Microsoft shares some tips to make sure the festive season doesn’t bring you any hardships
Whether you plan ahead or shop against the clock, the festive period is lavish in e-commerce shopping. No surprises and in the context of pandemics with more restrictions around the world, according to the latest Microsoft survey, carried out by YouGov, this year, 63% of Christmas purchases will be made online.
Data from INE, made available recently, show that in the last three months of this year, 40.4% of Portuguese, aged between 16 and 74, made online purchases and this indicator is expected to shoot up as we approach Christmas.
The price and availability of products are the most important issues for consumers. Pricing is at the top of the list for 69% of people and availability is the deciding factor for 53%. The fact that consumers are concerned about receiving purchases on time means that 54% of people assume that issues with supply and distribution chains are important to take into account.
On the other hand, less than half of respondents (48%) consider the security and protection of their personal data as a priority when shopping online. 61% of consumers say they have been the victim of fraudulent purchases, but most scams are preventable.
Given this scenario, Microsoft shares some simple and useful tips to ensure the safety of online shopping this festive season.
Be wary of offers that sound too good to be true
At this point, online schemes become more frequent and sophisticated, capitalizing on consumer concerns about product availability and delivery time. The survey results show that one in four consumers admitted having already purchased an item that did not match the description given online. If you received a questionable email, before clicking, hover your cursor over all the links to confirm that the address matches what is mentioned in the message. Look for spelling errors, extra letters or other suspicious signs. In case of doubt, go directly to the buyer’s website and confirm that the offer is true.
Dismiss the use of passwords
Weak passwords are the gateway to most attacks, averaging 579 attacks every second. Whenever possible, completely remove your password and choose a more secure authentication alternative.
Use Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
If someone tries to log into your account, Multifactor Authentication notifies them with a message, email or other chosen method, preventing the attempt to access. Multifactor Authentication can block more than 99% of password attacks.
Use free and trusted tools
Microsoft Edge offers many free features to keep you safe when shopping online. If any of your saved logins are compromised, Password Monitor will notify you, allowing you to quickly change your password with Microsoft Edge’s new Easy Update feature. Password Generator automatically generates a strong and unique password suggestion whenever you need it.
Here are some simple tips that can help make online Christmas shopping safer, but more importantly, remain vigilant throughout the year – #BeCyberSmart.
The YouGov study was carried out with a sample of 2,100 adults, aged over 18 years, between November 3rd and 5th, in the USA.
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