How to Securely Shop Online: Tips to Protect Yourself
Cybercrime is a growing problem. It's a major problem in the U.S. alone, nearly half a million cases are filed every year according to the FBI, and it's not even what's published. Here's how to stay safe and not become one of the statistics.
Only Shop on Sites Using HTTPS Let's begin with the most basic advice: only buy from websites that offer HTTPS encryption. If the website is running HTTP all data transmitted via the connection, which includes passwords and payment information are not encrypted, meaning that it could be read by anyone with basic cybercrime knowledge. Remember that even though an encrypted network (HTTPS) is certainly superior to HTTP it doesn't mean it's safe. It doesn't mean the website is safe.
Be Careful Who You Shop with While cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated, you can usually identify a fake site quickly. Here are some warning signs to look out for:
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Poor Design of Website First thing you're likely to see upon visiting an online site is the appearance. eCommerce sites, specifically, have a large amount of time and effort to create an appealing site that has great user-friendliness on both desktops and mobile. Poor grammar or spelling Similar to the design of websites, trustworthy websites put a lot of effort and effort into the content on the website. Sometimes, mistakes happen, however if there's an obvious gap in the quality of material, then there's a high possibility that the website is fraudulent. No (or poor) Contact Information:Ecommerce sites always provide the option of getting in contact. If the site doesn't offer an avenue to contact support, it's likely it's untrue. And even in the event that you think it can be considered authentic, it wouldn't wish to work with a business that doesn't provide a decent level of support. Unsecure Website as mentioned earlier when a site has a minus "S" in HTTPS, be wary of it using your credit card information. Transmitting your personal information via HTTP exposes it to risk.
Shop Online with Credit Cards If Possible If you own credit cards it is generally an excellent idea to use it in place than your debit card when you make online purchases. The primary reason is when you use a credit card the payment information is stolen through form"jacking" (a method of stealing credit card information through online forms) your bank account isn't usually immediately affected. Are you without an account with a credit card? You can connect the bank account you have with an online payments system (such like Google Pay or Apple Pay) in order that the retailer does not even have access to your credit card information.
Use Strong Passwords It's a given however, you must use a solid password made up of alphabets (both both lower and uppercase) along with numbers, as well as special characters. It's not just that it makes it difficult for potential fraudsters to identify that they are not, however, the same thing makes it very difficult for anyone to gain access to your account using a brute-force attack.
Use a VPN If Shopping in Public When you're surfing the web using public Wi-Fi everyone can view the activities you're engaged in.
The threat actors see this as an opportunity to observe your actions and steal your personal details including passwords and bank account information. When you connect to a Virtual Private Network (VPN) all of your data flows through an encrypted tunnel that protects your data from being intercepted. It allows you to shop from any location, including an airport or a cafe. Be aware, however, that VPNs don't protect you from snoopers. VPN does not protect you from people who are watching your every move. If you're doing something online which requires you to input your bank or credit card details, it's probably not a wise idea to complete the transaction at your home.
Know Your Rights and the Return Policies of the Site If you visit any reputable eCommerce website, you'll be in a position to see the return policy of the company. Amazon is a prime example of this. They are clear about the amazon return policy for various aspects that make up their company. It's always good to learn about this prior to making purchases, to ensure you are aware of the issues you're facing. If you are unable to locate the policy for return on their site You can try the search for their website on Google (or on any other search engine in fact). Simply go over to Google's Google search bar, and type the word "site" and the domain name followed by the query.
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