Phishing Scams Accelerate Over the Holidays – How to Protect Yourself

As online holiday shopping skyrockets this year, cybercriminals are seizing on the moment. From enticing online deals to fraudulent e-gift cards, phishing attacks are on the rise and in many cases becoming more sophisticated. Stay vigilant and safeguard your data by following these four tips courtesy of Chapman University’s IS&T.

Resist the urge. 

Be wary of offers too good to be true – no matter how tempting they might be. Buy only from trusted and established online retailers and avoid websites of retailers you’ve never heard of.

Pause before you click.  

Pay attention to emails you receive. Don’t open emails from unknown senders or click on links in suspicious messages. Look closely at the email address. If names are misspelled or off by even one letter, it’s likely a scam.

Enroll in Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).

2FA is a great way to ensure that your online information remains safe even if your account is compromised. If you have not enrolled by now, please do so as soon as possible. For more information on how to register for 2FA, please visit IS&T’s 2FA information page

When in doubt, ask for help. 

IS&T is always here to help if you are unsure about a link received in an email. To learn more about cyber safety at Chapman and stay up- to-date with the latest security alerts, visit the IS&T security website.