Online Merchant "Brushing"

From Your Friends at Integrity Computer Consulting and Repair

In this day and age where many people are resorting to buying online rather than going in-store for purchases, this is becoming a rampant trend. 

What is brushing?

Simply put, it's receiving an unsolicited package from an online retailer.  You may have heard about the mysterious seed packages being sent from China (which the US and Idaho Dept. of Agriculture are requesting you do not plant and report the receipt of such packages to them), but it isn't just seeds.  Clothing, technology, beauty products, and sundries are often being sent to unsuspecting consumers.

So, what is the problem with receiving these free "gifts"? It means that your personal information (such as name, address, and phone number, at the very least) is out there on the internet and being bought and sold illicitly. Online retailers are using this information to create fake reviews to boost product and seller ratings.

What can you do?

Notify the marketplace of the seller.  You can either keep or discard the items; that part does not matter.  However, use this as an alert to start monitoring and adjusting how you buy things and what information you are providing to anyone requesting it, both in-person and online.

A few recommendations to safeguard your information:

1. Be cautious about entering in personal details on any website or platform (even loyalty rewards programs). Any customer database has the constant threat of being hacked where customer database information is stolen and sold.
2. Do not buy things from web platforms that are not retailers, such as Facebook or TikTok.
3. Be very cautious about purchasing items from Wish or overseas retailers that have less than strict data management and information retention policies or those that cannot be enforced here in the US.  You can usually tell an overseas retailer by a very long shipping delay.
4. If you buy from online marketplaces such as Walmart, Amazon, Newegg, or any others, check the seller reviews.
5. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Is saving $20 on a new TV, monitor, computer, or any other purchase worth selling your personal information and having it possibly land in unsavory hands? 
6. Be careful what you click on! This year we have the one-two punch of Coronavirus and an election.  Overzealous advertising with clickbait is extremely rampant.

Read more here: https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/20509-brushing-scam-indicates-a-serious-problem-for-victims

If you have any questions about any of the above you can always check in with us!  If you have an urgent need, please call or email our office.

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Reminder: Coronavirus – technology cleaning best practices:  

1. Wash your hands before and after using your own or any community computer.
2. Regularly sanitize your own phones and computers, especially if used by multiple people.
3. Once a week (or once a day), turn your computer off and using an alcohol swab (preferred) or Lysol wipe, thoroughly wipe down your keyboard and mouse, and really any common surface that is touched.  Make sure to get in between the keys and the scroll wheel on the mouse.  If you have a touchscreen, make sure to wipe the screen.  If you have a laptop, wipe the entire case, open and closed.  Be careful of using Lysol wipes around speakers and ports to avoid excessive moisture buildup.
4. For phones, do the same, but be careful of using Lysol wipes around speakers and input jacks/ports to avoid excessive moisture buildup.
5. If using Lysol or Clorox wipes, make sure to read the label and keep the surface wet for the amount of time specified by the manufacturer.

*We are seeing an increased amount of port damage due to Lysol wipes; please be very cautious using these around the ports in your phone and computers.*

We recommend using rubbing alcohol rather than wipes. You can find the rubbing alcohol wipes in the first aid section of most stores.

If you have any questions about updates, pop-ups, emails, or need a clean-up, this can be done remotely.  Please contact our office via phone at 208.288.4345 or email info@integrityidaho.com if you need immediate assistance.