It's a good place to grab a coffee, but you might want to think twice before shopping "on-line” at a place with public Wi-Fi.
“If someone can find a way to compromise that connection, they can now see what you're doing and everyone around you,” said Jeff Barto, internet security expert.
He said that shopping via public Wi-Fi is one of the top five cyber security mistakes people will make this holiday season.
If you have to shop on the go he says turn your Wi-Fi off and cell phone`s data network.
“They need to encrypt all the voice communications -- therefore they encrypt all the data connections, too,” Barto said.
The second mistake is using an old version of your browser. The browser is the icon you click to use the internet: Explorer, Firefox, Chrome.
Now most browsers update automatically but to check if you`re using the most current version simply go to www. whatbrowser.org.
Other mistakes include clicking on "pop- up" ads and searching for anything with the word “cheap.”
The results could lead you to sites run by counterfeiters or companies without proper security protocols. Which leads to mistake number five, forgetting to look for the secure “S.” Never enter your credit card number or personal information unless the website address starts with HTTPS.
Which leads to mistake number five, forgetting to look for the secure “S.” Never enter your credit card number or personal information unless the website address starts with HTTPS.
That “s” stands for secure and could be the difference between checking off your holiday list and letting a crook use your card to check off their list.
