SnowbirdAlert Source: www.newscanada.com Flying has changed since your last holiday With many restrictions being lifted, at least here in Canada, people are finally able to travel again during the holidays. But you’re still going to notice some changes at the airport — new measures in place to ensure the well-being of travellers and staff. The first changes come before you leave for the airport. You’re now able to bring a larger bottle of hand sanitizer in your carry-on luggage, up to 355 millilitres. And, of course, you need to put on a mask before entering the airport. You’ll also need to show proof of vaccination. After you check in and get to the pre-flight security screening, you may notice extra hand-sanitizer stations at the entry to the checkpoint. Those are there for you. You’ll be happy to know that there are increased cleaning protocols in place in and around the screening checkpoint as well. You’ll also notice that lining up looks a little different. While in the queue and in the screening checkpoint, you must keep a distance of two metres between yourself and other passengers. You’ll also be asked to hold on to your own electronic or printed boarding pass while it’s scanned, to reduce touchpoints. You can check your departing airport’s website for the latest information about health and safety measures. Find more information about pre-flight security and packing tips from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority. Check out their website at catsa-acsta.gc.ca. Now, more than ever, people are using online shopping to purchase the holiday gifts which they need from one convenient place – the internet. If you’re doing some online shopping this holiday season, whether it’s for the first time or the hundredth, here are some tips on doing it in a cyber safe way. Shop at familiar retailers It’s easier to stick to stores you know when shopping online. Verified retailers will have stronger cyber security practices to keep you protected. If you do find yourself on unfamiliar sites, make sure to verify that they are legitimate. Look out for websites that have “https” and a green lock bar before their address in your web browser; this indicates that those websites encrypt your financial data. Research reviews online and contact the retailer if you are unsure. If something seems too good to be true, such as those brand-name shoes on clearance, it probably is. Don’t save your credit card info in your web browser You know when you enter your credit card information, and your browser asks if you’d like it to remember that info? Click NO. It might cost you a few seconds the next time that you’re shopping online, but saving your payment information in a browser makes it more likely to fall into the hands of a cyber criminal. Check your bank statements regularly If you’re making online purchases frequently, even if it’s just around the holidays, check your bank statements regularly. Keep track of your purchases andmake sure that everything matches with your charges. If something doesn’t add up, contact the company immediately. If they can’t be reached, notify your bank right away. Use a virtual private network (VPN) on public Wi-Fi It’s so easy to shop online these days that you don’t even need to be in the privacy of your own home. But just because something is easier, doesn’t mean that it’s safe. If you’re making purchases outside of your home network, use your cellular data. If your data is unavailable, use a VPN to secure your information when using public Wi-Fi. Online shopping has made it easier to track down all of those hard-to-find holiday gifts. When you’re checking everyone off of your list this year, make sure that you’re checking out online securely. Find more tips about how to secure your accounts and devices at getcybersafe.gc.ca. Protect yourself from online shopping scams this holiday season 6 | www.snowbirds.org
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