South Africa\u2019s shoppers are growing more comfortable with the idea of online shopping.<\/p>\n
But is our level of education about the associated risks keeping pace?<\/p>\n
Considering the rising trends of local data breaches and the number of consumers falling victim to cybercrime, it seems not.<\/p>\n
The South African Police Service (SAPS) reported 467,145 cybercrimes in the 2014-2015 financial year, with an increase to 470, 000 between 2015 and 2016.<\/p>\n
The 2016-2017 financial year is shaping up to be even worse, with 461,000 already reported as of June \u2013 almost outstripping last year\u2019s figures in just a few months.<\/p>\n
The good news is that savvy shoppers only have to follow a few simple rules, and maintain a healthy level of suspicion when making purchases.<\/p>\n
Here are a few tips for staying out of the red this Black Friday:<\/p>\n
Cyberattacks are not just random anymore.<\/p>\n
They are well-researched and usually architected using information you share online.<\/p>\n
Personal details like where you work, job title, who your friends are and what you are doing, are all over social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook.<\/p>\n
Hackers use these sites to gather intel on unsuspecting victims \u2013 this is called Social Engineering.<\/p>\n
Cybercriminals are getting more advanced in their efforts to trick you into entering your financial details on unsecured websites, or convincing you to click on an innocent-looking link that downloads malicious software onto your device.<\/p>\n
Even if you receive a branded email, from what looks like a legitimate retailer with their logos and fonts, it could be a scam.<\/p>\n
Always type a retailer\u2019s address into your browser to avoid being redirected to a fake site.<\/p>\n
And be on the lookout for the all-important https:\/\/ (as opposed to http:\/\/).<\/p>\n
The \u201cs\u201d stands for secure \u2013 so that one little letter is crucial to your online safety.<\/p>\n
Every time you enter your credit or debit card details into an online form is a chance for those details to be intercepted by cybercriminals.<\/p>\n
Set up a dedicated online shopping account with strict credit and overdraft limits, with only enough money to buy what you need.<\/p>\n
Alternatively, use the e-bucks, Discovery Rewards and Avios points you\u2019ve been collecting all year.<\/p>\n
Keep track of retailers you\u2019re expecting a shipment from.<\/p>\n
If you receive an email that contains tracking information from a courier service or retailer you haven\u2019t used, do not click on the tracking URL.<\/p>\n
This is a malicious link disguised as something familiar.<\/p>\n
The same goes for attachments \u2013 these could contain malicious code.<\/p>\n
Again, rather type the courier service website in manually to avoid being sent to a fake site.<\/p>\n
Report it to the police<\/strong><\/p>\n The statistics provided by the SAPS are just the tip of the iceberg \u2013there are many cases that go unreported every year.<\/p>\n These reports aid in investigations and can help shut down these cybercriminals and their syndicate organisations for good.<\/p>\n Report it to your bank<\/strong><\/p>\n Get in touch with your bank as soon as you suspect something irregular is going on and have your card cancelled immediately.<\/p>\n Depending on the circumstances, they may even be able to reverse the fraudulent charge and get your cash back.<\/p>\n Report it to the business you thought you were buying from<\/strong><\/p>\n They have a vested interest in knowing they are being impersonated online, and are often better resourced in the hunt to track the perpetrators down.<\/p>\n They are also familiar with the processes followed in getting suspicious sites blacklisted or shut down.<\/p>\n Do\u00a0Not<\/em>\u00a0Negotiate<\/strong><\/p>\n If you find yourself locked out of your PC due to ransomware, it\u2019s likely the attackers will ask you to pay a ransom to give you back control.<\/p>\n And they often ask for payment in untraceable currencies like Bitcoin.<\/p>\n But once you\u2019ve been identified as a soft target, they\u2019ll probably be back for more.<\/p>\n Have a secure archiving solution in place that will ensure you can recover your lost information easily, without paying a penny.<\/p>\n These tips come at a perfect time for Black Friday enthusiasts, but should also be adhered to throughout the festive season and the rest of the year for optimal protection.<\/p>\n