8 Things Cyber Pickpockets Don’t Want You to Know

Whether you’re a shopper going online cyber Monday to avoid fighting crowds at the mall or a business owner that engages in e-commerce, the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America urges consumers to guard their identities and businesses to guard the personal information that they collect. According to Symantec Corporation, nearly one-third of cyber attacks are aimed at businesses that have fewer than 250 employees and 50 percent at those employing fewer than 2,500 employees. With small businesses increasingly the target of cybercriminals, any enterprise conducting business online should consider its vulnerability to cybercrime and if cybersecurity insurance would be beneficial.

“There is always a potential, when you purchase or sell something online, that you could be open to a cyber-attack without even knowing it, said David Golden, PCI’s senior director, commercial lines policy. “Every year more people shop online and thieves are hoping to steal your personal information. You can do a lot to protect yourself from becoming a victim of a cyber-attack. Think of it as being on guard against cyber pickpockets.”

Insurance companies often offer varying levels of cybersecurity insurance to protect both individuals and businesses from the financial risk of Internet crime. ”Both individuals and businesses should periodically discuss how they use the Internet with their insurance agent or broker to make sure that the coverage they buy continues to meet their needs,” recommended Golden.

Online Safety Tips for Businesses

1.) Put appropriate security measures in place to protect your customers’ personal information.

2.) Have appropriate security software and firewalls to protect against criminals hacking into your site.

3.) Test e-commerce mechanisms all the way through and confirm that everything is secure, to protect both your customer and your business

4.) Confirm with any third-party vendors that they also have proper security measures in place to protect your customers and your business.

Online Safety Tips for Shoppers

1.) Confirm that the website is legitimate before you give out personal information

2.) Look for “https”rather than “http” at the beginning of the URL when you go to the checkout page, as one indication that the site is secure.

3.) Use a credit card when purchasing online rather than a debit card, to prevent access to your bank account. Credit cards usually have a limit on your liability for unauthorized transactions. Review your statements for unauthorized charges and report any discrepancy to the credit card company immediately

4.) Use high-quality Internet security software to help protect you from cybercrimes.

For more online safety tips visit the National Cyber Security Alliance.