Black Friday begins: How to prevent cyber scams?

Black Friday is here. The event, which takes place after Thanksgiving, marks the official beginning of the holiday season and, therefore, pre-holiday shopping. This is where both Black Friday and Cyber Monday come in. Many businesses take advantage of the occasion to give their customers some serious discounts and save them some money during the time of year when we all tend to spend more than we normally would.

Customers shouldn't just be on the lookout for discounts as there is also a rise in cyber scams. Many criminals take advantage of the fact that many people do their Christmas shopping over the next few days and try to deceive them and get ahold of their personal data, especially from less careful users. However, all is not lost, users can follow a series of steps to avoid being scammed and take advantage of both Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the best possible way. These are the main recommendations:

Be aware of fake websites and social media profiles

It seems like the most basic recommendation but this is how cybercriminals frequently find their victims. We have all received an email with an address practically identical to the one we are used to seeing. However, there may be one slight difference. Users need to be completely sure that the website they visit is legitimate. When in doubt, do not shop there.

Matthew Evetts, director of connectivity and security at Datacom, told Newshub that the most important thing when shopping online is to make sure the websites are real to avoid scams:

For that reason, Evetts also recommends getting a second opinion, either from a friend or family member or even contacting the manufacturer of the product to ensure that the site is legitimate.

Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks and update your devices

Another common recommendation from digital security companies is to avoid making purchases while on public Wi-Fi networks since that is the main way cybercriminals obtain user data.

For this reason, cybersecurity companies such as Terranova Security advise their users to avoid online shopping if they are using a public Wi-Fi network. If for whatever reason you don't have a choice but to use a public network while shopping, the company recommends that you "use a VPN to encrypt your data."

Other cybersecurity companies also focus on the need to use updated devices. Many already come with a covert VPN when accessing a public Wi-Fi network and also include other security mechanisms that prevent cyber criminals from getting their way.

Don't trust suspicious emails

Consumers need to watch out for suspicious websites and emails. At this time of the year, it is increasingly common to receive emails reminding us to pay for a purchase that we do not remember making. Sometimes the email includes suspicious offers.

The Meta Compliance website recommends you ignore all those websites that promise deals that seem too good to be true. According to the website, clicking on the link can take you "straight to a phishing site or you could end up downloading malware onto your device." To avoid this, the company says, you must check if the site is reliable or whether the offer is fake and an attempt to deceive users.

Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication

No more having a single password for everything. For years, major websites have required customers to use strong, unique passwords for that single site. It is a tedious exercise for users but it is indeed the only way to keep our accounts safe within online stores. For this reason, Infobae reported that experts recommend avoiding obvious passwords such as the mythical "1234456" or "password." Instead, they say, the password should ideally include upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters.

It is also advisable to use two-factor authentication. This mechanism is usually associated with apps in which a code is provided that is only sent to the device with that said application installed. This turned out to be the most effective way of preventing cybercriminals from accessing our profiles. If they somehow end up getting our password, they will still be stuck since they will need the other code to be able to access the account.

Use a single card or secure payment methods

Along with using several strong passwords, it is also recommended to use a single card to make online purchases. This prevents all your bank accounts from being affected if your data is illegally stolen since you would only have to close that card, solving the problem.

There are also secure payment methods such as PayPal. These websites allow you to make payments safely. They will never provide your banking details to any website. As a general rule, Infobae says that consumers should avoid wiring money and sending cash since they are methods in which "there are very rarely security resources to protect the transaction such as security codes," which makes it easier for someone to get your data.