The holiday season is in full swing, and while it might be a time of good cheer, there’s also a lot to worry about when it comes to spending your time online. The holiday season is primetime for scammers and bad actors, so it’s important to be especially vigilant when you’re shopping for gifts, trying to keep up with family, or just browsing social media.

Be prepared

One of the most important steps you can take in staying safe online is to avoid and prevent scams before they ever occur. This means getting yourself set up with information safety tools like a password manager, which can help you protect your passwords thanks to encrypted storage and other security measures.

Preparing yourself with a password manager can also be a great way to check how secure your accounts are by determining if your passwords are actually strong, if you’re using duplicates on multiple websites, or if your account info was included in any recent data leaks. Password managers also make it really easy to update passwords with randomly generated options, which can make them even tougher for bad actors to crack.

There are a lot of great password managers on the market, including some free ones like Google’s built-in password manager, Apple’s iCloud Keychain, and other paid options like 1Password and LastPass. For a full list of the best of the bunch, check out PCMag’s picks.

Another great way to protect yourself online is to set up text or push notifications from your bank and credit cards. This helps you keep up with all your purchases as they happen which will make you immediately aware of any unknown purchases, rather than waiting until the end of the month when your statement comes. Most banks and credit cards should offer this functionality within their apps or through your online account settings.

Watch out for scams

Scams are everywhere. Because many of us spend our lives perpetually online and connected, it’s easy for scammers to connect with us, too. Whether you’re getting scams through your email or text, it’s important to keep a few things in mind whenever you get a text or email about a good deal.

First, don’t click any unsolicited links that come your way via email or text. If you get an email about a deal going on at a website or store, go directly to that website through your browser’s navigation bar instead of clicking on the link. Scammers have become really good at hiding their email address and making it look legit, so always double check before you trust anything that wants you to click a link.

Be careful with online gift exchanges

This holiday season is going to be ripe for gift-giving scams. These scams often appear on social media like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), asking users to sign up for a gift exchange wherein they’ll send a gift out and then receive one from someone else. While this might seem fun and innocent, they’re a great way for scammers to get your personal information, including your name and address, as well as your money. In fact, the Better Business Bureau classifies these scams as pyramid schemes, as they rely on recruiters to send money and data in the hopes of receiving something in return (which never comes, of course).

Avoid these kinds of gift exchanges and only participate in gift exchanges with people you know and trust. If you’re not sure whether a gift exchange invite is legit, get in contact with the person who sent it to you via text message or a phone call to ensure their accounts haven’t been compromised.

Package scams

It’s the holiday season, which means you’re going to have a lot of packages arriving in the mail. However, this also opens the door for scammers: These scams come in the form of emails or text messages, often claiming that the USPS, UPS, or any other package handler has lost your package, and that you need to contact the shipping company to complete the delivery.

These scams often include a URL that takes you to a phishing site or a phone number that, when called, will route you to a sham call center designed to steal your information. If you get a text or email about a package, even if it’s one you’re expecting, always reach out directly to the package handler using their online website and contact number. Never call the number in the text or email.

These kinds of scams are already happening in full force. I’ve received three similar texts saying that I’ve lost a package and need to contact USPS to resolve it in the past week alone.

Don’t trust Google ads

Despite being at the top of search results and easily visible on Google searches, Google ads and sponsored websites shouldn’t be trusted. That’s because scammers can easily purchase and place ads through Google ads that look like the real thing but are actually malicious in nature. Many times, the phony websites look convincing, but charge more for the product, or worse, download malicious files and malware to your computer or device.

Because of how prevalent these malicious ads have become, it’s best to always make sure you’re clicking on the website itself and to never click on Google’s ads or sponsored posts. While not all Google ads are dangerous, bad actors have found ways to get around Google’s screening processes. It’s just not worth the risk.

Source: LifeHacker – The Biggest Scams to Avoid This Holiday Season

The SimpleSafe wireless home security system is different from most mainstream home security cameras. You can build your security system by buying exactly what you need; you’re not forced into paying for a monthly subscription to be able to use the most basic features of your security system; and everything is a simple installation that you can do yourself. Right now, you can get their basic starter kit bundle for $99.99 (originally $199.99) and get it in time for Christmas after a 50% discount on Amazon. This is the cheapest this bundle has been, according to Camelcamelcamel’s price history, and a great opportunity to get started.

What you get with this SimpliSafe bundle

This starter kit is a five-piece bundle that includes:

• Base station: The base station is the hub that most security systems use, but it can also send alarm signals to the monitoring center if you get a subscription plan. It can have a built-in cellular connection so it’s not dependent on wifi, has a 24-hour battery backup, and has a 95-decibel siren to scare intruders (about as loud as a motorcycle engine running).

• Motion sensor: The motion sensor is designed for human detection, and it ignores pets under 65 pounds. It has a 35-foot radius of detection with a 90-degree field of view, so it is best placed in the corner of a room.

• Keypad: This smash-safe keypad disarms and arms your system wirelessly, is easy to use during the day and night, and requires no plug, so you can place it anywhere.

• Entry sensor: The entry sensor protects your doors, windows, and cabinets when they are open by alerting you and is designed to blend into the background (if your doors are white).

• Key fob: The key fob works like a car remote; it lets you arm and disarm your system with the press of a button.

The nice thing about SimpliSafe is that you can pay for what you think you will use. If you’re interested in flooding, you can get their leaks and flood sensor for $20. The security system is also compatible with Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Watch and other systems. Their subscription plans are affordable and simple as well, with no contracts. If you don’t want a subscription plan, you still get a live video feed of your cameras from the SimpliSafe App and the ability to remotely disarm and arm the system with the app. If you want the 24/7 emergency response team that calls police or first responders as well as other perks, you can pay for one of the plans. You always get a free month to try out the plan and see if it’s worth it for you. Read more about SimpliSafe’s security system from PCMag’s review.

Source: LifeHacker – You Can Get SimpliSafe’s Home Security System for 50% Off Right Now

You know your home needs at least one fire extinguisher, but did you know there are different kinds? I didn’t until two nights ago, but it’s not the kind of thing you want to learn in the moment when you actually need one. Different fire extinguishers actually have different purposes and are designed to fight specific types of fires, so it’s important to prepare accordingly.

Fire extinguisher label codes

Generally, you’re going to find fire extinguishers in one of five classifications: A, B, C, D, or K. Each of these puts out a certain kind of fire. Here’s the breakdown:

• Class A puts out ordinary combustible fires, like those on paper, cloth wood, plastic, etc. 

• Class B puts out flammable liquid fires, like oil, paint, petroleum, gas, etc. 

• Class C is for electrical fires

• Class D puts out combustible metal fires (think titanium, aluminum, sodium, magnesium, etc.)

• Class K puts out cooking fires from flammable grease or oil

Class K is easy to remember, as it’s like K for “kitchen,” but the rest you’ll just have to commit to memory. There are ABC fire extinguishers that are designed to put out regular combustible, flammable liquid, and electrical fires, and that would be a great one to have in your home. 

Fire extinguisher tips

If the fire you’re dealing with involves flammable gas, don’t try to extinguish it with your Class B unless you know you can shut off the gas. If the only fuel burning is the leaking gas, your best option is just to shut off the fuel supply. If you extinguish a flammable gas fire without shutting off the fuel source, unburned gas can escape and an explosion can happen if it’s exposed to an ignition source. 

If you have a lot of combustible metals around—the kind you need Class D for—contact your fire department or another expert about exactly what kind of extinguisher you need and how much you need. Some extinguishing agents can react with a combustible metal fire, making it worse, so you want to make sure your fire is covered with a dry powder. Sand works, but within a Class D extinguisher is a blend of powdered graphite, granular sodium chloride, and some copper, which work well. 

Fire extinguishers for you

Which fire extinguishers you get depends on what kind of flammable materials you deal with at home, but here are good options for any:

• A First Alert HOME1 ABC rechargeable fire extinguisher ($24.99) tackles fires of A, B, and C origins, plus you can recharge it (which you should do annually)

• A Kidde kitchen fire extinguisher ($25.94) designed to put out fires without damaging your stove

• Grab a six-pack of Kidde ABC extinguishers for every room of your house ($140, also comes in two- and four-packs)

• A BC fire extinguisher for your car or boat, like the First Alert Car and Marine Fire Extinguisher ($24.28)

Check the labels on your packaging, but expect to replace all your fire extinguishers once every 10 years. Some sources say 12 years is fine, but it’s better to be safe than sorry on this one. 

Source: LifeHacker – Get the Right Fire Extinguisher by Knowing Its Class