BitDefender offers tips for safe online holiday shopping
December 2009
IT in Manufacturing
What every savvy shopper in pursuit of online deals should know before entering a credit card number.
It is that time of year again. The holidays are coming up, and it is time to shop! BitDefender, an award-winning provider of innovative anti-malware security solutions, offers up some simple tips to help consumers protect themselves from online scammers this holiday season.
“Taking advantage of the many benefits of online shopping like competitive pricing, great selection, or even freebies like zero shipping fees and free gift wrapping, does not have to cost consumers more than they have bargained for,” said Catalin Cosoi, BitDefender’s senior antispam researcher. “By being aware of a few key issues, consumers can shop safely with the knowledge they need to protect their personal information and their PC.”
The following tips include suggestions to consider before shopping online this holiday season and throughout the New Year:
Know where you are shopping and read the fine print. Not every website and online shop is a safe and reputable merchant! The truth is many thieves are quite skilled at crafting very convincing, legitimate-looking online shopping sites. Be very careful who you purchase from.
If the merchant wants more than your name and e-mail address in order to cash in that coupon, beware. A common phishing tactic targeting online shoppers utilises online promotions and sales to entice a consumer to enter personal information in order to receive coupons or other merchandise. While many reputable sites offer coupons or samples, they will never ask for excessive amounts of personal information to redeem them, most only require a name and e-mail address.
Additionally:
* Always shop from a secure PC with a good security suite installed.
* Try to stick to the known and trusted sites.
* Be wary of 'great gift' or 'special offer' e-mails from unknown addresses, it is likely fake and should be avoided.
* Use credit cards instead of debit cards. Debit cards offer a lower liability in case you are the victim of fraud.
* Check for security seals on all shopping sites.
* Make sure that the connection to the website is an http. This does not guarantee safety, but in most cases these sites are safe.
* Consider alternative ways of payment, such as cash upon delivery.
For more information contact Alina Anton, senior PR and marketing coordinator, EMEA & APAC Business Unit, Bitdefender, +40 212 063 470, [email protected], www.bitdefender.com
Further reading:
South Africa’s AI revolution is here – but are we secure?
IT in Manufacturing
South African businesses are sprinting to embrace generative AI, lured by its potential to drive efficiency, productivity and innovation. But here’s the stark reality: without a rock-solid cybersecurity foundation, AI will become a Trojan horse, opening the floodgates to sophisticated cyber threats.
Read more...
Black Rock Mining centralises mining operations with AVEVA
IT in Manufacturing
Black Rock Mine Operations replaced and upgraded its existing infrastructure, and installed additional capacity to expand production from 3 to 4,6 million tons in three years. The new system is powered by a suite of AVEVA solutions.
Read more...
Shaping data resilience strategies with AI and hybrid cloud solutions
IT in Manufacturing
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, organisations are under growing pressure to secure their operations against increasingly sophisticated cyberthreats, including those that leverage AI to enhance the success rate of attacks. In this landscape, it has become essential to ‘fight fire with fire’ – harnessing AI as a means to counter these threats.
Read more...
Cloud or on-prem? Decoding the choices for South African enterprises
IT in Manufacturing
The debate between on-premise and cloud computing architectures remains a prominent topic among businesses, particularly in South Africa.
Read more...
Advancements in wire rope testing
IT in Manufacturing
Being able to get instant, real-time and portable detection of wire rope flaws can make a significant difference for operational teams. There have been a number of significant technological advancements and tools entering the market that help wire rope operators detect and resolve problems faster.
Read more...
Quantum computing power: four steps to protecting your business
IT in Manufacturing
Are you ready for Q-day? Post-quantum cryptography isn’t just an IT issue, it’s a business continuity concern. Quantum computing is fast becoming a reality.
Read more...
Schneider Electric relaunches legacy access control systems
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Schneider Electric South Africa has relaunched its comprehensive access control platform to help customers upgrade from ageing and obsolete systems.
Read more...
Digitalisation in mining - the advantage you need now
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Digitalisation offers immense and proven benefits such as streamlining operations, reducing error and accelerating workflows. Mining operators today leverage digital technologies to improve efficiency, sustainability and very importantly, safety.
Read more...
The shape of water – automating hydropower operations
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Hydropower is undoubtedly one of the building blocks of today’s renewable energy industry and its operations need to be efficient, reliable and sustainable. Automation must therefore form part of today’s modern hydropower operations to improve resource management and enhance reliability.
Read more...
What lies beneath – the hidden cost of AI
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
The world is quickly realising that with the rapid advancement in AI there are also caveats. In short, apart from environmental implications, it also has major significant financial ramifications.
Read more...
printer friendly version