With more people shopping online than ever before, the need to stay cyber safe becomes even greater. There are many ways that you can stay safe during your holiday shopping. The department of Innovation and Technology is working on better ways to protect you during your online shopping needs especially as they grow due to COVID-19. 

According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, you should think before you click. Beware of ads encouraging you to click on a link especially if you receive a notice or an enticing offer.  It’s better to go to the actual companies website. Another great tip is to do your homework. Cyber thieves are fond of setting up fake e-commerce sites. Prior to making a purchase make sure you read the reviews about the site that you are on. If you don’t find any reviews, it’s generally not a trustworthy site. 

Credit Cards are often safer than debit cards as there are more consumer protections to protect you from fraud. Always be wary of the information you are giving away when you enter data. If the merchant is requesting more data than you feel comfortable sharing, cancel the transaction. You should never save your payment information in your profile.

Continue to check your credit statement, and your bank account for any unauthorized activity. Knowing what you have spent money on can go a long way towards keeping you safe. For more information on ways to protect yourself, click here.