Black Friday Online Safety Tips: Check Before You Click! If It's Too Good to Be True, Leave It!

Protect Yourself from Cybercriminals This Holiday Season

With Black Friday just around the corner, shoppers are gearing up to take advantage of the best deals of the year. However, it's important to be aware of the increased risk of cybercrime during this time. Cybercriminals often take advantage of the holiday rush to launch phishing attacks, spread malware, and steal personal information.

Here are some tips to help you stay safe while shopping online this Black Friday:

* **Be cautious of phishing emails and websites.** Phishing emails often look like they're from legitimate companies, but they're actually designed to trick you into clicking on a link or downloading a file that will infect your computer with malware. Be especially wary of emails that claim to offer you exclusive deals or discounts. * **Only shop from reputable websites.** When you're shopping online, it's important to only shop from websites that you trust. Look for websites that have a secure connection (https://) and a privacy policy that outlines how your personal information will be used. * **Use a strong password.** Your password is the key to your online accounts, so it's important to make sure it's strong. A strong password is at least 12 characters long and contains a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. * **Be careful about what you post on social media.** Cybercriminals can use social media to gather information about you that they can use to launch targeted phishing attacks. Be careful about what you post, and never share your personal information on social media. * **Keep your software up to date.** Software updates often include security patches that can help protect your computer from malware. Make sure to keep your operating system, web browser, and other software up to date. By following these tips, you can help protect yourself from cybercrime this Black Friday. So, be sure to check before you click, and if it's too good to be true, leave it!