Texas Tech issued an IT alert for local computer users — reminding people to be careful when shopping online.
“We encourage you to be vigilant in practicing cybersecurity,” the alert said.
Some reminders are important for all online activity. Update anti-virus software and operating systems regularly.
Some reminders are specific to online commerce.
“Pay with a credit card instead of a debit card. With credit card transactions, you have a period of time before money is transferred to the seller, but debit transactions are immediately withdrawn from your account,” the alert said.
The entire alert issued on November 18 is copied below:
This holiday season, the TTU IT Division encourages you to be mindful as you do your online holiday shopping:
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Look for the lock icon on the browser’s status bar and make sure that “https” appears in the address before completing your purchase; “Https” indicates that the connection is secure and your credit card information is encrypted. If you don’t see a lock icon or https://, then your connection is not secure and your information could be at risk;
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Install, enable and regularly update anti-malware/anti-virus software on your computers and devices;
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Regularly update operating systems, application software, and mobile apps;
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Pay with a credit card instead of a debit card. With credit card transactions, you have a period of time before money is transferred to the seller, but debit transactions are immediately withdrawn from your account. You may also consider paying via a one-time use credit card or a gift card;
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Shop through reputable online stores. Even for reputable online stores, where possible, manually type in the URL instead of clicking links on emails. Be cautious of sellers in online marketplaces like Etsy, eBay and Craigslist. Since many sellers are individuals, your risk of online fraud or not getting the gift you purchased is much higher;
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Save emails regarding your online transactions, especially online receipts and any electronic correspondence you have with the retailer or seller; and
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Review your credit card and bank statements as you receive them (and more frequently online) and immediately report unauthorized charges.
We encourage you to be vigilant in practicing cybersecurity, and invite you to learn more cybersecurity tips online at cybersecurity.ttu.edu. On the website, you will also find a rich collection of cyber safety practices and information, such as avoiding identity theft, mobile device data protection, social networking tips, and other topics of interest to digital citizens.
For assistance, contact your local IT expert or an area IT security provider. Some area IT security providers are listed at cybersecurity.ttu.edu under “Additional Resources.”