Christmas is around the corner and with it comes the usual round of parties and celebrations. This means that our spare time is taken up more than usual, which has an effect on how we complete our gift shopping. The easiest way around this for most is to take to the Internet, avoiding the queues and stress of the stores, in search of those last minute presents.

However, the speed and efficiency of online shopping isn’t the only thing we may experience as this time of year is prime season for cybercriminals and scams, owing to the sheer quantity of activity taking place online. For this reason, we’ve got some tips to help you avoid any nasty surprises.

Also, because taking precautions shouldn’t just be confined to December, nor to online shopping, we’ve filled out the following list of recommendations with some tips regarding how to stay safe when using some of the new technology you might find under the tree this year.

10 tips to avoid unwanted surprises this Christmas

1. Be wary of your cards

Services like PayPal are highly recommended as they encrypt all transfers. If you use them in conjunction with a credit card, you will double your protection if you add in the antifraud used by banks. Anyway, if you only use a credit card, be sure to use just one so as to minimize any potential risks.

2. Pay attention to your browser

Despite always being advisable to surf on secure websites, it is even more important at this time of the year. Only make purchases on known platforms that use authorization services to complete transactions.

3. Manage your passwords

Make sure that your passwords are secure. During the days leading up to Black Friday, many Amazon users received emails that advised them that their passwords has been reset because someone has tried to access their accounts.

4. Bargains and scams

Don’t trust emails that arrive in your inbox claiming to offer you discounts and deals, especially if they come from unknown sources. The links might direct you towards fraudulent pages where a malware could install itself on your computer.

5. Games and privacy

Recently, a group of cybercriminals hacked the servers of VTech, a manufacturers of electronic games such as tablets, computers, and dolls). They stole information belonging to five million customers, including photographs of minors. Although the company assures us that the theft hasn’t affected credit card details, the hack serves as a reminder that we should be careful with information that kids and parents share on technological devices.

6. Drones

These remote controlled flying machines are all the rage at the moment and there’s a high chance of one being under the tree in your home. Where you give or receive one, keep in mind that just like any other electronic device, they too can be at risk. They are easily manipulated, which can cause them to veer off course, so it’s best to use them in places where there is no risk to third-parties.

7. Watch out when using public Wi-Fi

Don’t fall for the temptation to purchase online when you’re connected to public Wi-Fi. Avoid carrying out anything related to your bank as your device won’t be protected against any attacks – cybercriminals can follow your steps on the network and spy on communications carried out on different pages.

8. Time to take precautions

Smartwatches are another present that many of us will give or get this Christmas. The sensors that are built into them obtain user information which most of the time is stored on the cloud, not to mention the separate information that the applications store. Make sure that the model that you have allows you to block the screen, be sure to choose good passwords, and inform yourself of encryption measures that the brand uses.

9. Keep your receipts

Once you’ve completed a purchase, save the receipts and proofs of purchase just in case there is a problem down the line. Also, take a look at your bank statement every so often to ensure that there are no unauthorized movements being carried out.

10. Information and wearables

There’s no better gift for a runner than a device that measures their physical activity and health at the same time. Bracelets such as trackers store a huge amount of information and share them with different applications. As a security measure, keep an eye on the passwords for your accounts, deactivate Bluetooth when you don’t need it, be care with what your share on social media, and read the terms and conditions of the apps that are linked to the device.

The post 10 tips to avoid unwanted surprises this Christmas appeared first on MediaCenter Panda Security.

You know the routine: you’re sat at home, trying to relax by watching a series online or by trying to get some work done. However, your Wi-Fi connection that you pay so much for is slow, unreliable, and likely doesn’t reach every part of your home with a signal strength that you’d like.

So, what is the problem? You’ve called the provider and they’ve confirmed that the connection is working as it should be and you have made sure to close unnecessary tabs to ensure you’re not taxing the signal too much. Still, you find yourself having to strategically locate yourself around the house to get the best signal possible.

If this sounds familiar than the problem may be less to do with your router, and more to do with your home and the objects, or barriers, that are in it. Following a study by Ofcom, a UK regulator, which stated that Christmas fairy lights could be behind slower Internet speeds in the home, we’ve laid out a few of the main causes for interference with your Internet connection… and some of them may be surprising to you!

Reasons why your home Wi-Fi signal is slow and how to improve it

1. Household appliances

Microwaves are the worst of the lot, as it’s basically a metal box that when turned on uses high-powered microwaves at around 2.4GHz (the same frequency as Wi-Fi) creating a black hole around it for Wi-Fi signals.

Other culprits include ovens, freezers, fridges, washing machines, dishwashers… you name it. If it’s metal and has liquid-filled pipes in it, it’s going to kill your Wi-Fi signal.

2. Cordless telephones, televisions, speakers

In most cases people have their router placed near the telephone, which is hard to avoid, but they both work off the same frequency and this can prove to be detrimental.

The same goes for televisions, which on their own aren’t bad, but when placed directly near a router have a negative effect on its performance. The same goes for speakers, which are basically just electromagnets.

3. Piping and insulation

These are pretty much unavoidable in the home, but water-filled pipes absorb any signals and insulation pretty much does as its name suggests, and insulates a room from external forces, including Wi-Fi signals.

4. Your neighbor’s router

Depending on how close your router is to someone else’s, there can be a direct effect on its performance. This might prove to be even more problematic if you live in an apartment, as you could be exposed to different signals from all sides. This means that the more interference that there is, the more your router ups its broadcasting, which causes your neighbor’s router to do the same… which just perpetuates the problem.

5. Humans

Yes, you too are a problem! We humans are a fantastic absorber of Wi-Fi, so that’s also something to keep in mind when lamenting the poor performance of your internet connection.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to try and improve your Wi-Fi, but short of turning your home into a Faraday shield which would also mean no telephone or FM connection, none will guarantee a perfect signal strength.

6. Place your router in the center of your home

A router transmits the signal in all directions, so it makes sense to have it at the center of the home. Unfortunately this isn’t always possible due to the cables that come with it.

7. Check your cables

In general, a shorter and higher quality cable will mean a faster connection speed. Also, it is better to use Ethernet cables from your modem to a separate router than run long phone cables.

8. Invest in a new router

There’s no need to break the bank on a new, fancy router, but some of the newer ones on the market offer a notable boost in signal and speed.

9. Change your Wi-Fi channel

Your router may do this automatically, but if you change your Wi-Fi channel you may find that there is less interference from other routers near to you. Any two channels separated by five or more do not overlap.

As always, we recommend you take precautions to ensure that not only is your Wi-Fi connection working to the best of its abilities, but that your privacy is also secure, so always use a good Wi-Fi protector and monitor to ensure that nobody can access your network.

The post How Christmas lights and other appliances slow down your Wi-Fi appeared first on MediaCenter Panda Security.