By Robert Ambrose

For just a moment longer, can your device hold out from hackers to read this blog post about safe online holiday shopping?

Cyber attacks are in the news against major merchants, but cyber attacks affect individuals’ financial or computer health as well. For example, identity theft can result in substantial sums of money fraudulently spent – in your name. Also, cyber attacks could restrict your access to your data.  Then they ask for a fee.

Instead of enduring such a digital setback this holiday online shopping season, take precaution in advance. First, keep your software systems current. In other words, if there are available updates, download them. If you want to skip figuring which updates apply to manually download them, there is an auto-update feature. Next, use strong passwords – not your name or your birthdate. Another important tip is to consider the validity of an offer before your click into it. For example, if the offer if urgently time-sensitive, it may be just a way to hustle you into a rip-off arrangement of some kind.

Obviously, there are other steps you can take to prevent hacking. Use a secure internet connection and change your passwords regularly. In fact, I heard that if you fail to change your wifi’s router’s password when you install it, then the factory “default” password is easy for digital thieves to guess based on the router’s make and model. Additionally, do not share your pin or password. A great idea is to use antivirus software; Microsoft Security essentials is free of charge.

Every fraud prevention article must tell you that the government will not call or contact via social media to tell you that you owe money. A telephone call offering fantastic work-from-home jobs, debt consolidation, and student repayment schemes should all be suspected as fraud.

Unfortunately, someone routinely seems to be a victim to digital fraud. So what should you do when you suspect cyber fraud? Check your credit and bank card statements and report unauthorized charges. Credit reports can tell you if someone borrowed money in your name. Change passwords immediately if you see fraudulent charges.   

Professionals or you can scan your device for viruses. “Ccleaner” is a free online download to scan and possibly liberate your device. I can only vouch for Cclearner. Also, like CPR for a computer, a full system restore can bring your device back.

If you have been hacked, tell the bank and IC3, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The FTC will receive complaints from a victim who witnesses a fraudster claiming to be a government agent. The Social Security Administration would like to know if someone abused your SSN for their benefit. The state DMV wants to know if your driver’s license was used fraudulently. Last the US Secret Service receives online crime complaints in the Electronic Crimes Task Force and the Internet Crime Complaint Center.  

Thieves might have all day to hack into a neighbor’s system. The simple prevention steps can avoid a lot of delay. Get more tips from the U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.