Shop CyberSafe This Holiday Season

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Nov 19, 2015, 01:24 ET

CLEVELAND, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On your mark. Get set. Hit send.

More and more holiday shoppers are opting out of crowded malls, turning to – and turning on – computers and mobile devices to find that perfect something. BestBlackFriday.com anticipates hefty increases in holiday online sales, which are expected to top $$1.85 billion.

Before you rev up those digital shopping engines, take a minute to review the following cybershopping safety tips from KeyBank:

Make sure your computer and mobile devices are secure. You can do this several ways, including enabling autolock after there are a few minutes of inactivity, and using a unique password – one not used for any other accounts – on all devices and your home Wi-Fi.
Don't shop online from public computers or hotspots, and don't set your devices to automatically connect to Wi-Fi hotspots, which may be unsecured allow criminals to intercept traffic and access your credit card and other information.
Know your shopping apps and only download ones from approved stores such as Apple or Google Play, and keep them up-to-date to help ensure your device is not at risk for malware infection that can also give criminals access to your information.
Shop with merchants you know and trust. Go directly to a site by typing in the URL rather than using a bookmarked link. If you don't know a retailer, check with the Better Business Bureau.
Avoid pop-ups. Turn down promises for cash, bargains or gift cards in exchange for filling out a survey. Exit by clicking the "X" in the top right corner on Windows devices or Command W for Macs.
Use credit cards as your preferred payment method. Credit cards are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act and reduce your liability. Or where available, use online payment services that store your credit card information on a secure server.

Taking these precautionary steps can help you shop online with confidence as you take advantage of a convenient way to find that perfect gift for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Visit KeyBank's Privacy & Security page for more cybersecurity tips.

This material is presented for informational purposes only and should not be construed as individual tax or financial advice. Please consult with legal, tax and/or financial advisors. KeyBank does not provide legal advice.

About KeyCorp

Key traces its history back more than 160 years and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. One of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, Key has assets of approximately $94 billion. Key (NYSE: KEY) provides deposit, lending, cash management and investment services to individuals, small and medium-sized business under the name KeyBank National Association. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name.

For more information about Key, visit www.key.com or follow Key on Twitter at @KeyBank_News or @KeyBank.

Banking products and services are offered by KeyBank National Association. Key.com is a federally registered service mark of KeyCorp. ©2015 KeyCorp. KeyBank is Member FDIC. Credit applications are subject to credit approval.

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