Don’t Let Hackers Ruin Your Black Friday: A Cybersecurity Guide for Shoppers
By: Kevin Wotshela, Managing Director at Magix Security
As Black Friday and the festive shopping season approach, millions of South African shoppers are getting ready to hunt the best deals, and retailers anticipate a surge in online sales. However, amid the excitement and the flurry of discounts, it’s important to remember that cybercriminals are also gearing up to take advantage of any vulnerabilities.
To help you navigate this busy shopping period securely, Magix Security presents an essential guide to understanding the key cyber threats you could face with practical advice on how to protect yourself and your data.
Ways Hackers Can Ruin Your Black Friday:
Falling victim to Phishing, Quishing and Domain Spoofing means either you’ve given away key personal details which can be used to defraud you later, or you’ve given away your passwords for banking, email, etc. Let’s delve deeper into each tactic and how to identify and
them.
Tips to Identify and Avoid Phishing Attacks.
Phishing is the use of deceptive emails or texts from seemingly trusted sources. They are used to lure people into providing sensitive information like credit card numbers or login credentials.
- Check the sender’s email address: Phishing often comes from addresses that look like legitimate sources but are slightly altered.
- Look for generic greetings: Phishing attempts often use generic greetings like “Dear Customer” instead of your actual name. Legitimate companies typically personalise their communications with your name or account information.
- Be wary of urgent language: Phishing often create a sense of urgency, claiming your account will be suspended or compromised unless you act immediately. Take a moment to verify the legitimacy of the message before responding.
- Examine links before clicking: Hover over any links in the email without clicking them to see the actual URL. If the link does not match the supposed destination or looks suspicious, do not click it.
Tips to Identify and Avoid Quishing
Quishing, a.k.a QR Code Phishing, lures unsuspected shoppers with the use of QR codes. Generally used for contactless payments or accessing deals, hackers manipulate QR codes by redirecting users to malicious websites or downloads.
- Before scanning, check the source of the QR code – if it’s provided by a trusted entity like your bank or a well-known retailer. If the source is suspicious or unknown, it’s better to refrain from scanning.
- Use QR scanner apps that display the URL before redirecting you to the website. This way, you have the option to avoid suspicious websites.
- Be wary of any QR code that asks for login or personal information. Legitimate organisations won’t ask for sensitive information through QR codes.
- Install a reliable mobile security solution that can detect and warn about malicious links or downloads.
How To Spot and Avoid Domain Spoofing
The key element of domain spoofing is deception. Cybercriminals create a fake website or email that are designed to appear so authentic that it successfully fools individuals into believing they’re interacting with a trusted entity. The goal for the hacker? To steal sensitive information like your login credentials or financial details.
- Inspect the URL: Carefully examine the website’s URL. Look out for misspellings, extra characters, or anything out of the ordinary in the domain name.
- Check the security certificate: Ensure the site uses ‘https’ indicating it is secure. Look for the padlock icon near the URL.
- Use trusted retailer’s App: Shopping on the retailer’s app downloaded from a trusted source minimises the risks of landing on a spoofed website.
- Think before you click: Be wary of emails from unknown sources or with outrageous deals. Do not click on any link or download files from such emails.
As we examine the murky waters of cyber threats, the objective isn’t to deter you from the excitement of Black Friday. Instead, it is to arm you with practical strategies to keep your online shopping experience both enjoyable and secure.
Cybersecurity Best Practices on Black Friday
- Shop only on secure websites: Look for ‘https’ in the URL or a padlock icon. These signify that the site uses SSL encryption, making your data less likely to be intercepted by hackers.
- Be wary of too-good-to-be-true deals: Extraordinary discounts can be tempting, but they can also be traps set by cybercriminals looking to lure in susceptible shopper.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi: Try not to perform transactions when connected to public Wi-Fi. These networks often lack robust security measures making them ideal playgrounds for hackers.
- Regularly monitor your financial activity: Keep a close eye on your bank statements. This way, you can spot and report any dubious transactions immediately.
- Use strong, unique passwords: Ensure every online account has a unique and strong password. Consider using a password manager to help with this.
Cybersecurity Tools to Enhance Your Shopping Safety
- Antivirus Software: A robust antivirus solution can protect your devices from malware and other threats.
- VPN: A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can mask your online activity, making it hard for hackers to track or intercept your data.
- Password Managers: These not only help you create and store strong and unique passwords but also automatically alert if any of your accounts have been compromised.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Enabling 2FA on your accounts adds an extra security layer to protect your data.
Navigating Black Friday can be both exhilarating and exhausting. So, whether you’re an individual, a business owner, or an employee, understanding some of the most common cybercriminal tactics and taking proactive steps to prevent them can keep you safer while shopping great deals.
A game-changer for any business looking to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats during Black Friday, and beyond, is Magix CVM. Offering complete vulnerability management, this next-generation cyber security solution guarantees continuous protection, cost-effective pricing, comprehensive coverage, and easy access to expert support.
Vigilance and awareness are crucial for a safe and secure online experience. Visit www.magix.co.za to learn how they can help you strengthen your cybersecurity defenses.
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