Online Security Worries Rising in Pandemic, Says Experian

Fifty-seven percent of consumers believe there’s more risk of identity theft this year due to COVID-19, Experian reported Friday. Some 18% have been affected by a coronavirus-related scam. And 28% would risk being a victim for a good Cyber Monday deal, up from 19% last year. Just under half of the 1,000 adult consumers surveyed Oct. 29-Nov. 5 shop on protected internet connections; 47% check to see if websites are secure. A third will pay for purchases online with a credit card dedicated specifically for this purpose, up 7% from 2019. Experian tips for safer online shopping: (1) Don’t use public Wi-Fi, which makes it easier for hackers to intercept data and steal sensitive information; (2) Enter credit card information from a private home network or use a secure virtual private network connection; (3) Use strong passwords and change them regularly; (4) Use secure websites indicated by a URL beginning with “https”; 5) Use a credit card, which offers more protection than a debit card if you need to file a claim with your card issuer.