Vito Rocco, chief information security officer for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), shared tips for safe online shopping.
People need to know that scammers are working to steal their information, according to a news release from the university. They need to be vigilant as they look for discounts on holiday gifts.
“Use a different password or passphrase on each site and never reuse passwords across multiple sites,” Rocco said in the news release.
Shoppers lost approximately $338 million through internet shopping scams this year, according to the Better Business Bureau and as noted in the news release. Shoppers should be mindful of low prices, misleading websites, and additional delivery fees when deciding whether to give a merchant their information.
“Be wary of clicking links in emails or on websites,” Rocco said. “Make sure the link goes to the site you are expecting by hovering over the link to see the URL address. Instead of clicking the link, you can go directly to the site and search for the product.”
Shoppers should also consider turning on multifactor authentication (MFA) on their phones or computers, buying products with credit cards, and looking for a lock icon to ensure the website is secure, according to the news release.
