DUNMORE, Pa. \u2014 The holiday season brings joy, gift-giving and, unfortunately, a surge in online scams targeting unsuspecting shoppers. From fake shopping sites to phony shipping notifications, cybercriminals are banking on the festive rush to catch people off guard.<\/p>\n
With a few smart steps, though, cybersecurity can keep your holidays merry and your finances safe. Fred Aebli, lecturer of information science and technology at Penn State Scranton, said the holidays bring a spike in fake shopping sites offering unbelievable deals, phony shipping notifications pretending to be UPS or FedEx, social-media sellers who vanish after payment and bogus charity requests tugging on holiday heartstrings.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a deal or donation looks too magical to be real, it probably belongs in a Hallmark movie \u2014 not on your credit card statement,\u201d Aebli said.<\/p>\n
Watch for red flags<\/p>\n
Aebli mentioned several red flags that shoppers should watch for, including misspelled URLs or sites that look almost right, shopping sites that lack “https” in the web address and \u201climited time\u201d deals that pressure buyers to act fast.<\/p>\n
Other warning signs include requests for payment via gift cards, Venmo or wire transfer; emails with odd grammar or generic greetings; and websites with no contact information, return policy\u00a0or customer reviews.<\/p>\n
Secure devices before shopping<\/p>\n
Aebli recommended giving computing devices a quick tune-up before shopping online.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstall updates, turn on multi-factor authentication, use strong Wi-Fi passwords and avoid shopping over public networks,\u201d he said. \u201cA password manager can also be a lifesaver. Consider also migrating to the use of PASSKEYS.\u201d He recently shared more insights on this topic in an episode of Mr. Fred\u2019s Tech Talks \u2014 his independently produced podcast dedicated to helping parents, teachers and students understand technology. Through the podcast, Aebli offers practical advice on IT, cybersecurity and emerging trends, with the goal of making technology approachable and inspiring others to embrace digital literacy.<\/p>\n
Students face unique cybersecurity risks during winter break, Aebli said. Traveling and extended gaming sessions often lead to connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi at airports, coffee\u00a0shops and relatives\u2019 homes; borrowing shared family computers that may lack updates or protection; and storing passwords in browsers that multiple people use. Increased gaming activity also brings scams and phishing attempts, and being away from campus security tools makes vigilance even more important.<\/p>\n
Act fast if scam occurs<\/p>\n
If a scam or hack occurs, Aebli said quick action is critical.<\/p>\n
\u201cChange your passwords immediately, especially for email and financial accounts,” Aebli said. “Contact your bank or credit card company to freeze charges, run an antivirus scan and turn on multi-factor authentication if you haven\u2019t already. Reporting the scam to the platform, whether it\u2019s Amazon, Facebook Marketplace or a retailer helps protect others, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Penn State Scranton\u2019s IT department offers resources to help students and employees stay secure online. For tips and assistance, visit Penn State\u2019s cybersecurity page<\/a> or contact\u00a0the campus’ IT help desk.<\/a><\/p>\n Information Technology degree at Penn State Scranton<\/p>\n