Last year’s Black Friday saw more than a billion pounds being spent online and this year, McAfee research showed that a third of Brits (75%) are planning to buy gifts online. This means millions of people will be inputting personal and financial details to websites and apps such as name, address and card details.
Following the news around the Uber hack over the last couple of days, security concerns are probably at the front of consumer minds at the moment. Nick Viney, VP Consumer, Mobile and Small Medium Business at McAfee, commented below on cshoppers acting frivolously with their personal information and explains why need to stop and think about what data they’re sharing and where.
Nick Viney, VP Consumer, Mobile and Small Medium Business at McAfee:
“Black Friday is a minefield for shoppers. With three quarters of Brits planning to buy gifts online, it presents a huge opportunity for cybercriminals. Bargain hunters need to think before they hand over their personal information to get the best deal, without getting stung.
“Criminals target online shoppers in a number of ways. Consumers should remember that if an ad for Black Friday deals looks too good to be true, it probably is. Think before you click on adverts shared on social media sites. The same goes for emails and messages you receive through platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. If a great discount lands in your inbox, you’re best off to check out the site directly rather than clicking on any links.
“However, the buck doesn’t lie solely with consumers. Brands must ensure they’re protecting their customers’ data during these peak times. With GDPR coming into effect next year, organisations will be held increasingly accountable for keeping personal information safe and secure. Now is the time to ensure businesses have the right security solutions in place to protect data, quickly detect threats and, when hit, correct systems rapidly to mitigate the risk to customer information.”
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