Another tip in a series provided by the Offices of Information Systems & Computing and Audit, Compliance & Privacy

You probably have a long list of gifts to purchase before the holidays, and the easiest way to shop is while sitting in front of your computer. By entering the online world with a click of mouse, you cross countries and visit multiple stores at once with discounts! This convenience comes with a caution to protect yourself and your financial information while enjoying online shopping. Make a purchase online from a secure site. Look for the lock on the web address or make sure the address starts with https:// (the s is for secure), which means encryption is installed.   

• Visit a familiar website. Avoid clicking on web ads to access a major retailer’s online store. Instead, type the web address you are familiar with to avoid visiting a look-alike site enticing you to provide sensitive financial and personal information. 
• Avoid websites that ask you for personal information such as your social security number or birthdate. Sharing this information may make you vulnerable to identity theft. 
• Keep your browsers updated with the latest updates to patch any security vulnerabilities. 
• Be cautious when using public, open and unsecured wifi. A free public wifi is never fully secure as it doesn’t use encryption technology. 
• Review your browser’s security and privacy settings regularly.
• When making a purchase online using a credit card, your browser may ask you if you would like to save this information for future use. Avoid saving sensitive information to your browser if it is not a trusted and secure device. 
• Don’t forget to check your bank statements frequently. Make sure all purchases are yours and if you note any questionable charges contact your credit card company right away.

Department of Homeland Security tip on Securing Your Web Browser: https://www.us-cert.gov/publications/securing-your-web-browser

One Step Ahead: Safe Shopping https://almanac.upenn.edu/volume-64-number-14#one-step-ahead-safe-shopping

For additional tips, see the One Step Ahead link on the Information Security website: https://www.isc.upenn.edu/security/news-alerts#One-Step-Ahead