Safe Shopping Online

Cyber Monday (the Monday after Thanksgiving) and online shopping throughout the entire holiday season have become increasingly popular in recent years, and the trend is expected to continue this season. According to MarketLive, an e-commerce software and solutions provider, online shoppers in the U.S. are projected to spend more than $54 billion this holiday season, nearly a 17 percent increase over the $47 billion spent last year. The increase in online shopping coincides with an increase in mobile device use, and more shoppers will be using special holiday smartphone apps to find the best deals.

Before you click or tap to buy that "must have" item on your holiday list, check out these tips below to make sure you're doing everything you can to avoid becoming a victim of cyber crime:

1. Secure your mobile device and computer. Be sure to keep the operating system and application software updated/patched on all of your computers and mobile devices. Be sure to check that any anti-virus/antispyware software installed is running and receiving automatic updates. Confirm that your firewall is enabled.
2. Know and trust your online shopping merchants. Limit your online shopping to merchants you know and trust. If you have questions about a merchant, check with the Better Business Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission. Confirm the online seller's physical address and phone number in case you have questions or problems.


3. Look for “https” when making an online purchase. The "s" in “https” stands for "secure” and indicates that communication with the webpage is encrypted. If you submit your credit card information through an organization's website, be sure to look for indicators that the site is secure. Look for a padlock or key icon in the browser's status bar and be sure “https” appears in the website’s address bar before making an online purchase. You should also make sure that your browser software is current and up-to-date.
4. Password protect your mobile device and computer. It’s the simplest and one of the most important steps to take to secure your mobile device and computer. If you need to create an account with the merchant, be sure to use a strong password. Use at least eight characters, with numbers, special characters, and upper and lower case letters. Adhere to the tenant “a unique password for every unique site.”
5. Do not respond to pop-ups. When a window pops up promising you cash or gift cards for answering a question or taking a survey, close it by pressing Control + F4 for Windows and Command + W for Macs.
6. Avoid scams and fraud. Don’t ever give your financial information or personal information over e-mail or text. Be aware of unsolicited communications purporting to represent stores or charities. Always think before you click on e-mails you receive asking for donations and contact the organization directly to verify the request. Information on many current scams can be found on the website of the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National White Collar Crime Center.
7. Do not use public computers or public wireless for your online shopping. Public computers may contain malicious software that steals your credit card information when you place your order. Additionally, criminals may be intercepting traffic on public wireless networks to steal credit card numbers and other confidential information.
8. Pay by credit card, not debit card. The safest way to shop on the Internet is to pay with a credit card rather than debit card, as credit cards are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act and may reduce your liability if your information was used improperly.
9. Print your online transactions. Print or save records of your online transactions, including the product description and price, the online receipt, and the e-mails you send and receive from the seller. Carefully review your credit card statements as soon as you receive them to confirm that all charges are legitimate. Contact your credit card company immediately if you have unauthorized charges on your account.
10. Review privacy policies. Review the privacy policy for the website/merchant you are visiting. Know what information the merchant is collecting about you, how it will be stored, how it will be used, and if it will be shared with others.

What to do if you encounter problems with an online shopping site?

Contact the seller or the site operator directly to resolve any issues. You may also contact the following:
 

 Your State Attorney General's Office - www.naag.org/current-attorneys-general.php

 Your State Consumer Agency - http://www.usa.gov/directory/stateconsumer/index.shtml

 The Better Business Bureau - www.bbb.org

 The Federal Trade Commission - http://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov

For additional information about safe online shopping, please visit the following sites:

 US-CERT - www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST07-001.html

 OnGuard Online - http://www.onguardonline.gov/articles/0020-shopping-online

 Microsoft - http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/online-shopping.aspx

 Privacy Rights Clearinghouse - https://www.privacyrights.org/Privacy-When-You-Shop

 Internet Crime Complaint Center - http://www.ic3.gov/media/2010/101118.aspx

 Smartphone Security - Android vs. iOS
 

This material has been adapted from an original article by the MS-ISAC.

Dealing with Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying refers to practice of using technology to harass, or bully, someone else. Bullies used to be restricted to methods such as physical intimidation, postal mail, or the telephone. Now, developments in electronic media offer forums such as email, instant messaging, web pages, and digital photos to add to the arsenal. Computers, cell phones, and PDAs are current tools that are being used to conduct an old practice.

Forms of cyberbullying can range in severity from cruel or embarrassing rumors to threats, harassment, or stalking. It can affect any age group; however, teenagers and young adults are common victims, and cyberbullying is a growing problem in schools.

Why has cyberbullying become such a problem?

The relative anonymity of the internet is appealing for bullies because it enhances the intimidation and makes tracing the activity more difficult. Some bullies also find it easier to be more vicious because there is no personal contact. Unfortunately, the internet and email can also increase the visibility of the activity. Information or pictures posted online or forwarded in mass emails can reach a larger audience faster than more traditional methods, causing more damage to the victims. And because of the amount of personal information available online, bullies may be able to arbitrarily choose their victims.

Cyberbullying may also indicate a tendency toward more serious behavior. While bullying has always been an unfortunate reality, most bullies grow out of it. Cyberbullying has not existed long enough to have solid research, but there is evidence that it may be an early warning for more violent behavior.

How can you protect yourself or your children?

1. Teach your children good online habits. Explain the risks of technology, and teach children how to be responsible online (see Keeping Children Safe Online for more information). Reduce their risk of becoming cyberbullies by setting guidelines for and monitoring their use of the internet and other electronic media (cell phones, PDAs, etc.).
2. Keep lines of communication open.  Regularly talk to your children about their online activities so that they feel comfortable telling you if they are being victimized.
3. Watch for warning signs. If you notice changes in your child's behavior, try to identify the cause as soon as possible. If cyberbullying is involved, acting early can limit the damage.
4. Limit availability of personal information. Limiting the number of people who have access to contact information or details about interests, habits, or employment reduces exposure to bullies that you or your child do not know. This may limit the risk of becoming a victim and may make it easier to identify the bully if you or your child are victimized.
5. Avoid escalating the situation.  Responding with hostility is likely to provoke a bully and escalate the situation. Depending on the circumstances, consider ignoring the issue. Often, bullies thrive on the reaction of their victims. Other options include subtle actions. For example, you may be able to block the messages on social networking sites or stop unwanted emails by changing the email address. If you continue to get messages at the new email address, you may have a stronger case for legal action.
6. Document the activity.  Keep a record of any online activity (emails, web pages, instant messages, etc.), including relevant dates and times. In addition to archiving an electronic version, consider printing a copy.
7. Report cyberbullying to the appropriate authorities. If you or your child are being harassed or threatened, report the activity. Many schools have instituted bullying programs, so school officials may have established policies for dealing with activity that involves students. If necessary, contact your local law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies have different policies, but your local police department or FBI branch are good starting points. Unfortunately, there is a distinction between free speech and punishable offenses, but the legal implications should be decided by the law enforcement officials and the prosecutors.

 

Additional information:
The following organizations offer additional information about this topic:

National Crime Prevention Council

StopBullying.gov

This information was produced by US-CERT and republished for non-commercial use as outlined in their Privacy & Use policy.

Test Your Phishing Knowledge

We're a little over halfway through National Computer Security Awareness Month, so how about a game to test your knowledge of phishing and other email scams? 

It only takes a couple of minutes and it's lots of fun.  Who knows - you might learning something as well!

Keep Your Eyes Open

7 Practices for Safer Computing

Do you practice these 7 steps for safer computing?  Click on each step for some valuable information!

1. Protect your personal information. It's valuable.
2. Know whom you're dealing with.
3. Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, as well as a two-way firewall, and update them all regularly.
4. Be sure to set up your operating system and Web browser software properly, and update them regularly.
5. Protect your passwords.
6. Back up important files.
7. Learn whom to contact if something goes wrong online.

Most Dangerous Celebrity

Lily Collins, daughter of Genesis musician Phil Collins, and star of movies such as The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and Mirror, Mirror has the dubious honor of recently being dubbed 2013's Most Dangerous Celebrity. 

This is the seventh year that McAfee has ranked the riskiness of searching for certain celebrities on the web. If you search for Lily, you have a 14.5% chance of landing on a website that will infect your computer with spyware, adware, viruses or other malware that are designed to steal your password, email address or other personal information.  Be careful what you search for!

If you need tool that will help you decide what sites are good or bad, we recommend you consider using McAfee's SiteAdvisor software.  The price can't be beat (it's free) and it works with almost every major browser, including those on mobile devices.  SiteAdvisor works by adding color-coded ratings to your browser search:  green for a good site, yellow for questionable sites, and red for sites known to be malicious.

Time for Some Fun!

Can you find all the security-related words below?