pay with a credit card to minimize fraud risks. I realize
many people don't want to deal with credit card companies, but they do protect
you against fraud. Also, unlike paying with a debit card, you can contest
charges without losing any cash.
Use a VPN to encrypt your Web traffic. If you don't have one
provided by your work, there are several free options such as TOR (download for
Windows | Mac), HotSpot Shield (download for Windows | Mac), or LogMeIn Hamachi
are good places to start.
Above all, use your common sense. If a deal sounds too good
to be true, take a good look at the Web site before you purchase because it
easily could be a scam. And if an unfamiliar site is requesting personal
information like your e-mail and log-in, or your home phone number and address,
think twice about giving that away. With a bit of caution, you can shop safely
and securely online.
