Cyber Monday will kick off the online holiday shopping season in just a few days, but consumers should keep cyber security in mind, and businesses should take extra precautions to protect their customers’ personal information, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI).

Cyber Monday sales hit $6.6 billion in 2017, and large numbers of consumers are expected to shop online again this year, which gives cyber criminals a big opportunity to strike.

“As cyber attacks increase, everyone needs to monitor their cyber risk,” said Alex Hageli, director of personal lines policy at PCI. “Whenever you purchase or sell something online, there’s always the potential to become a victim of a cyber crime. As more and more personal information is shared and stored online, it’s more important than ever to protect yourself from cyber threats.”

Insurers offer a variety of products to manage cyber risk and liability. “It’s always a good idea to reach out to your insurance company or agent to discuss policy options for cyber security. Insurance can help protect consumers from identity theft and help protect businesses from liability and damages involved with data breaches and cyber attacks,” said Hageli.