Commentary: Don’t let online shopping snow you this holiday season

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Gene Mattingly
  • 100th Communications Squadron commander
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Happy Holidays Team Mildenhall, and that includes the greater family too ... spouses and children. I make this point not only because it is the holiday season and those are kind sentiments, but because it's the shopping season and many fellow Airmen, spouses and children will hit the cyber airwaves to do their Christmas shopping.

As convenient as internet shopping is now, it still comes with risk. While it's a different kind of security risk, not like getting into a vehicle accident in the mall parking lot, or someone stealing your bags full of goodies while you sit down on the bench to take a rest, or even someone breaking into a locked vehicle (or worse yet an unlocked vehicle) -- keep in mind you're still vulnerable to bad guys on the internet.

While I don't personally have all the answers to protect you from online security risks, McAfee, a company that dedicates itself to cyber security, puts out a "Twelve Scams of Christmas" list to warn consumers against some of the online security predators and their attempts to make your holiday season anything but happy! We've provided that list here for your convenience.

To keep that smile on our faces, and the holiday cheer in the air, take a quick glance at these tips and then make a toast in the new year to what was a safe holiday online shopping experience.

1. Mobile malware: McAfee cites a 76 percent increase in malware targeting Android devices in the second quarter of 2011, making it the most targeted smartphone platform. New malware has recently been found that targets digital barcodes scanning.
2. Malicious Mobile Applications: These are mobile applications designed to steal information from smartphones or to send out expensive text messages without a user's consent. Dangerous applications are usually offered for free, masquerading as games.
3. Phony social media promotions and contests: Cyber scammers know that contests and free offers are attractive lures, and post phony promotions and contests on social media sites to gather personal information.
4. Scareware: This fake antivirus software tricks recipients into believing their computers are at risk, or have already been infected, so that they will agree to download or pay for phony software. An estimated 1 million victims fall for this scam every day.
5. Holiday screensavers: A Santa screensaver that promises to let you "fly with Santa in 3D" is malicious. Holiday-themed ringtones and e-cards have been known to be malicious, too.
6. Macintosh malware: Cyber criminals have designed a new wave of malware directed squarely at Macintosh users. According to McAfee Labs as of late 2010, there were 5,000 pieces of malware targeting these systems, and this number is increasing about 10 percent each month.
7. Holiday phishing scams: Cyber scammers know that most people are busy around the holidays, so they tailor their emails and social messages with holiday themes in the hopes of tricking recipients into revealing personal information.
8. Online coupon scams: When consumers accept an offer for an online coupon code, they are asked to provide personal information, including credit card details, passwords and other financial data.
9. Mystery shopper scams: Mystery shoppers are hired to shop in a particular store and report back on their experience. Sadly, scammers are now using this appealing job to lure people into revealing personal and financial information.
10. Hotel "Wrong Transaction" malware emails: Scammers have designed travel-related scams in order to tempt people to click on dangerous emails. Once opened, an attachment downloads malware onto the victim's machine.
11. "It Gift" scams: When a gift is hot, not only do sellers mark up the price, but scammers will also start advertising these gifts on rogue websites and social networks, even if they don't actually have the popular items.
12. "Away From Home" status updates: Posting information about your vacation on a social networking website could actually be dangerous. Thieves may see your post and decide that it sounds like a good time to rob you.

Editor's note: No federal endorsement or sponsor implied or intended.