Like it or not, the holiday season has arrived! If you are anything like me, you not only welcome Cyber Monday, but make the most of the day. Obviously, the deals can be great, but the real benefit is the ease and convenience of shopping from home. The list of advantages is long…no parking headaches, no frustrating searches through over stocked stores to find the right size, no wasted time waiting in long check out lines, and best of all, no need to deal with the Chicago cold, rain, and snow.

Before you get your credit card handy and start paging through the many Cyber Monday emails you likely have accumulated, take a few minutes to ensure your cyber safety. The entire world knows that Monday, November 28, 2016 is the biggest online shopping day of the year. Take a few minutes to ready your computer for the day and ensure your online safety.

1. Ensure your browser is updated. Browser programs are updated to address problems. If you have an outdated version on your computer, the website you are accessing may not display properly and there can also be security issues allowing someone to hack into your computer. To check what version you currently have on your computer, open the browser program, go to the toolbar up top, click on “Help,” and then click on “About [the name of the program.]”
2. Ensure you have the latest operating system updates. Both Microsoft and Apple update their systems regularly to ensure the safety and reliability of your computer. Don’t procrastinate. These updates offer the latest protection against malicious online activities.
3. Ensure you have updated your anti-virus software. Cyber Monday is a favorite day for hackers, thieves and cyber-terrorists. Reduce your vulnerability by downloading the latest update. Remember, antivirus software is used to prevent, detect, and remove computer viruses, worms, and trojan horses. Don’t take chances with an out of date program. Also, limit the number of unknown sites you visit.
4. Scan your computer for Spyware. Spyware tracks your movements on the Web and often times interferes with your computer’s performance. If you have time, run a full system scan of the hard drive before you start shopping to make sure that you do not have any unwanted intrusions.
5. Prepare for computer freezes. If your computer freezes, simply reboot the computer. Click on the “Ctrl-Alt-Delete” keys. The task manager will open and click the “Start Task Manager” tab. A window will open and you will see the site that is not responding. Click the “End Task” tab and the web page will close. For Apple computers, hold the “power” button down until the computer turns off or select the “Opt- Cmd-Esc” keys.

Best of luck with the online deals and happy shopping! And remember Cyber Monday is a great reminder to be aware of your online security.