Identity Theft can ruin more than your holidays!

Identity Theft can ruin more than your Holidays; it can ruin your life! There are many ways to protect yourself and your future. By taking precautionary steps; you can lessen the threats of cybercriminals.
* Secure your Computer- ensure you have a good antivirus program and keep it updated.
* Avoid email scams- If you weren’t expecting that email from your bank, Uber, FedEx, or the post office, don’t open it. Sounds too good to be true? Then it probably is. 
* Be especially cautious of email links- once you click on that bad link it might be too late. If you accidentally opened a questionable email, delete it immediately, DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINKS. Looks ok to you? Then type the link in a newly opened browser yourself.
* Use two-factor authentication- having this turned on for mobile accounts and social media can help avoid password theft. 
* Do not reuse passwords- Once a cybercriminal has your password they will attempt to use it for all your accounts and popular websites. You’ve made it easy for them to get multiple account information by reusing the same password. 
* Shop reputable websites- all reputable online shopping sites will display “https” in their web address and not just “http”. The S stands for secure! 
* Sign up for transaction monitoring alerts- you have the choice to be alerted whenever a purchase is being made. This will allow you to contact your financial institution immediately about a fraudulent charge. 
* Limit use of wi-fi connections- Never shop on your mobile device on public wi-fi. Open connections for all to use are a cybercriminal’s payday. 
* Limit your risks- If possible use just one credit card for all your shopping and track every purchase by keeping receipts or notating where, what, and how much. 

Happy Holidays from Just Call the I.T. Guy and STAY CYBERSAFE!