Top 5  Tips to Keep Yourself Safe While Shopping This Holiday Season

Holiday shopping is upon us, and while the deals sparkle and carts fill up fast, so do the risks. In the spirit of looking out for you, here are five essential safety tips to help guard your digital life for a safe shopping experience.

1. Avoid public Wi-Fi

A free Wi-Fi network is convenient while you’re at a cafe or before you hop on your flight, but unsecured networks are a hacker’s playground. If you shop online while connected, your info could be intercepted without you even knowing. It’s safer to stick with your phone’s hotspot or a trusted VPN. Your hotspot keeps you on your own private connection, and a VPN encrypts your data so that even if someone tries to look in, all they would see is all they see is blocked out information they can’t understand

1. Use secure payment methods

Using secure payment methods like PayPal or Apple Pay lessens the risk of hackers stealing your personal information. Avoid using debit cards and double-check that the website you’re entering your information on starts with https://. That “s” in https:// means the site is using a secure, encrypted connection, which helps protect you. Further protect your online accounts and logins with Loop8. Loop8 also secures your payment methods by safeguarding the accounts connected to them.

1. Beware of “too good to be true” deals

Not every deal is what it seems. Scammers know how tempting big discounts can be, so they create fake promotions to sell counterfeit goods—or steal your money altogether. We’ve all seen those “too good to be true” offers online. Before you get tempted, let Loop8’s Privacy Mate check if the site is actually legit.

1. Use strong, unique passwords (or go passwordless)

Nothing makes a hacker’s life easier than when people reuse the same passwords or use simple passwords across all of their shopping sites, because one breach can multiply into many. The best approach: use strong, different passwords. Better yet, make life easier and go passwordless with Loop8. It uses your Face ID or fingerprint to quick, secure sign-ins so your data stays secure. It can also generate strong passwords for new accounts when you need them.

1.  Avoid clicking on suspicious links

Scammers often hide in emails, texts, or social media posts with fake promotions, urgent alerts, or counterfeit shipping notifications. Clicking these links can install malware, steal your login credentials, or lead you to phishing sites that mimic real retailers. Phishing attacks are also on the rise this year. To keep yourself safe, verify the sender’s email or account, and whenever possible, type the retailer’s website directly into your browser. Using security tools like Privacy-Mate can also help flag suspicious sites before you interact with them.

BONUS TIP: Trust your instincts.

If something feels off about a website, product, or deal, it probably is. Maybe the site looks a little outdated, the prices seem oddly low, or the checkout page just doesn’t feel secure. Those small red flags are worth paying attention to. Trust your gut and take a step back. A few extra seconds of caution can save you from losing money or your personal information.

Final Thoughts

The holiday season should be about joy, gifts, and connection, not stress over data breaches, payment fraud, or identity theft. With these safety tips in mind and the right tools in place, you can shop confidently and safely.

To further secure yourself this season, download Loop8 to protect your passwords, personal information, and online activity wherever you shop.