ST. LOUIS - Missouriar -- – ThrottleNet, named the #1 Cybersecurity firm and #1 IT firm in St. Louis by Small Business Monthly, is urging shoppers to be "online safe" during the holiday shopping season.

"The holidays are a great time for shopping and also open season for hackers," said George Rosenthal, ThrottleNet Partner. "Scams are increasing and It's important to protect yourself to ensure your online holiday shopping is a safe endeavor."

Rosenthal said ThrottleNet has compiled six tips to help shoppers avoid any online shopping disasters. These include…

Avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi. "It's one of the most common places for hackers to gain access to your personal information. They set up fake Wi-Fi networks that appear similar and convincing," said Rosenthal. "Once you connect they track everything you're doing online, even your laptop's keystrokes to access your personal data. If you use a public connection use a VPN or virtual private network that encrypts your transmissions."

Secondly, use a secure credit card not a debit card. "Credit card transactions are more easily traced online, and you get more protection. You can dispute fraudulent charges, easily replace any items broken in shipping, and not be liable for them. The debit card automatically extracts funds from your account and you lose your cash without recourse."

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A third point is to research the company before your purchase. "Check with the Better Business Bureau if you are unsure about their legitimacy. Also look for red flags such as no contact information, a poorly written website, typos and grammar mistakes, and bad reviews."

Fourthly be aware of phishing scams. "You may get an email or text from a company that looks legitimate like a Walmart or Amazon. They send you a fake holiday tracking number or link to redeem your gift card. Once they get in they can steal your data. Fortunately there are many ways to prevent this from happening with proper precautions.

Additionally, be aware of sites that appear to offer goods at prices that are just too good to be true. "Scammers will often create fake websites that look like legitimate online stores. They do this to get people to enter their personal information, such as their credit card number or social security number. There are processes to prevent this from happening even if you do click on the site."

Finally, maintain your software and set it for automatic updates. "Keep your operating system, web browser and any plugins or add-ons up-to-date."

Also, consider partnering with a managed cybersecurity provider like Throttlenet. One that can help you secure your devices and networks against cyber threats in order to keep your holiday shopping safe and seamless. Visit https://throttlenet.com