Smartphones and tablets are some of the most popular shopping tools this holiday season. At any given time you may have your financial information, family photos and contact information on one or several devices you carry daily. It’s important to protect yourself against digital pickpockets, hackers and identity thieves by following some basic safely rules:

• Protect your device first and its contents second. Update your apps and operating system frequently. Updates often contain security patches to help protect you. Install anti-virus and malware protection on your device.
• Enable locks on all electronic devices requiring a password to unlock. The default lock codes are generally only four digits (Apple calls this a simple passcode), select the ‘password’ option to use at least an eight character alphanumeric password. Most devices will also allow you to limit the number of attempts before the phone locks.
• Disable Bluetooth if you are not using it, others can discover your device without your knowledge. Remember when you paired it with your car and the password was 0000?
• Turn OFF Location Services or Tracking; this allows apps to know where you are, where you shop or even where you work.
• Limit online shopping to when you are on a secure Wi-Fi network, like your home. If you must do business while out, turn OFF wifi and use your phone’s 3G or 4G network, it is far more secure than a Wi-Fi hotspot.

• Don’t leave your credit card on file with shopping sites. That makes it too easy for someone to get your information
• Avoid open Wi-Fi networks when supplying personal information over the Internet; never provide your personal information on unsecured (without HTTPS:// in the address) or questionable websites.  Remember, no reputable company will EVER ask you to email or verify your password via email.
• Back up those precious family photos to an external hard drive or a secure and reputable cloud storage service.
• Register your devices with online tracking services if your device is lost or stolen.  Many can tell you exactly where your phone is located if it is turned on -even if it’s at the bottom of your purse or under the couch cushion. Again, do your research to make sure you are dealing with a reputable company.
• Contact the police to report any thefts. If you have recorded the IMEI, SIM or MEID numbers for your cell phone it will help identify your property. (Here’s how.)

As technology changes and we become more dependent on it, we need to remember to do whatever we can to protect ourselves. Understand that nothing is foolproof but most thieves will go for the easy target.