OIT recommends top tips to safely shop online this holiday season

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, many people are focusing on their holiday shopping.

Although shopping online can be a convenient alternative to braving the frenzied malls and shopping centers this time of year, online shoppers can be an easy target for cybercriminals looking to steal data or money. 

In fact, according to a recent Norton Cyber Safety report, surveyed victims in the United States lost $1,500 on average as a result of online holiday shopping scams. This is nearly a $1,100 increase over the average loss associated with holiday shopping scams reported in the previous year. No one wants to fall victim to one of these scams nor lose their hard-earned money or personal data, so it is important to know how to protect yourself.

The National Cybersecurity Alliance has published its top tips for safe online holiday shopping.  The Ohio University Office of Information Technology (OIT) encourages all students, faculty, and staff to stay secure this holiday season by implementing these practices when shopping online.