AlertPay Blog: Shopping safely online during the holidays

Hi members, It's that sentence of year again, and you're probably scrambling to buy all of those last minute gifts for friends and family. Like most holiday shoppers, you might get your head on what to buy and prepare for the holidays and make not yet even considered the safety measures everyone should be taking when shopping with credit cards online and in stores.

Here are about things to wait out for and what to do if you get across any of them:1. Links in unsolicited emails It's crucial to be very wary of links that look in any email you did not mark up for as they can allow malware on your computer, such as fake anti-virus software. Malware can also release your computer into a spam-generator which is a big way to annoy friends and family unlucky enough to have said spam.When dealing with unsolicited email, everything sounds too full to be honest because it is. If you truly need to recognize where a tie will take you and you simply cannot be a normal life until you love this information, just put your cursor over the link (DO NOT click), and you will see the true URL to which it will whip you out at the seat of your browser.2. Deceiving search engine results Search Engine Optimization attacks occur during the holidays and former special events, such as the Super Bowl or NHL playoffs (practically a religious ritual here in Montreal). What happens is that cyber-criminals manipulate SEO algorithms to put their malicious websites at the top of search engine results.To see if a site is good and what it appears to be, just put your cursor over the search result and you will see the URL at the stern of your web browser. Also, keep an eye out for nonsense content that does not form coherent sentences in the search result; that's a dead giveaway that the answer may require you somewhere you don't need to go. 3. Unknown online merchantsThere are a lot of merchants out there on the web, but not all of them are all legitimate, so it is your personal obligation to do your homework first. One way to dispense with this is to make sure that your anti-virus software is up-to-date to prevent malware installation on your calculator and identity theft through "phishing".Also, only cope with merchants you trust. Get onto forums and see what people are saying about this particular merchant. Do they accept a Better Business Bureau logo and accreditation on their site? If they do, then you can combine them. 4. Friends sending unsolicited emailWhy is your Aunt Marge sending you emails about online money-making opportunities or pharmaceuticals when she usually only emails you with juicy family gossip? Odds are her computer has been compromised and is now part of an evil botnet responsible for thousands and thousands of spamtastic emails. One way to protect yourself is to study the field line and judge whether or not she would charge you something similar that. That small bit of common sense could spare you A LOT (like, I don't know, your identity perhaps, or the protection of your computer and everything on it). 5. Unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots Do not relate to an unknown insecure hotspot since it will allow hackers to get your raw information and use it either with wicked intentions or just for bragging rights. Either way, you do not wish to have it light for hackers to hold themselves with your online innocence. Always go to familiar locations and make certain that your connection is secure. Here are a fistful of safety tips to further protect you online: Update your web browsing software. The latest versions incorporate the most recent security patches. - Shop with a light mind. Don't shop when you're tired, distracted, stressed out or under pressure. Be wakeful and "cyber-aware" at all times and never let your guard down. - Pay attention to details. The website's checkout page should begin with "https" and/or display a padlock icon in the handle bar. This guarantees that your transaction is taking office on a secure server. Make a paper trail. Print out all receipts, warranties, guarantees and email correspondences. This is really helpful if you purchased something through the AlertPay payment platform and always want to register a transaction dispute. We commonly ask for validation of purchase before we can return any refunds. But it's a right mind to do this whenever you have an online purchase. Beware of charity fraud. Many fraudulent charities raise their ugly heads during the holidays to prey on your pity and want to facilitate those in need. Make certain to explore the charity before you have any donations. - Familiarize yourself with website privacy policies to see how an organization will use your personal information. - Review shipping policies so you love when you'll have your product and how often you may give to pay for it. - Read the item description thoroughly before completing your society so you recognize precisely what you're paid for. - Check your credit card statements to make sure you've been charged that to which you agreed. We hope this blog will serve you sponsor as safely as possible during the holiday season and any former time of year. Happy Holidays from the AlertPay Team!

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