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Black Friday Tech: 3 Safety Warnings About Your New Purchase

How To Secure Your Black Friday Shopping Tech Tools

Cybersecurity

The holiday season is a time to be thankful, visit loved ones… and buy the latest and coolest new tech. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have made it easy to stay up-to-date on the newest devices. But as useful (and awesome) as this new technology may be, it isn’t always the most secure. New Black Friday tech comes with new security risks, and it’s important that you know about these risks and how to avoid them.

Here are 3 things you should know about the tech you bought on Black Friday (and 3 ways to make that tech more secure!):

1. All Tech (Including Black Friday Tech) Poses Security Risks

When we say, “tech,” you might think we’re referring to your new computer or cellphone. But tech takes on many faces, and your new smart refrigerator or TV can be compromised just as easily. In short, all tech poses security risks, and new technologies mean new avenues of attack. For instance, a cybercriminal can hack your smartwatch through smishing, or they can gain access to your smart TV’s camera and spy on you.

It’s important that you treat your smartwatch with the same cautions you’d apply to your PC. Hesitate before clicking a link and be cautious about what you download. Additionally, practice workplace security both at home and at the office, and always use smart password policies. Remember: cybersecurity is fundamental to staying safe, regardless of what tech you’re using. Speaking of…

2. New Tech Isn’t Bulletproof Tech

A common misconception about new tech is that hackers haven’t found a way to breach it. And if they haven’t found a way to breach it, that means you have nothing to worry about, right? Unfortunately, even the newest technology has vulnerabilities, and it’s not a matter of if, but when a hacker will find one. You’ll have no way of knowing whether an attack is a legitimate risk, so it’s best to assume they all are.

Now that you’ve purchased your new tech, start researching common attacks. Additionally, learn about the latest security software offerings and be sure to set up automatic patching and updates. Lastly, brush up on your cybersecurity knowledge by reading more about current risks and best practices. Essentially, you should take the same measures with your new tech that you would take with older tech. On that note…

3. Black Friday Tech is Still a Risk to the Workplace

You might be tempted to add your work email to your new tablet, or you might want to show off that tablet to your coworkers. Arguably, there’s nothing wrong with bringing your tablet to the office (and half the fun of new tech is bragging about it!). But if your new tech becomes compromised, it can pose a threat to the rest of your office. Similarly, while it may be convenient to have your work files in more than one place, it also means double the security risk.

Whenever possible, you should keep your work tech and personal tech separate. Not only does this protect your work data, but it also protects your personal files. Of course, some overlap might be unavoidable; in these instances, practicing strong cybersecurity measures is key. In fact, if you only take one thing away from this article, let it be this: cyberattacks are constantly evolving, so even the newest tech needs the newest security measures.

Technology is an asset. It helps make our lives easier and more enjoyable. But regardless of how new it is, no tech is impenetrable to cyberattacks. If you want to keep your tech secure, it’s important to understand what qualifies as tech, what risks are out there, and what precautions you can take against them. And the best way to keep your Black Friday tech secure is by learning as much as you can about security measures; remaining vigilant against attacks; and implementing and nourishing a culture of cybersecurity.

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