Make Black Friday and Cyber Monday Safe(r).

It can be wild out there, with a galaxy of websites competing for your dollars and data. Here are seven quick tips to make your Black Friday and Cyber Monday safe(r).

1. Be skeptical. If a deal looks too good, it probably is. Move on.
2. Use a VPN. If you’re visiting more sites than usual, you’re also leaving more footprints than usual, scattering your personal all over the internet. A VPN will help with that.
3. Use an ad-blocker. It will make your shopping experience a lot more enjoyable. And, it will prevent advertisers from scooping up your data.
4. You’ll get a lot of emails over the holiday shopping season. Think twice before clicking any links within. If you aren’t totally certain it’s legitimate, don’t click.
5. Shop from trusted sources. Be wary of pop-up shops.
6. Use multi-factor identification whenever possible.
7. Steer clear of public wifi networks, as they can leave you vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks.

Enjoy the season, find the perfect gifts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and stay safe(r). We add that “r” on the end as a reminder: There is no totally safe way to shop online. But if you’re careful, you can boost your chances of avoiding disaster.