Want a head start on all the best Prime Day sales? Tap or click here to see our favorite early deals. With so many people shopping all at once during Prime Day, hackers and cybercriminals will see a major opportunity to do damage. Between fake checkout pages, phishing sites and scam emails, there are plenty of ways a hacker can ruin your Prime Day fun. Here are the top threats to watch for.
Cyberattacks, phishing campaigns and more threaten Prime Day shoppers
That’s why it’s critical to tread cautiously when shopping online. Cyberattacks don’t just target governments or companies anymore. They’re an ever-present danger that can threaten anyone if you’re not careful. If you want to shop safely on Prime Day, these security tips can help you protect yourself, your data and your money from cybercriminals.
1. Check the address
2. Make sure you’re encrypted
Look at the URL bar of your browser and you’ll see a small lock-shaped icon next to Komando.com. That symbol means the website you’re visiting is encrypted, and the passwords or card numbers you type are protected from hackers. How to stay safe: Check for the lock icon when you visit a URL. You can also check to make sure the web address starts with HTTPS://. If you see HTTP://, that means the site isn’t encrypted.
3. Never share more than you need to
4. Create a stronger password for Prime Day
Tap or click here to see how to check if any of your accounts were leaked in data breaches.
5. Don’t use public Wi-Fi!
We’ve said this multiple times on Komando.com, but it bears repeating here: Public Wi-Fi is dangerous to use. Public networks can be easily hacked and compromised, which means your transactions and passwords may be visible to others online with you. How to stay safe: Avoid public Wi-Fi networks. If a public network is your only option, use a secure VPN to protect yourself. Tap or click here to find out more about Kim’s favorite VPN.
6. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
7. Stick to using your credit card
Debit cards are tied to our bank accounts, and having your card stolen can cause your savings to be drained in an instant. Credit cards offer much more protection — and many have limits that will stop hackers from getting too far.
8. Watch out for fake texts
Over the course of Prime Day, you may get a text message on your phone that says there’s been an error processing one of your orders. If you tap on the link and enter your credit card information, the scammer who sent you the text will steal it. It’s just another phishing scam!
9. Ignore fake delivery emails and phone calls
Speaking of emails, another common scam involves a fake shipping notification that arrives by email. These messages will usually claim that your order can’t be delivered and that you need to confirm your identity to get your package.
