Cyber Monday Safety

Happy Thanksgiving from 208Geek!

We hope you enjoy a warm, peaceful, memory-filled holiday with the people you love. As a quick reminder, our offices will close November 24 through November 30 so our team can spend time with family, recharge, and enjoy a break before the busy holiday tech season and Cyber Monday begin. We hope you are able to take a break, as well!

While everyone gears up for holiday meals, football games, and shopping marathons, the online world ramps up at the same time. Cyber Monday is right around the corner. And shoppers across Southern Idaho prepare to hunt for deals. Unfortunately, scammers, cybercriminals, and shady websites also prepare. The holiday season creates a perfect opportunity for them, and we want our community to stay safe, informed, and confident while they shop.

We built this guide to help you navigate online shopping with smart, proactive tech habits that keep your information protected.

Holiday Shopping Creates a Surge in Cyber Threats

Criminals love the holidays because people shop quickly, click fast, and rush through checkout pages. That urgency creates openings for fake websites, malicious emails, and dangerous downloads. Scammers design Cyber Monday ads and phishing messages that mimic legitimate brands. Many people notice a discount first and details second, which gives bad actors a chance to trap them.

We want you to enjoy the season without fear, so we focus on practical strategies that help you spot red flags before you click.

Verify Every Website Before You Buy on Cyber Monday

Legitimate retailers invest heavily in web security. Cybercriminals, on the other hand, cut corners. Before you shop:

• Check the URL carefully. Scammers often change one letter in a brand name or insert an extra dash.

• Look for HTTPS. Secure sites encrypt information, which adds a strong layer of protection.

• Avoid pop-up checkout pages. Reputable stores rarely push shoppers through a redirected form.

• Search reviews. If others experienced fraud, you’ll usually spot warnings quickly.

When something feels “off,” trust your instincts and leave the site.

Use Strong, Unique Passwords for Every Account

Online shopping works best when you protect your login credentials. Cybercriminals love holiday breaches because many people reuse the same password everywhere.

Create strong, unique passwords using a mix of characters, and store them in a secure password manager. It saves time and blocks the automated attacks that hackers deploy throughout the season.

Avoid saving payment information in your browser. Convenience helps during checkout but saved card data creates a greater risk if malware enters your system.

Shop on Secure Wi-Fi — Never Public Networks

Coffee shops, airports, and hotels attract holiday travelers. Many of those locations offer free Wi-Fi, but unsecured networks allow criminals to intercept data. If you shop on public Wi-Fi, hackers can watch your traffic, capture login information, and steal credit card numbers.

For safe shopping, use your home network, a hotspot, or a trusted connection. Layer your protection with a VPN for encrypted browsing.

Watch Your Email — Scammers Send Look-Alike Promotions

During Thanksgiving week and Cyber Monday, inboxes fill up with marketing emails, shipping notices, coupon codes, and alerts from popular retailers. Hackers know that volume creates confusion, so they send fake messages that mimic Amazon, UPS, FedEx, Target, and Best Buy.

Look for these warning signs:

• Spelling mistakes (But internet thieves are growing more savvy than they used to be; so don’t rely on this as the only red flag.)

• Urgent subject lines (“Your account faces closure!”)

• Requests for personal information

• Links that don’t match the sender’s domain

• Attachments from retailers (real companies never send them)

When in doubt, open the retailer’s website directly instead of clicking an email link.

Use Two-Factor Authentication for Extra Protection

Two-factor authentication creates a valuable barrier for your accounts. Even if thieves steal your password, they still need your authentication code, face ID, or fingerprint.

Turn on 2FA for your email, bank accounts, Amazon, PayPal, and any major retailer. This simple step blocks most automated attacks that spike during Cyber Monday traffic.

Update Your Devices Before You Shop

Holiday deals don’t matter if your computer runs outdated software. Old operating systems leave massive gaps that malware can exploit, especially when you shop, click ads, or move through checkout portals.

Before Thanksgiving weekend:

• Install operating system updates

• Update your browser

• Run a security scan

• Clear old extensions you no longer use

• Restart your system for a clean slate

This small amount of prep work strengthens every other security habit.

Use Credit Cards or Secure Payment Platforms

Credit cards offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards. If someone steals your information, you can dispute unauthorized charges far more easily.

Secure payment platforms like PayPal, Venmo (merchant purchases), and Apple Pay add additional encryption, tokenization, and fraud safeguards.

Avoid direct bank transfers, gift cards, or “special payment” requests from unfamiliar sellers.

Monitor Your Bank Statements Throughout the Season

Even small stolen charges can signal a compromised account. Cybercriminals often test a card with a tiny transaction before larger unauthorized purchases.

Check your account every few days during Thanksgiving week and Cyber Monday. Quick monitoring helps you stop fraud immediately.

Keep an Eye on Your Kids’ Devices Too

Children shop online for gifts or browse gaming platforms that use micro-transactions. Scammers design fake links, in-game promos, and social media ads that target younger users who click quickly.

Update parental controls, talk with your kids about suspicious messages, and remind them to ask before entering payment information.

If Anything Feels Wrong, Call Us

Online shopping helps people save time and money during the busiest season of the year. You deserve the convenience without the stress. We want you to shop confidently, protect your data, and avoid the traps that appear every November.

If your computer slows down, acts strangely, or behaves unpredictably after online shopping, reach out. Malware often enters systems silently, and early intervention prevents bigger headaches.

We offer expert diagnosis, cleanup services, hardware repair, and guidance for safe online shopping practices.

Enjoy the holiday, stay safe, and reach out whenever your devices need support. We look forward to serving you again when our office reopens December 1.

About 208Geek in Meridian, Idaho

Owner/Operator Jacob Van Vliet began building and repairing computer systems for friends and family out of his home in 2001. The increasing demand for computer repair led to the opening of 208Geek in the Fall of 2005, with the vision of providing outstanding service and peace of mind. Jacob, along with his team, including his wife, Brittany, commits to delivering unparalleled, friendly, and professional service with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. In 2024, son, Johnny, joined the team and helped expand into Moscow, where he serves the computer and IT-related needs of students and staff at the University of Idaho. The 208Geek team has earned the title “Idaho’s Best” for IT and computer repair for six consecutive years. We would love the opportunity to work with you so we can show you why!