Black Friday & Cyber Monday

It’s beginning to look a lot like… black friday!

We don’t celebrate thanksgiving in the UK, but that hasn’t stopped big American companies pushing the traditional start of American christmas shopping into Europe, and so we approach another Black Friday and Cyber monday.

Here are some tips to help you navigate and stay safe while you shop online for those must have deals.

Shop Savvy

Just about every online retailer will be doing their best to get you to shop with them on Black Friday. They’re not the only ones out to get your cash, fraudsters are ready to pounce on you and take your money leaving you with nothing on Christmas day.

HTTPS://

Don’t ever consider buying from any website that is not using minimal security to protect your transaction. If a website is not using HTTPS, your financial information is being sent in clear, easy to read text.

All modern browsers will show if a website is using HTTPS and of it has a valid certificate. Clicking on the HTTPS section will show you details of the security being used. If this area is red, it means the certificate is not trusted, so avoid these sites.

But don’t be fooled into thinking HTTPS and a green address bar means it’s all kosher, all this is telling you is that any information you send to this website (like your card details, email address and so on) is encrypted before being sent, and is sent on a secure channel. It does not mean the website itself is genuine.

Is it a deal?

Which? did a survey of some of the big retailers, including Currys PC World, Amazon and John Lewis, and found that a number of Black Friday deals they offered were not actually any cheaper than at other times during the previous few months.

The BBC reported the findings advising shoppers to avoid any impulse purchases and to do some research before buying.

Using sites like PriceRunner can help you check if what you’re buying really is a deal.

Every year there are a flurry of new online shopping sites offering the very best deals. The problem is, they’re fake. They take the cash and then disappear leaving you with little chance of getting anything back.

If you’re using a site you’ve not used before, spend a few moments checking it’s credentials.

• How long has it been trading, the wayback machine can help here.
• Where is the head office located? check the ‘About Us’ or ‘Contact Us’ details are real
• Is the business registered on Companies House
• Are there any reviews on Google, trustpilot or any other review sites, and are they believable.

In 2018, the month before Black Friday saw more than 100 fake ‘Best Deals’ apps launched, with hundreds of fake websites. The fraudsters know this is a good time of year to con unsuspecting victims out of their hard earned cash.

If you’re going to be shopping online via an app, make sure you only download from official app stores, and use an antivirus program that checks installed apps for authenticity before installing them.

Antivirus

Does your antivirus program check your internet activity? Is it up to date? Make sure your answer is YES to both these questions before buying from online stores.

And that applies to smartphones and tablets too…

And that applies to Apple devices too…

Passwords

When you shop online, you’re going to inevitably end up creating accounts at various retailers websites. So how are you going to remember all those new passwords?

Well you can either use the same password over and over again (Which is a really really really really really really really bad idea) or you can use a password manager tool (which is a much better idea) and generates completely different hard to guess randomised password for each site you use.

Public WiFi

Make sure you know and trust the internet connection you are using. If you’re in a public space, like your favourite high-street coffee shop, and you connect to their free WiFi, how can you be sure it’s secure?

Setting up a mobile WiFi hotspot to spoof well-known hotspot networks only takes moments and could mean you’re passing your details to a criminal and your Christmas credit card bill might be more than you expected.

Use secure networks that you know you can trust. Secure networks include your phone’s direct internet connection via 3/4g, WiFi subscription spots such as BT, The Cloud, Virgin and so on, and your home network.

If you need to access the internet over an unsecured WiFi connection, use a VPN service. You can either pay for a pre-configured secure service or you can configure your home internet to allow you to connect via it while you’re out and about.

#WeCanHelp you setup your own private VPN for this use, give us a call!

Making A List And Checking It Twice

Be like Father Christmas himself; make a list! Then stick to it! Don’t let yourself be tempted by deals for things you don’t need. Workout what sort of present you are looking for and who it’s for before going online then don’t’ get sidetracked.

And set a budget, stick to it and don’t make Christmas a time of year to get into debt.

Need Help?

The internet is great for finding the things you’re after, it’s also good for suggesting ideas. But think twice about just who’s suggesting it to you.. is it from a genuine unbiased source or is it from the retailer/manufacturer whose interest is in selling the product?

Search engines are getting ever more advanced at being able to find what you’re looking for, but businesses can buy a place at the top of those search results.

And don’t forget, small local businesses can’t always generate the ranking needed to get onto the first page of results, but they may be able to offer a more personal service.

#WeCanHelp

We can’t come up Christmas pressie ideas (well, we can but they may not be what your after!) and we can’t do your Christmas shopping for you, but we can help you be more secure when shopping online.

Contact us to find out about securing your device against the naughty elfs.