We share with you 5 practical tips to keep in mind when making secure online purchases. Throughout the holiday season, purchases made on e-commerce sites increase substantially, consolidating as a quick and convenient alternative for those who wish to avoid crowded stores when getting gifts for Christmas. This is not lost on cybercriminals, which is why it is imperative to keep certain best practices in mind when shopping online. Experts highlight that among the main risks that users may face when resorting to e-commerce services for their Christmas shopping are electronic scams, personal data theft, and phishing. To combat this and have a very good online shopping experience, here are 5 best practices for making Christmas purchases online: 1. Update your system and applications: Keeping your system and applications updated will protect you from threats that exploit vulnerabilities already fixed by their providers. 2. Shop through reputable or recommended e-commerce services: To avoid being scammed when making a purchase or becoming a victim of bank data theft, it is advisable to shop through services with a high reputation or recommendations. 3. Avoid links in emails: Since cybercriminals often use social engineering techniques through email to lure their victims and steal their bank data, it is advisable to avoid clicking on links received this way. To access sites where offers are presented, it is recommended to type the website address into the browser and verify that the offer actually exists. 4. Verify the security of the e-commerce site or webpage where you wish to shop: It is essential to ensure that the site you are browsing transmits data securely, meaning it operates under the HTTPS protocol instead of HTTP. You can check this in the address bar, in front of the site's URL. 5. Do not use unreliable WiFi (wireless) connections: If connecting from a mobile device, remember that public WiFi networks, whether open or password-protected, may be intercepted, so it is advisable to conduct online transactions through your own network or one you trust. This applies to any e-commerce site, regardless of whether you are buying your food or kitchen accessories from supermarket websites or any recognized store. Always verify first. Recommended Christmas Recipes:

- Brownies with Santa Claus Hats. These brownies are delicious and very original for Christmas as they have a Santa Claus hat made of a strawberry, a simple and very original touch.
- Pepper Steak with Balsamic Reduction. This delicious rib-eye steak recipe with pepper and a balsamic reduction is very easy to prepare.
- Asparagus with Egg in Parmesan Dressing. This dish of asparagus comes with a parmesan cheese dressing and chopped hard-boiled eggs on top. It’s delicious as a first course at dinner.
- Brie Cheese in Puff Pastry with Apricot Jam. This snack of brie cheese wrapped in puff pastry is filled with apricot jam, almonds, and dried cranberries. The combination of flavors is exquisite.
- Figs Wrapped in Prosciutto. This snack is delicious and very easy to prepare.
- Pepper and Ricotta Cheese Bruschetta. A truly delicious recipe that is very easy to prepare. Ricotta cheese is a spectacular ingredient that mixes very well with bell pepper.