Staying Secure Online and Offline This Black Friday

Black Friday offers incredible deals, but it’s also a prime time for scammers, both online and offline. Protect your shopping experience with these essential tips:

Watch Out for Phishing Emails and Scams
Cybercriminals often send fake emails or create fraudulent websites to trick shoppers into sharing personal information.

• How to Avoid Them:
  Ignore emails promising deals that seem too good to be true, especially from unknown senders.
• Always type the store's URL directly into your browser instead of clicking on links.
• Look for https:// and a padlock symbol in the website’s address bar before entering payment information.

Use Secure Payment Methods
Payment security is crucial when shopping online.

• Best Practices:
  Use credit cards instead of debit cards for better fraud protection.
• Opt for digital wallets like PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay, which add an extra layer of encryption.
• Avoid saving payment details on retail websites.

Shop on Secure Networks
Public Wi-Fi can expose your data to hackers. Secure networks are essential for both shoppers and retailers.

• How to Stay Protected:
• Avoid entering sensitive information, like credit card numbers, on public Wi-Fi.
• Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) if you must shop on an open network.
• Shop at home or on a trusted network whenever possible.
• For retailers: Ensure your Guest Wi-Fi is secure and separate from your main network. Consider a PCI-compliant solution like EvolveODM for reliable and secure connectivity.

Be Cautious with Payment Cards
Skimmers and other card fraud devices remain a common threat for both consumers and retailers.

• How to Minimise Risk:
  For retailers: Choose a PCI-certified Managed Network Provider, like Evolve, to keep your payment infrastructure secure.
• For consumers: Use contactless payments whenever possible to reduce card exposure.
• Inspect card readers for anything unusual before inserting your card.

General Tips for Both Shoppers and Retailers

• Monitor your bank accounts frequently for unauthorised transactions.
• Enable two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of protection to your accounts.
• Use a PCI-certified Managed Network Solution, like Evolve, to ensure a secure shopping experience.

Black Friday is a fantastic time to save, but staying secure is just as important as finding the best deals. By staying alert and following these precautions, you can enjoy a safe and stress-free shopping experience, both online and offline.

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About Evolve Business Group and Evolve

Evolve Business Group is an independently owned company that specialises in providing end-to-end IT and managed network solutions to a range of businesses. Evolve is helping businesses to reduce costs and simplify the management of services and give business owners and their teams more time to do what they do best.

Founded in 2005, it has worked with a variety of customers across different industries around the world, building a team of highly experienced specialists to help create effective and efficient packages using any combination of different offerings. It keeps a range of cross-sector networks protected and connected.