It’s the perfect time to pick out holiday gifts for your family and treat yourself to an expensive watch you wouldn’t otherwise be able to splurge on.
Black Friday is today a global cultural and economic phenomenon. It comes with high expectations, big discounts, and a shopping frenzy. Its success has now lasted a month. But don’t let excitement cloud your judgment.
Trading is tempting, but danger lurks beneath the surface.
We’re giving away a $500 gift card this holiday season.
Woman shopping online on laptop. (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
There is a devil in privacy policy
Especially when it comes to online shopping, you give up your personal data every time you make a purchase. Information such as email address, name, and address is required to create an account and receive deliveries. And as long as it’s used only for these purposes, it’s fine.
However, the fine print linked under the “Privacy Policy” that you agree to at checkout can often include a long list of unspecified third parties with whom your data will be shared. . Retailers often sell personal information and purchase history to third parties, such as marketing companies and data brokers, who use that information to build detailed consumer profiles. Once information is made public, it is very difficult to remove it from these third party databases.
Probably this happens all the time, Black Friday or not. But with every marketing strategy urging us to buy fast and buy more, we’re less likely to pay attention.
Woman shopping online on laptop. (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
The best way to connect your new laptop to external devices
Aftershocks of spam and fraud, post-Black Friday chaos
The term “Black Friday” was originally coined by Philadelphia police officers in the 1950s to describe the chaos that brought hordes of shoppers and tourists to the city the day after Thanksgiving.
After the shopping splendor of Black Friday, your inbox and phone may experience a dark moment. A spike in spam was widely reported in November. This unwanted communication can come from several sources.
First, go to the online shop where you leave your email address and phone number. Second, of all the companies that received consumer profiles, are those listed (or not) in the fine print of their privacy policies. The third is from all the retail stores I’ve purchased in the past, including a kettlebell set I bought once three years ago (which I better forget).
But that’s not all. Black Friday is a festival for hackers, and it’s the perfect time for social engineering attacks. The urgency and excitement of Black Friday sales can make you let your guard down. They may click on links or open attachments without checking the source. You’re also less likely to notice a phishing email pretending to be from a major retailer sneaking into your inbox. Your data is being collected, shared, and sold even while you’re reading this article.
Woman shopping online on laptop. (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
The dangerous intersection of people-search sites and scams
How to purchase without being sold at the same time
It’s not practical to read the privacy policy every time you buy something. If you’re feeling ambitious, use the search function (Ctrl+F or Command+F) to search for terms like “opt out,” “unsubscribe,” or “do not sell” to quickly find sections where you can restrict data sharing. find. Depending on your location, these options may not be available.
A simpler solution is disposable email address When you open an account for the sole purpose of making purchases. Once you receive your order confirmation, you may opt-out from receiving further communications. You can also use privacy-focused tools and browsers that block tracking cookies and prevent companies from collecting your data.
Woman shopping online on laptop. (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
5 secrets to shopping wisely on Amazon
8 tips to protect your email after Black Friday
Now that the effects of the shopping rush have subsided, it’s important to be proactive. Here are eight important tips to protect your email and personal information from common spam and scams.
1. Create an alias email address. An alias email address is an additional email address that you can use to receive email in the same mailbox as your primary email address. This acts as a forwarding address and forwards emails to your primary email address. Email alias addresses are a great way to prevent continued spam email by simply deleting the email alias address. Read my review of the best secure and private email services here.
2. password manager To consistently use complex passwords that can be changed frequently.
3. Avoid opening attachments or clicking links in emails Unless you’re sure it’s from a reliable source. Scammers and hackers can easily change the sender’s name to make it appear as though the message is coming from a legitimate organization or individual, such as Amazon. However, if you click on the email header, you will see the sender’s actual email address. Scammers pose as reputable organizations and send urgent messages to get you to click a link, reply, or provide personal information in order to resolve a problem or claim a reward. . Clicking on a malicious link could give scammers access to your email and other personal data.
4. Install strong antivirus software on all devices. The best way to protect yourself from data breaches is to install antivirus protection on all your devices. Having good antivirus software actively running on your device will warn you about malware in your system, warn you against clicking malicious links in phishing emails, and ultimately protect you from hacking.
What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
Malicious links often disguise themselves as legitimate links, but can unknowingly download malware to your device. Malware is a type of software that can damage your device, steal your personal information, or give hackers access to your data. Hackers can use your data for a variety of purposes, including: identity theftfraud or extortion. This is why it’s important to have antivirus software that can detect and remove malware before it can cause any harm. Get my picks for the best antivirus protection products of 2024 for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
5. Go directly to the official website where you have an account.to see if changes or charges have been made instead of clicking on links in emails you receive or replying to emails. This will help you avoid falling victim to phishing scams and keep your account safe.
6. Limit the number of accounts or profiles you create with a personal email account.
7. Scrub personal information on the internet regularly. You don’t want spammers to steal your email and add you to their list, right? As a result, your inbox will be flooded with unwanted and potentially dangerous messages. To prevent this, you need to ensure that your personal information is not published on the Internet. No service promises to remove all data from the Internet, but if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing information from hundreds of sites over an extended period of time, a removal service is a good option. is the best. Check out the data deletion services I recommend here.
8. Use VPN (virtual private network) service Increase your privacy by encrypting your internet traffic, making it harder for hackers and third parties to intercept your data, especially on public Wi-Fi. A VPN masks your IP address, obscuring your location and online activity. While a VPN won’t directly prevent phishing emails, it will reduce the exposure of your browsing habits to trackers who can use this data maliciously. A VPN allows you to securely access your email account from anywhere, even in regions with restrictive internet policies. Check out my expert reviews of the best VPNs to browse the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
I was deceived! What should I do next?
Once a scammer has your email address, they can use it to access other accounts, send phishing emails to reveal your passwords or personal information, or impersonate you to commit fraud or other crimes. There is a possibility that That’s why it’s important to protect your email addresses from falling into the wrong hands and act quickly if you suspect a breach. Here are the next steps if you or a loved one find out you are the victim of identity theft.
1. If you are able to regain control of your account, change password and notify your account provider.
2. Check your bank statement and checking account transactions See where outlier activity started.
CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO
3. use Personal information theft prevention service To manage your personal information online and offline. Identity theft protection companies monitor your personal information, such as your household title, social security number (SSN), phone number, and email address, and alert you if it is used to open an account. It can also help freeze bank and credit card accounts to prevent further misuse by criminals.
One of the best things about using an identity theft protection service is that it includes up to $10 of identity theft insurance.1 million to cover losses and legal costs and High-quality fraud resolution team with US-based case managers Helps you recover your losses. Check out our tips and recommendations on how to protect yourself from identity theft.
4. Report violation to public government agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission;
5. You should seek professional advice from a lawyer. Please consult with law enforcement before contacting law enforcement, especially if you are dealing with an identity theft crime and if you are unable to secure employment or housing as a result of being a victim of criminal identity theft.
6. Alert all three major credit bureaus And it could also put a fraud alert on your credit report.
7. Run your own background check Or, if you discover that your information was used by a criminal, request a copy.
If you are a victim of identity theft, the most important thing to do is to take immediate action to mitigate the damage and prevent further damage.
Cart important points
Navigating the world of online shopping during Black Friday can be a thrilling, yet daunting experience. Discounts are attractive, but they often come with a hidden cost: personal data. When preparing your shopping list, consider using tools to protect your information. These resources can help you maintain your privacy while enjoying the benefits of online shopping. Also, be aware that after Black Friday, you may be inundated with spam and unwanted communications from retailers and third parties. By taking preventive steps now, you can avoid future headaches.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Have you experienced a data breach or privacy issue while shopping online? How did you deal with it? Please let us know by emailing us. Cyberguy.com/Contact
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report newsletter using the link below. Cyberguy.com/Newsletter
Ask your cart a question or let us know your story you’d like us to feature.
Follow Kurt’s social channels:
Answers to frequently asked questions at CyberGuy:
New from cart:
Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
