Let’s face it — whether you’re snagging staff gifts, ordering supplies, or just doing a little holiday shopping between meetings, we all find ourselves browsing online stores this time of year.
But just like there are shady vendors in real life, the digital world is full of risks — fake sites, sneaky links, and checkout pages that are anything but secure.
For small business owners and their teams, one careless click on a personal or work device can open the door to data breaches, malware, and more headaches than a Boxing Day return line.
So, before you hit “Buy Now,” here’s how to shop smart — and shop safe.
First, the Big Risk Most People Miss
The biggest mistake we see? Blurring the line between personal and work devices. If you’re shopping from your work laptop or a company email account, you’re not just risking your credit card — you could be exposing your business systems, too.
DAGI’s Safe Online Shopping Checklist
Here’s a quick, plain-English guide you can follow — and share with your staff:
✅ Stick to well-known retailers
If you’ve never heard of the site and it’s offering prices that seem too good to be true? It probably is. Check for a physical address, reviews, and contact info.
✅ Double-check the URL
Fake sites often use a slightly misspelled web address (like “Amaz0n.ca” instead of “Amazon.ca”). Always type the address yourself — don’t click on promo links from emails or ads.
✅ Look for HTTPS
That little padlock icon in the browser bar means the site encrypts your data. No padlock? No purchase.
✅ Use a credit card, not a debit card
Credit cards often have better fraud protection — and keep your business accounts more insulated.
✅ Skip the public Wi-Fi
Shopping while sipping coffee at your favourite local café? Wait until you're on a secure network. Public Wi-Fi is a goldmine for cybercriminals.
✅ Avoid saving payment info
As convenient as it is, saving your card details on dozens of sites increases the risk of one of them getting hacked.
✅ Watch for phishing
An email saying your package is delayed or your payment didn’t go through? Could be legit — or a trap. When in doubt, go directly to the site.
✅ Use strong, unique passwords
That same password you use for everything? Let’s retire it. A password manager can generate and store strong logins so you don’t have to remember them.
Bonus Tip: Keep Work and Personal Separate
If you’re shopping on a work device, or if your staff are doing the same, it’s worth having a quick team reminder about safe browsing and why separation matters.
Because one quick Amazon order from the wrong browser tab can accidentally open the door to ransomware or compromise sensitive client data.
Final Thought from DAGI
Online shopping can be safe — even joyful — when you keep a few simple guardrails in place. And if your team is using business devices to shop (as most of us do, even unintentionally), a bit of awareness goes a long way.
So, this season, treat cybersecurity like the wrapping on a gift: it might not be the flashy part, but it’s what keeps everything protected inside.
Here’s to safe shopping, smart habits, and an incident-free inbox this December
