Tuesday, November 28, 2017 10:19 pm, Posted by Absolute Destruction
With the holidays only about a month away, many of us start our annual pilgrimage to the malls right about now. November plays host to Black Friday, so it’s a good time to start, but when the thought of it leaves you shaking in your boots (and not because of the late November chill), Cyber Monday is a logical alternative. You can snag some of the greatest deals of the year from the comfort of your own home. There’s no need to pause that Stranger Things 2 episode playing in the background or even to change out of your pyjamas. It’s the easier, less crowded, and far more relaxing option.
While you’ll avoid the lines, crowds, and grumpy sales reps, Cyber Monday isn’t without its risks. As one of the most popular online shopping days around the world, criminals will be on the lookout for unsuspecting shoppers. The crew at Absolute Destruction & Recycling Corp. want to remind our readers that no deal is worth sacrificing your online security. That’s why we’ve developed a no-fail guide to your holiday shopping.
Use trusted devices and network
Variety may be the spice of the life, but when it comes to online security, familiarity is safer. You’ll want to apply this rule to every step of your holiday deal-hunting, from the device and Wi-Fi connection you use to locate sales to the retailer and items you buy.
Never use a public computer or unsecure Internet connection. Both habits, performed separately or together, open you up to significant risk, as an untold number of people have access to this device and connection. Each purchase requires you to share personal information like your address and credit card number. If shared on the wrong device or network, it’s easy for criminals to find this data. You may browse all you’d like at Starbucks or the library, but wait until you’re home to make the sale.
Be critical of ‘too-good-to-be-true’ deals
As we approach the big day, your inbox will fill up with messages and reminders about Cyber Monday’s greatest deals or a last-chance Christmas Eve sale. Most of these will be legitimate notifications from trusted retailers, but sometimes a fraudulent email will get past your junk filters. You’ll notice them right away, as they’ll promise unbelievable sales like the free iPhone X scam circulating the web right now. At least with this one, it should be obvious a handset otherwise priced over $1,000 wouldn’t be free!
When alarm bells go off, don’t click on any link, but don’t rely on your gut alone. Sometimes seemingly normal emails are scams, so keep an eye on the sender. If you’re ever suspicious, simply google the offer, item, or retailer. If it’s real, you should find other links about the sale than just the one in your email.
Monitor your accounts
Your job isn’t done once you make your purchase and wait for your parcel to arrive. You need to keep track of your finances to make sure none of your Cyber Monday or holiday shopping has compromised your security. You can do everything right in the lead up to the sale, and — due to circumstances out of your control — your personal information gets hacked in a breach targeting the retailer you shopped with.
Check your statements for any unusual purchases you can’t explain. Many of the homeowners who scheduled our document shredding services in Mississauga have secured this service because they found suspicious activity in the accounts. Destroying sensitive invoices and statements is an important step in protecting oneself against identity theft, before or after it happens.
Usually only the GTA’s businesses, government agencies, and multinational corporations need regular shredding services, but individuals can benefit from our one-time residential purges, too. Our uniformed, bonded, and photo I.D.’d customer service representatives can help anyone destroy confidential materials, like old credit card statements, invoices, or even obsolete gadgets used during holiday shoppings of yore.
Give us a call to see what frequency would best fit your needs this November. Until our reps hear from you, we wish you the safest Cyber Monday possible as you begin to shop for the holidays in earnest!