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9 ways to stay safe while shopping online these holidays!

November 23, 2022 by eStormAus

The holiday season is upon us! If you’re like me and try to avoid the hustle and bustle of shopping centres this time of year, then you’ve probably already started doing some (or most) of your Christmas shopping online.

However, online scammers know this and are ready to take advantage of the buying frenzy that occurs during the holidays. Therefore, it’s important that you take necessary precautions when conducting online transactions.

Here are our tips to keep your financial and private information safe from cyber criminals this Christmas:

1. Only use up-to-date devices

Any devices operating on old software pose a serious threat to your online security. Hackers exploit the vulnerabilities found in older operating systems to gain access to both the device and the users private data. Software updates not only improve your device’s performance, but also include patches to fix these vulnerabilities and improve your cyber security. Although installing updates on your computer, tablet or smartphone may feel like a lengthy chore, it can drastically reduce your online risk. For this reason, we recommend that you only use up-to-date devices when shopping online.

2. Never visit websites from email links

This time of year you’re probably being inundated with promotional emails offering the latest products and exclusive offers. However, not all of these emails are going to be legitimate and, as cyber attacks become more sophisticated, it can be difficult to detect which emails are in fact phishing scams. Many of these phishing emails include seemingly innocuous links that, once clicked, lead the unsuspecting victim to a nefarious site that will begin to auto download malware onto their device. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so we recommend never clicking links found in an email. Instead, try navigating directly to the website yourself by typing the url into your web browser. We also recommend applying the same advice to links that have been texted to your phone.

3. Use a wallet app

Giving your financial information (such as debit and credit card details) always constitutes risk. However, during the holiday season, many of us find ourselves purchasing from online stores and retailers we haven’t dealt with before. Freely handing over your financial details to an unknown site exponentially increases the risk of cyber criminals accessing this information. That’s why we suggest that (whenever possible) you use a wallet app (such as PayPal) to facilitate your online purchases. Using these services circumvents this issue, as you only share your payment card details with the wallet app service (Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, etc.), and keeps it out of the hands of the online merchant.

4. Remove all saved payment information after finalising your purchase

Many websites automatically save your payment card details after you finish checking out. While this may be convenient and save you time on your next purchase, it also puts you at risk for a number of reasons. For starters, anyone with access to your device or online account could easily rack up hundreds (or even thousands!) of dollars of purchases in your name. In addition, the online retailer may suffer an all-too-common data breach, which could likely result in your payment card details ending up in the hands of a cyber criminal. A general rule of thumb is the fewer databases you allow your financial details to be stored on, the better. Subsequently, it would be in your best interest to immediately remove your payment card information after checking out. You can usually do this through your account settings.

5. Only shop on secure websites

The new standard for URLs is no longer “HTTP” but “HTTPS”. Having the “S” on the end indicates that their websites encrypts any and all data transmitted through the site. This includes personal data such as your name, address and payment information. We cannot emphasise this enough, you should NEVER trust a website that doesn’t use HTTPS in the address bar. A small lock icon in front of the website address is also another indicator that a website is secure and should be safe to purchase from.

6. Double (and triple!) check the website URL

Mistakes happen and we’re all guilty of the occasional typo, especially when trying to use those tiny keyboards on small smartphone screens, am I right? However, if gone unchecked, one typo can lead you into a world of trouble. Cyber criminals often buy domain names that are very close to real ones used by popular and reputable online retailers (think Amaazon.com instead of Amazon.com). They then build a fake ‘copycat’ site designed to fool victims who’ve accidentally typed in the URL. Being vigilant and taking a few moments to double-check that you’ve navigated to the correct website before you start shopping can save you a world of hurt.

7. Never use public Wi-Fi to shop online

Connecting your device to public Wi-Fi is asking for trouble. Hackers know that this time of year people are more likely to use their portable devices to search for products and prices while out and about in public. They often station themselves around popular public Wi-Fi spots and use it to spy on the activities of any other devices that are also connected. In doing this, these hackers are privy to every website you visit, every word you type and every app you open. With this kind of uninhibited access, it won’t be long until they’re able to see (and steal) your online account passwords and payment card information. We strongly urge you to switch off Wi-Fi while out in public and rely only on your mobile carrier’s network. Or, if that’s not a viable option, wait until you’re safely at home to do any online shopping.

8. Watch out for scammers impersonating well-known brands

While phishing is a major concern year round, the holiday season sees a major spike in phishing and smashing attacks. During the 2021 holiday season alone there was a 397% increase in typo-squatting domains associated with phishing sites. Cyber criminals know that this time of year people receive hundreds of retailer marketing emails, order confirmations and shipping updates. These emails provide the perfect templates for them to impersonate well-known and trusted brands like Amazon, Target and JB Hi-Fi. Unsuspecting victims are then tricked into clicking on a nefarious link and/or logging in to malicious website. Even under the most intense scrutiny it can be hard to tell which email is real and which is fake, so it’s important that you remain on high alert. This is yet another reason why we recommend always visiting a website directly, instead of clicking on an email link.

9. Keep an eye on your bank accounts

Odds are that, during the holiday season, you’re probably making more purchases than you normally would. Therefore, if you’re not paying attention, it can be easy for unexplained transactions to slip through the cracks. That’s why we believe you should keep a close eye on your bank account. Catching suspicious charges early gives you a greater chance of recuperating the lost funds, while also helping you prevent any further breaches. You can even set up banking alerts to monitor your account for you, all through your online banking app. For example, you may choose to set up alerts for purchases over a specified amount or for purchases made outside the country.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: cyber security, cyber security tips, financial fraud, holiday shopping online, identity theft, online Christmas shopping, online shopping, online transactions, stay safe online, tips for online safety

eStorm Service Centre Google Reviews

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Gary Fraser
01:10 11 Sep 24
Four weeks ago, I took my cracked iPad to this store for repair. The employee behind the counter informed me that because I did not have AppleCare, Apple does not fix iPads but rather replaces them entirely. He advised me to take it to an unauthorized repair shop, despite me explaining that the iPad was less than 12 months old. He insisted that Apple would not fix it.I followed his advice and had the iPad repaired elsewhere. However, it has now stopped charging. When I returned to your store, I was told that because someone had previously opened the device, this store could no longer assist with the repair. The first employee failed to inform me about this critical detail.As a result, I’m now stuck with a $1,300 device that doesn’t work. I feel misled and frustrated by the lack of proper guidance from the staff
Priscilla Parata-Reeves
00:58 03 Sep 24
Top notch customer service ,fast, reliable and trustworthy!My daughter cracked her iPhone 15 front screen! Luckily the phone was only 3 weeks old and eligible for apple care+! Dallas did an excellent job. Left the phone with him at around 9am and picked up at 10:30am !!!!!Also so convenient as I don’t have to drive out of spring field to get the repair done- saving me travel time and money!!!!!Will be going back in the future.Happy customer.
Bob Dix
21:19 26 Aug 24
Lachlan Fothergill
01:41 25 Jul 24
Very professional at handling airpods repair
Adele Rankin
03:56 19 Jul 24
Exceptional service.
Beatrice Ndebele
07:36 22 Sep 22
Fantastic service, was referred by Apple after MacBook developed a dark screen and wouldn’t turn off. I was informed of possibility to pay for diagnostic fee and expect to leave it for a fee days. I found the gentlemen friendly and accommodating. The service was prompt, fair subsequent charges. My MacBook had storage issues, I got a new laptop and they helped transferring my data. I will certainly be going back to them in future and I strongly recommend these professionals to anyone having issues with their devices.
julie farrell
06:28 02 Sep 22
2 nd time I have used this service. Needed new battery for my iphone 6 s in 2020. Then 2022 had a battery replaced in my iphone 7. Both times have been brilliant. Such a smooth and well organised service. The fellas at the counter on every occassion have been very patient and helpful. Thanks again, highly recommended
Gary wylie
09:28 01 Sep 22
Quick service. Reasonable pricing .Would recommend for apple repairs
Joel Berry
10:08 23 Aug 22
Awesome service, with a quick turn over. Genuine apple product dealers, most issues under warranty and or insurance will be covered free of charge or for a small cost.Highly recommended.
John Florez
00:27 11 Jul 22
Very knowledgeable, friendly and 100% helpful. They explained all the options and their pros and cons to improve my iMac's performance. My computer is now running much faster with these upgrades. Great Work! Highly recommended!
Melissa Moana
05:16 13 Jun 22
i had no idea they were here awesome service way better than having to travel to carindale
Desiree S
07:52 27 May 22
I discovered this apple repairer by chance and now I recommend them to everyone. Great service and reasonable prices.
Emily Martin
04:45 22 Feb 22
Dropped my MacBook in just shy of 3 years old with a battery issue. The team were very prompt in email response and with the computer. Dropped Saturday, said it would be ready Wednesday. To my surprise it was ready today (Tuesday) a whole day early. Even better they covered the replacement of the battery under warranty. Highly recommended!
Kyle PM
07:59 01 Feb 22
Great and easy service. Much simpler to deal with than an Apple store for repairs. As an IT professional, will definitely be back if a staff member breaks their phone. (Let's be honest, they will).
Ricardo Sé Cestari
23:30 02 Jun 20
Good professional service. Job well done and in a better than expected timeframe.
Kathryn Chee
06:38 15 May 20
Phone came back good as new after a nasty cracked screen. Service was efficient although I did have to come back 24hours later as they didn’t have my colour iphone Instock - so maybe call ahead the day before if you want same day screen repair?
Stevan Kostantinovic
23:01 05 May 20
Very helpful and professional staff as they are Apple certified and did a great job replacing my sisters broken macbook pro screen.Always remember, you get what you pay for.
Ivan ZiHao Tan
10:12 29 Apr 20
Effective and honest! It’s a nice and not busy place to get your IT stuff fixed. It is a bit out of the way but if you’re around west side, just go there. Traffic is smooth too!
Oliver Baumeister
21:38 06 Mar 20
Good service, quick repair of my MacBook Pro under warranty. 3 days to replace ‘top case’ (keyboard, trackpad, etc). Very satisfied.
Bradley Witham
01:43 03 Feb 20
Great shop. Highly recommended. Professional and very helpful staff. Did a great job for me. Will be back for sure - even though it’s over 1hr drive from my home!
Evan g
01:49 07 Jan 20
Friendly and knowledgeable staff coupled with quick service even during a busy period.
Jaidyn Somerville
22:59 01 Nov 19
Quick and professional service, I was told my MacBook would be ready in 2/3 business days and received a text to confirm it was ready two days later. Kept me informed with updates too. Defiently recommend these guys.
Mike C
09:09 23 Oct 19
Friendly, professional staff. Perfect job replacing Macbook keyboard and screen, all with a very quick turnaround. Best Apple experience yet - highly recommended.
Mark Schulz
01:15 04 Sep 19
My second time using the service - first for an iPhone battery replacement and this time to replace the battery in a Macbook Air. Service is great. Will continue to use them into the future.
Jason O'Connor
01:25 28 Aug 19
What a terrible experience dealing with eStorm in Springfield Lakes. After spending an hour on live chat with Apple last night they said that there was an issue with phone and to take it to one of their retail stores or to an authorised service centre. The closest to us was eStrom Service Centre in Springfield Lakes. We were booked in there by Apple who were 100% aware of the phone being out of warranty but due to the issue they were happy for it to be taken in. When my wife got there she was greeted by someone called Dallas who then proceeded to ask her for $40 as a diagnosis fee. At no stage were we made aware that there would be a fee even though Apple were aware of the phone being out of warranty. When my wife made him aware of that he said that it was their policy and there was nothing they could do about it. My wife turned around and walked out. I called to ask what the story was and Dallas said exactly what I have written above. No consideration about the fee, it was internal policy and not their problem that Apple didn't tell us about it. So disappointed at this experience and will never be using them again or would ever recommend them to anyone.
Kelley Knudsen
07:58 16 Aug 19
Great customer service, professional and polite, great results and fast turnaround!
Theticus _
00:08 30 Jul 19
Great service for Apple repair
Michael Bischa
03:27 31 May 19
Great service, let us know our options up front, found the solution and ordered parts in and completed the job in just 48 hours to get am important computer back up running. They are great!
Rob & Rebecca Ketelaars
19:43 20 May 19
Friendly staff. Fast service. Replaced the battery in my iPhone 6 in about 1.5 hours while I was shopping at Orion just across the road. Perfect.
Valentin Despa
08:33 09 May 19
Very professional, friendly and fast. I liked a lot that you get text messages with the status of your job. Thank you guys!
Anthony
05:33 05 Feb 19
Staff was very friendly and professional, only took 2 business days for my keyboard to be repaired; excellent service and absolutely no hassle.
Kazi Nazmul Haque Shezan
00:46 01 Dec 18
Just awesome experience. My apple watch 4 was not charging. I got a new apple watch in 3 days. They are very fast at resolving problem. The staffs are very helpfull
Helena Stibbard
23:12 11 Sep 18
Exceptional service; Explained everything and was very helpful with advice for backing up files; MacBook Pro full keyboard replacement done in 2 days; very little downtime which was really appreciated. Highly Recommended
Tom Parke
11:41 05 Sep 18
This is an easy five stars. I came into the store, explained my issue (I needed to have the entire screen of my laptop replaced). They told me they'd need to order in some parts, and the entire repair was finished in less than 24 hours. Superb team.
Sam D
22:38 19 Apr 18
I took my MacBook Pro in to get the screen diagnosed and replaced through apple warrenty, it was completed very quickly and estorm did an excellent job. It was so much easier going to estorm over an apple shop, no wait time, plenty of appointment times and no pushing your way through noisy crowds. Will definitely be going back to them for any issues. Thanks!
James C
02:50 22 Mar 18
Liam Sorensen
21:18 31 Jan 18
Excellent service and very professional atmosphere. I had a couple of apple devices that needed fixing and to my surprise were covered under warranty and were replaced free of charge!! The team there are an awesome crew very welcoming and very understanding.Look forward to requiring your service again.
Dallas Rankin
01:20 17 Oct 17
Wade
04:43 16 Oct 17
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