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Your digital identity and information are incredibly valuable to cybercriminals, whether it comes from your social media profiles, search engine history, or email accounts. If your account is compromised, cybercriminals may obtain personal information to commit identity theft, steal money, or conduct phishing attacks on others. According to the Verizon 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report, 61% of all breaches involve credentials, whether they be stolen via social engineering or hacked using brute force. In recent years, increased occurrences of identity theft and data breaches have been attributed to several factors, including a rise in the number of remote workers and the adoption of cloud technologies. 

Here are a few best practices that can, if followed, reduce the opportunity for a cybercriminal to steal your identity and associated information: 

Think Before You Click

Attackers often send fraudulent emails and text messages, referred to as phishing, to trick individuals into providing information such as usernames and passwords or downloading malware. If you receive an enticing offer via email or text, don't click without thinking. Go directly to the company's website to verify its legitimacy. If you're not sure who an email is from—even if the details appear correct—or if the email looks to be "phishy," do not respond and do not click on any links or open any files in the email as it may contain malware.

Report suspicious emails or ask GW Information Security questions you may have by emailing abuse@gwu.edu.

Share With Care

Cybercriminals can use publicly available personal information for various purposes, such as impersonating a user and guessing usernames and passwords. Think before posting about yourself and others online. Take into account what a post reveals, who could view it, and how it might affect you or others. Consider creating an alternate persona that you use for online profiles to limit how much of your personal information you share. 

Practice Good Password Hygiene

Never use the same password for your social media accounts, financial institutions, work accounts, or any other site that collects personally identifiable information (PII). Best practices for password hygiene include choosing long passwords, selecting a unique password for each account, resisting the temptation to select passwords that are simple to remember or guess, and never emailing or sharing passwords with others.

Use Two-Step Authentication (2SA)

Two-Step Authentication (2SA) is a security measure that requires users to go over two steps to verify their digital identity (something you know and something you own). With 2SA, a user is granted access to their account after entering the correct username and password credentials (Something you know) and completing the second authentication process using an authenticator app, SMS text, or phone call to authenticate a piece of information (Something you own). 

For GW accounts, 2SA is enabled on  GW Box, Google Apps (GW email, calendar, Drive), GWeb, and various other applications. Visit our website at  https://it.gwu.edu/two-step-authentication and learn more.

Download a Password Manager

Remembering passphrases and complex password combinations can be difficult for people to do. Password managers are encrypted digital tools that store passwords and online credentials in a centralized location secured by a single, strong master password. Additionally, password managers can also be used for generating unique passwords for each of your accounts. GW utilizes LastPass for managing passwords within certain departments and units. 

Some of the blog content is provided by https://staysafeonline.org/identity-management-day/identity-management-tips-advice/, modified to align with the University’s mission and common terminologies.

Visit the GW Information Security site at it.gwu.edu/gw-information-security

IT Support Questions? For IT support, please contact the Information Technology Support Center at 202-994-GWIT (4948), ithelp@gwu.edu, or visit GW IT site at it.gwu.edu. For self-help resources and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the GWiz knowledge base at go.gwu.edu/GWiz

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The George Washington University (GW) offers Information Technology Resources (IT Resources) to facilitate virtual learning and teleworking. Complying with the University guidelines is essential to performing academic and work-related activities securely while preserving the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the University information. 

Higher education institutions are facing increased cyber threats, from cyberattacks such as phishing and ransomware to hijacking video conferencing sessions. Higher education institutions are a prime target for cyber attackers that are seeking to acquire and steal university information, such as research, personally identifiable information (PII), or to disrupt operations for financial or political gains. As a GW community member, it is essential to safeguard GW’s digital environment by understanding modern cyber threats and taking a role in minimizing risks associated with the unintentional misuse of the University IT Resources. This includes reporting events and incidents that could put university information and IT Resources at risk of exposure, theft, or misuse.  

This advisory guide is intended to support the GW community when using university-approved video conferencing software and related collaboration tools. Recommendations are included to reduce the likelihood of unintentional exposure of university and personal information beyond intended recipients. 

Recommendations for GW End-Users: 

  1. Only Use “Approved Platforms” to host events, and meetings.
    • Do not host school business via unapproved tools. Use only tools that have been provided or approved by GW. 
    • Carefully review meeting invitations. Think before you click and be wary of links sent by unfamiliar addresses 
  2. Secure your meeting for attendees.
    • Only make meetings “public” when necessary for the planned audience. 
    • Have a plan to terminate a meeting if needed.
    • Require a meeting password and use features such as a waiting room to secure private meetings.  
    • Provide a link to the meeting directly to your students and share passwords in a separate email.  
  3. Secure University Information.
    • Manage screensharing, recording, and file sharing options prior and during your hosted meeting. 
    • Protect non-public information, especially when screensharing and displaying GW information. 
    • Follow GW IT's guidelines for web conferencing storage.
    • Report suspicious activities or unusual events you notice during a meeting. 
  4. Secure Yourself and our GW Community.
    • Don’t unintentionally reveal information. Check your visual and audio surroundings to safeguard your personal information. 
    • Check and update your home network. Change default settings and use complex passwords for your Wi-Fi network. 
    • Always use GW VPN when accessing GW non-public information and IT Resources.  

Please visit the individual collaboration web pages for specific platform best practices.

IT Support Questions? For IT support, please contact the Information Technology Support Center at 202-994-GWIT (4948), ithelp@gwu.edu, or it.gwu.edu. For self-help resources and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the GWiz knowledge base at http://go.gwu.edu/GWiz.  

Some of the blog content is provided by The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security, modified to align with the University’s mission and common terminologies. 

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Written by Patrick Hansen

Grinch Taking Money Image


Keeping an eye out for scams is a year-round job for anyone who uses the internet. But for scammers, the holiday season is the time to strike, while everyone is distracted by time off, gifts, and plans with family. From fake websites, gift cards, to even fake charities, it is important to stay on guard during the last part of the year.

Holiday Phishing

(If you need a refresher on phishing read this piece.)

Criminals love the amount of shopping and shipping that goes on during the last quarter of the year. They pretend to be Amazon, UPS, FedEx, Apple, and almost every other household brand name there is. A lot of phishing attacks come by email, declaring a problem with your order, shipping, payment, etc. In the past few years, SMS phishing has also shot up with intent just as malicious.

Always remember, the real companies you interact with, won’t email or text you asking for personal information, and DON’T CLICK LINKS. If you are ever unsure about an email or text, look up the number for customer support and call.

Gift Cards

A gift card is a very sought after item for criminals because of the anonymous nature of purchases once it is gifted. Once it’s gone, it’s gone, and you won’t be able to get it back. Online, criminals will always try to get you to pay for a gift card and send them the information.

Another thing to look out for is gift cards that have been tampered with. When buying a gift card from the store, make sure that the credit card number on the gift card is still covered. Criminals have ways to monitor when the card with that specific serial number is loaded with money so they can try to spend it before you can.

Fake This, Fake That

Online shopping can be extremely convenient, but there are things to watch out for. Some scammers will put up websites and buy domains that look very similar to real brand websites in appearance and URL. Always try to verify the website you are on in some way. If you are ever paying for something online, the “s” in “https” is a must.

Sadly criminals will also set up fake charities designed to pull at your heartstrings. A quick Google search of the charity should provide enough information and others to verify it is real.

Conclusion

The holiday season is prime time for cyber thieves to attempt scams and steal your money and information. Always remember to double-check the random Amazon email, the random UPS text, gift cards, and everything else that is common for this time of year.

Never give out your information and if there is any doubt, just contact the company itself. It is important to be aware of these attacks and be on guard year-round, but especially around the holidays, so you can enjoy them with cheer.

 

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Devices such as cell phones, laptops, tablets are increasingly relied on whether from home, campus, and workplaces. The interconnectivity of those devices, especially from home locations, was heightened during the pandemic lockdown. According to recent data, smart home systems are set to rise to a market value of $157 billion by 2023, and the number of installed connected devices in the home is expected to increase by a staggering 70% by 2025. With the rise in virtual work and learning, it’s critical that you remain vigilant in practicing smart cyber hygiene while online. Here are some useful tips:        

Smart Devices need Smart Security 

Make cybersecurity a priority when purchasing a new cell phone, laptop, or tablet device. When setting up your new device, be sure to set your privacy and security settings, bearing in mind that you can limit with whom you are sharing information. Once your device is set up, remember to keep tabs on securing the information and where it is stored. Make sure that you manage location services actively to avoid unwittingly exposing your location. 

Put Cybersecurity First  

Make cybersecurity a priority when you're connected and online. Some precautions with all of your online accounts include performing regular software updates, downloading and installing software from trusted sources, using Two Factor Authentication (like we have at GW), and avoid being phished by ensuring that you know senders of an email before opening attachments. 

Make passwords and passphrases long and strong 

Generic and easy-to-remember passwords are easy to hack. Create secure and strong passwords, and be sure to combine capital and lowercase letters with numbers and symbols.  At a minimum, change your passwords every 6-months. If you need help remembering and storing your passwords, use a trusted password manager.   

Avoid connecting to public WiFi 

As smaller and more capable devices enable us to be mobile, we are all tempted to change scenery and change our physical location like a coffee shop or another type of public space. When you are away from trusted networks (your home or GW, for example), be wary of free, no password required, and even corporate hotspots. These connections may be fraudulent and easily accessible by bad actors.  

Use caution with publicly shared computers  

Avoid using publicly shared computers as often as possible. If you do use these, be careful and thoughtful in the information you share while online. If you are using your own devices, use known network hotspots, consider using your cellular connection (phone tethering), and avoid performing sensitive activities like accessing banking online. 

Turn off WiFi and Bluetooth when unneeded  

The uncomfortable truth is, when your WiFi and Bluetooth are on, they usually are set up to broadcast availability/presence and effectively invite other devices to connect.  While not always practical, to stay as safe as possible, switch them off if you do not need them. It’s a simple step that can help alleviate tracking concerns and incidents. You can also secure your WiFi and Bluetooth connections through your device settings. 

Staying safe online is an active 24/7 process that requires constant oversight 365 days a year. These helpful steps are how we in GW IT do our part to help you in doing your part to remain cyber smart. 

For more information on GW IT Security, please visit our security website: https://it.gwu.edu/gw-information-security.  

IT Support Questions? For IT support, please contact the Information Technology Support Center at 202-994-GWIT (4948), ithelp@gwu.edu or it.gwu.edu. For self-help resources and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the GWiz knowledge base at http://go.gwu.edu/GWiz. 

Original blog content provided by The National Cyber Security Alliance www.stayfaeonline.org, modified and posted with permission. 

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Cybersecurity is one of the hottest employment sectors today.  With increasing laws and regulations around online activity, privacy, and cyber attacks, both business and education sectors are adding to their cybersecurity positions. Additionally, many undergraduate, graduate, and law schools now offer degree programs in cybersecurity. Are you interested in joining this exciting new workforce? Here are a few reasons why a career in cybersecurity might be right for you. 

Hot Job Market 
To say that the cybersecurity jobs market is hot would be a huge understatement. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for information security analysts will grow by 32 percent by 2028, making it one of the fastest-growing job sectors. According to a Cybersecurity Ventures study, there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions in 2021. This implies that cybersecurity experts are among the most in-demand worldwide and will continue to be so for many years to come. 

Infinite Room for Personal and Professional Growth 
Beyond just the ability to get a cybersecurity job, thanks to an ever-growing set of career tracks, cybersecurity offers various options for professionals to find a position that fits nicely with their own interests. Cybersecurity professionals work in everything from compliance to stress testing cyber defenses and software, so there are virtually limitless ways to apply their skills and look to grow them. 

Investment in advanced cybersecurity pays for itself 
Due to the shortage of cybersecurity talent in the workforce, businesses and educational institutions are constantly rolling out new avenues to make cybersecurity careers more affordable. For example, new grants and scholarships are now becoming available each day for individuals interested in cybersecurity careers, while many businesses are beginning to offer tuition reimbursement or other financial perks. This means that a degree in cybersecurity may be much more affordable than you initially thought. GW offers several academic degree programs on cybersecurity, including:   

Master’s Degree Programs  

Juris Doctor Programs  

Graduate Growth 
In addition to the interesting “on the groundwork” that cybersecurity professionals get to take on every day, there is also a growing selection of highly tailored cybersecurity graduate programs that can further academic knowledge in cybersecurity as well. For example, graduate degrees ranging from Applied Cryptography to Network Vulnerability and Detection are now being offered nationwide colleges and universities. Additionally, as part of this deep-dive, cybersecurity professionals will also get the opportunity to network with other students from various backgrounds allowing them to open up further opportunities for future positions or businesses. GW also houses research centers on cybersecurity and provides certificate programs in the following areas: 

CyberCorps Scholarship Program 
GW’s CyberCorps scholarship program facilitates efforts to identify and encourage bright students who are graduating to expand their horizons beyond community college to GW or beyond an undergraduate degree to a graduate degree related to cybersecurity and information assurance at GW. 

For more information on GW IT Security, please visit our security website: https://it.gwu.edu/gw-information-security.  

IT Support Questions? For IT support, please contact the Information Technology Support Center at 202-994-GWIT (4948), ithelp@gwu.edu or https://it.gwu.edu. For self-help resources and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the GWiz knowledge base at https://go.gwu.edu/GWiz. 

Original blog content provided by The National Cyber Security Alliance www.stayfaeonline.org, modified and posted with permission. 

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Phishing -- one of the oldest pain points in cybersecurity. Also known as pre-texting, phishing continues to wreak havoc quietly and is as significant a threat as ever.

Despite often being overlooked, phishing has been a mainstay in the cybersecurity threat landscape for decades. In fact, 44 percent of cyberattacks in 2024 featured phishing or pre-texting, while 85 percent of US organizations experienced a successful phishing attack last year alone. That means that phishing is one of the most dangerous “action varieties” to an organization’s cybersecurity health. As a result, the need for proper anti-phishing hygiene and best practices is an absolute must.

With that in mind, here are a few quick best practices and tips to help you recognize and deal with phishing threats.

Know the Red Flags: Emails

Phishers are masters of making their content and interactions appealing. From content design, layout to language, it can be difficult to discern whether the content is genuine or a potential threat, which is why it is so important to know the red flags.

  • Awkward and unusual formatting
  • Overly explicit call-outs to click a hyperlink or open an attachment
  • Strange requests concerning an account, system, or application changes with no prior awareness
  • Requests for personally identifiable information or your login and password
  • Subject lines that create a sense of urgency

These are all hallmarks that the content you received could potentially be a phishing attempt and indicate that it should be handled with caution. Most organizations will communicate multiple times and well in advance of any application transitions, and they will provide websites and other supporting materials and contact information for more details.

All suspicious emails can be sent to GW IT Security at abuse@gwu.edu, and questions about the content or requests in an email can be verified with the GW IT Support Center at 202-994-4948.

Verify the Source

Phishing can occur in a variety of ways. In addition to email, phishers ply their craft through phone calls, text messages, sometimes regular mail. Often, phishers will try to impersonate someone you may already know -- such as a colleague, service provider, relative, or friend to trick you into believing their message is trustworthy.

Don’t fall for it. If you sense that something about an email, phone call, or text message may be out of place or unusual, try to confirm whether the content is authentic and safe. If not, immediately break off communication and flag the incident through the proper channels (at GW, this is forwarding the message to abuse@gwu.edu).

Vishing and Other Phishing Offshoots

Greater awareness about phishing has spawned more diverse phishing efforts beyond traditional email scams.Phishers have adapted, expanding their techniques to target unsuspecting individuals through different mediums.

Voice Phishing (Vishing): With the increase of advanced technologies, vishing or voice phishing is the most popular modality for hackers. Cybercriminals pretend to be the part of organizations such as healthcare providers or insurance companies in order to extort information.

Protecting Yourself from Vishing: Like most other social engineering attacks such as email phishing, vishing also lies solely on deception. Any message that seeks to ask you questions that you feel might compromise your personal details whether its email, telephone call or a chat you should disengage from the conversation immediately.

Read more about Phishing

If you think you may have been a victim of a phishing attack at GW, contact the IT Support Center by phone at 202-994-4948. IT Support Center staff can assist in locking your accounts and guiding you through a password reset, if needed. If you feel you might have been phished on a personal account, contact your provider immediately through a verified number and request that your accounts be reset/locked because your access may be compromised.

For more information on GW IT Security, please visit our security website: https://it.gwu.edu/gw-information-security.

IT Support Questions? For IT support, please contact the Information Technology Support Center at 202-994-GWIT (4948), ithelp@gwu.edu, or visit our website at https://it.gwu.edu. For self-help resources and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the GWiz knowledge base at https://go.gwu.edu/GWiz.

Original blog content provided by The National Cyber Security Alliance, modified and posted with permission.

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Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated, with more evolved bad actors cropping up each day. This year has already seen more than a fair share of attacks and breaches. Some high-profile attacks include SolarWinds, Kaseya breaches, as well as attacks on the Colonial Pipeline and other critical infrastructure. At a time when we are more connected than ever, being “cyber smart” is of the utmost importance. Luckily, there are several steps that we can take daily to mitigate risks and stay one step ahead of malefactors. Here are a few quick tips: 

Use strong passphrases/password manager 

Everyone has many passwords to keep track of, including personal, work, and school accounts. A great solution to managing all of these accounts and complex passphrases and passwords is a password manager. Using long, complex, and unique passphrases/passwords is a good way to stop your account from being hacked, and an easy way of keeping track and remembering your passwords is by using a password manager. There are several password managers, including those built into modern web browsers. Choose a password manager that you will use and look for solutions that have been reviewed and where customer feedback is positive. Several resources are available for reviewing password managers including: 

Perform software updates 

When a device prompts you that it’s time for a software update, it may be tempting to simply click postpone and ignore the message. However, having the latest security software, web browser, and operating system on your devices is one of the best defenses against online threats. So, don’t wait - update. 

Do your research 

Common sense is a crucial part of maintaining good online hygiene.  One intuitive step you can take to stay safe online is to research before downloading anything new to your device, such as apps. Before downloading any new application to your device, make sure that it is valid by checking who created the app, what the user reviews say, and if there are any articles published online about the app's privacy and security features. 

Email attachments are also one of the most popular ways for malware to infect your device. If you don't know who sent you an email, do not open the attachments. It could be malicious even if it appears to be an Excel file, a PDF, a picture, or something else. 

Check your settings 

Solid cyber security implementation is becoming increasingly essential for privacy protection. Be diligent in double-checking your privacy and security settings and knowing who can access your documents. Web applications such as Chrome and Safari have built-in settings to improve your browsing experience and safeguard your information while on the internet. Some of these settings include privacy and cookies settings. 

This extends from Google docs to Zoom calls and beyond. For meetings on Zoom, for example, create passwords so only those invited to the session can attend. Be sure to restrict who can share their screen or files with the rest of the attendees.  

Several resources are available for checking your settings: 

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For more information on GW IT Security, please visit our security website: https://it.gwu.edu/gw-information-security.  

IT Support Questions? For IT support, please contact the Information Technology Support Center at 202-994-GWIT (4948), ithelp@gwu.edu, or it.gwu.edu. For self-help resources and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the GW IT knowledge base.

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Original blog content provided by The National Cyber Security Alliance www.stayfaeonline.org, modified and posted with permission. 

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GW Information Technology (GW IT) is investigating reports of scam emails regarding GW benefits information with a link to a fake GWeb (Banweb) site that instructs recipients to login using their GWID and PIN. Logins to the fake site may allow hackers to harvest user credentials. Impacted users have been notified.

As a cautionary measure, GW Information Security recommends that recipients who may have logged into the fake site should change their PIN and verify all the information on their profile, especially bank accounts for direct deposit, addresses, and security questions are correct.

To change your PIN, follow these steps:

  1. Log into the GWeb Information System using the appropriate button on the GWeb page.
  2. Once you are logged into the main GWeb menu page, click on the Personal Information Menu tab at the top of the page and select Change PIN.
  3. You will be prompted to enter your old PIN number and then enter and re-enter your new PIN.

GW IT continues to take proactive measures to keep our campus community safe. GW students, faculty and staff should ignore such requests for information and report any suspicious electronic communication to abuse@gwu.edu.

Protect your information!

Always be wary of messages requesting account verification, confirmation or upgrade, payment or personal information such as your passwords, GWID, Social Security number or credit card information.

Universities are frequently targeted by malicious actors who will attempt to acquire personal information about you and other members of the university community through email and over the phone. Please be aware that these attempts often seem legitimate.

Ask questions, trust your instincts, and if things seem off, don’t be afraid to take a message and follow-up later. Attackers will frequently use a sense of urgency to prompt the victim into making a risky decision.

Questions? Concerns? Please contact GW Information Technology at 202-994-GWIT (4948), ithelp@gwu.edu or IT.GWU.EDU.

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Reports have surfaced of a vulnerability within the chat function of Zoom for Windows that may permit unauthorized access to online classes and video conferences, which may allow hackers to send a malicious link through Zoom chat.

The malicious link looks slightly different from a URL, but is similar enough to cause confusion for users. When the link is clicked, the user’s credentials (UserID and password) may be leaked online. Leaked passwords can be easily cracked with widely available tools. In addition, hackers could gain access to the user's computer, execute unwanted software, send malicious messages, etc.

While there have been no known impacts to GW accounts, please follow these recommendations for video meetings and online instruction:

  • Use Webex instead of Zoom. Webex is GW’s supported secure video meeting collaboration tool, and is available to all students, faculty and staff. Visit the telecommuting page to learn more.
  • For online instruction, use Blackboard, GW’s online learning platform. Blackboard allows faculty to share materials with students, as well as facilitate synchronous (Blackboard Collaborate) and asynchronous communications (including discussion boards and integrations with VoiceThread and Echo360). Visit the tools for instructional continuity page to learn more.
  • Use meeting passwords for all meetings, verify all participants, and lock entry. To learn how to host secure Webex meetings and lock entry, visit Webex Secure Meetings.
  • Do not share or click on any links from unknown users.
  • Avoid links that start with a double back slash (e.g. \\ for example, \\com).

Remember to protect your information!

GW Information Technology (GW IT) continues to take proactive measures to keep our campus community safe. Please be aware that phishing attempts often seem legitimate. It is important for faculty, staff, and students to be extremely vigilant and take steps to secure logins, passwords, and data.

GW’s Office of Ethics, Compliance and Privacy has developed guidance on best practices for data protection when telecommuting, as well as data protection while using virtual meeting, event and collaboration platforms.

Remember to report any suspicious electronic communication or request to abuse@gwu.edu.

Questions? Concerns? Please contact GW Information Technology at 202-994-GWIT (4948), ithelp@gwu.edu or IT.GWU.EDU.

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Holiday Shopping Image

15 Tips for Online Safe Shopping

Written by Kim Porter for NortonLifeLock

Online shopping is easy to love. What’s more fun than finding what you need and—after a few clicks and a short wait—having it show up at your door

Except when it doesn’t. In 2016, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received nearly 300,000 online-theft complaints, and victims lost a total of $1.3 billion. It’s safe to say fake companies and identity thieves can turn the joy of buying into a hassle.

What to do? Don’t click that buy button until you check out these tips to help you do safe online shopping.

  1. Shop where you trust

Shopping IRL (in real life) offers this advantage: You’ll usually know the business and the inventory exist. But on the web, some businesses are fabricated by people who just want your credit card information and other personal details. Consider doing online business only with retailers you trust and have shopped with before.

  1. Size up the business

Break out your detective skills when you want to buy something from a new merchant. Does the company interact with a social media following? What do its customer reviews say? Does it have a history of scam reports or complaints at the Better Business Bureau? Take it one step further by contacting the business. If there’s no email address, phone number or address for a brick-and-mortar location, that could be a red flag that it’s a fake company.

  1. Beware rock-bottom prices

If a website offers something that looks too good to be true—like rock-bottom prices or an endless supply of free smartphones—then it probably is. Use similar websites to compare prices and pictures of the merchandise. Perpetually low prices could be a red flag that the business doesn’t have those items in stock. The website may exist only to get your personal information.

  1. Avoid public Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi networks use public airwaves. With a little tech know-how and the freely available Wi-Fi password at your favorite coffee shop, someone can intercept what you’re looking at on the web. That can include emails, browsing history or passwords. Shopping online usually means giving out information that an identity thief would love to grab, including your name and credit card information. Bottom line: It’s never a good idea to shop online or log in to any website while you’re connected to public Wi-Fi.

  1. Use a VPN

If you must shop online on public Wi-Fi, use a VPN (virtual private network). A VPN creates an encrypted connection between your computer and the VPN server. Think of it as a tunnel your Internet traffic goes through while you browse the web. Hackers lurking nearby can’t intercept it, even if they have the password for the Wi-Fi network you’re using. A VPN means you’ll likely have a safe way to shop online while you’re on public Wi-Fi.

  1. Use a strong password

If someone has the password to your account, they can log in, change the shipping address, and order things while you get stuck with the bill. Help keep your account safe by locking it with a strong password. Here are some tips on how:

  • Use a complex set of lowercase and uppercase numbers, letters, and symbols.
  • Avoid words that come from a dictionary.
  • Don’t use personal information that others can find or guess, such as birthdates, your kids’ names or your favorite color.
  • And don’t use the same password—however strong—on multiple accounts. A data breach at one company could give criminals access to your other, shared-password accounts.
  1. Check out the webpage security

You’ve probably seen that small lock icon in the corner of your URL field. That lock signals you that the web page you’re on has privacy protection installed. It’s called a “secure sockets layer.” Plus, the URL will start with “https,” for “hyper text transfer protocol secure.” These websites mask and transfer data you share, typically on pages that ask for passwords or financial info. If you don’t see that lock or the “s” after “http,” then the webpage isn’t secure. Because there is no privacy protection attached to these pages, we suggest you exercise caution before providing your credit card information over these sites.

  1. Watch out for email scams

Sometimes something in your email in-box can stir your consumer cravings. For instance, it might be tempting to open an email that promises a “special offer.” But that offer could be special in a bad way. Clicking on emails from unknown senders and unrecognizable sellers could infect your computer with viruses and malware. It’s better to play it safe. Delete them, don’t click on any links, and don’t open any attachments from individuals or businesses you are unfamiliar with.

  1. Don’t give out more information than you need to

Here’s a rule of thumb: No shopping website will ever need your Social Security number. If you’re asked for very personal details, call the customer service line and ask whether you can supply some other identifying information. Or just walk away.

  1. Pay with a credit card

When using a credit card, you’ll usually get the best liability protection—online and offline. Here’s why.

If someone racks up unauthorized charges on your credit card, federal regulations say you won’t have to pay while the card company investigates. Most major credit cards offer $0 liability for fraudulent purchases.

Meanwhile, your liability for unauthorized charges on your debit card is capped at $50, if you report it within two business days. But if someone uses your account and you don't report the theft, after 60 days you may not be reimbursed at all.

  1. Try a virtual credit card

Some banks offer nifty tools that act like an online version of your card: a virtual credit card. The issuer will randomly generate a number that’s linked to your account, and you can use it anywhere online and choose when the number expires. It might be best to generate a new number every time you buy something online, or when you shop with a new retailer. Anyone who tries to use that number will be out of luck.

  1. Check your statements regularly

Check your statements for fraudulent charges at least once a week, or set up account alerts. When you receive a text or email about a charge, you can check the message and likely easily recall whether you made the charge.

  1. Mind the details

After you make the purchase, keep these items in a safe place: the receipt, order confirmation number and postal tracking number. If you have a problem with the order, this information will help the merchant resolve the problem.

  1. Take action if you don’t get your stuff

Call the merchant and provide the details noted in Tip 13. If the merchant turns out to be fake, or they’re just plain unhelpful, then your credit card provider can help you sort out the problem. Often, they can remove the charge from your statement.

  1. Report the company

If you suspect the business is bogus, notify your credit card company about the charge and close your account. File a complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Tip: The FTC offers an identity theft recovery plan, should you need it.

 

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