Holiday deals—it’s the time of year when retail sales rise significantly. According to a new study by

Deloitte, more people than ever will hunt for deals and shop online this coming holiday season,

with global holiday-season sales expected to reach as much as US$1 trillion.

In another historic first, shoppers will spend as much in the virtual world as they do in brick-and-mortar stores during

the holiday season. With the Gulf region home to a thriving e-commerce market, the sharp increase in online

sales will leave consumers exposed to various types of cyberattacks. In the run-up to the holiday season, Andre

Kopovich, IT security specialist at ESET,

Five tips to help keep attackers away from shoppers’ money:

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1.  Use a secure connection

Not every internet connection is secure enough for making online payments. Public

Wi-Fi networks available in the marketplace are not necessarily the best option for online shopping. A safer alternative

is to access your favorite online store using your mobile data plan.

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2.  Protect your devices

Use a trusted device—whether it’s a computer, tablet, or smartphone—so it’s easier to spot any unauthorized access or

unusual behavior. Also, make sure your operating system and software are always up to date

to prevent unpatched vulnerabilities from being exploited. Install a trusted security solution with multiple layers of protection

to help protect your online banking and electronic payment activities.

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3. Watch out for fake deals

When you receive a holiday shopping deal that seems too good to be true, there’s a good chance it really is.

Fake deals sent to your inbox are common during the year-end season. They’re used to entice victims

and lure them to fake websites that harvest sensitive information (such as credit card numbers) or login credentials. To stay out of

trouble, visit websites of your choice by typing the URL correct address directly into your browser’s address bar.

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4.   Always check the addresses URL

When possible, choose well-known, trusted brands that offer a safe shopping environment and can help you

resolve potential issues. Even then, stay alert when you see a famous brand, since scammers can

create fake websites that look almost identical to legitimate ones. To avoid fraudulent websites, always

check the URLs URL because fake websites can often be identified by an internet address that differs from that of

the official pages they imitate.

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5.   Use credit cards or secure payment services

Shopping online is safer when you use credit cards or secure payment methods, because using them

does not involve any of the money you keep in your checking or savings accounts. Even if a transaction is fraudulent,

some of the losses may be covered by your bank or service provider.

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Many of the points above also apply to online banking. For more detailed advice, you can

read the short guide on