Yes, online shopping is great. You are at home, browsing your favorite online shops; you pick what you like, put it in a cart, and pay with your card. Convenient and fast. However, we often forget that this convenient shopping carries many risks. The risk is that our identity might be stolen, our personal data will be exposed, and our money will disappear from our bank account. And these risks increase with each day. The more we shop online, the greater the risk.
To protect yourself and your data, it’s essential to take the necessary steps to ensure your online shopping experience is safe and secure. This post has 8 essential tips to help you stay safe when shopping online and protect your personal data from potential threats.
By following these simple steps, you can confidently shop online and protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft.
Shop on secure networks – https only
Before you start buying your favorite items, check if you are on a secure website. To ensure your information is protected, look for websites that use HTTPS instead of HTTP.
That is very easy to check. Look in the address bar and check if the website starts with https or http. Https means that a particular website uses a secure payment method.
Another way to stay safe is to look for a small padlock symbol in the address bar. That small icon tells you that the connection between your computer and the website is encrypted. Because of that your personal information is safe.
Use your home WIFI for online shopping
Using public wifi networks for shopping is a bad idea. Public wifi networks are a perfect way for fraudsters to steal your data and your information. that is why it’s better to leave all your online shopping for when you get home. Your home wifi network is safe because you and your family is the only one using the network.
Research the website and read customer reviews
It’s always a good idea to research the website before buying. You can check website’s reputation and the company’s reputation on sites like TrustHub or Reddit. If people wrote negative reviews, then the site is probably fake.
Also, check for social media accounts. You can tell if the website is fake if it doesn’t now have many followers on Facebook, Instagram, or other social media sites.
Check your bank statements regularly
It’s important to check your bank statements regularly. Your bank statements will show all transactions; that way, you can spot unfamiliar chargers. Fraudsters have mastered their way of stealing credit card info, and they spend money from your card without having it physically.
That is why it’s necessary to check your statements regularly. Once you spot an unfamiliar charge, contact the bank, and tell them about the issue. Bank will have to immediately dispute the charge.
Beware of phishing emails
Phishing emails appear legitimate but are scams designed to steal your financial information. To avoid becoming a victim of phishing, look for red flags like misspelled words, poor grammar, and requests that you act quickly. Most importantly, always check the email address from whom it’s coming from.
If you get an email from your bank or credit card company asking you to take action immediately, go to your bank’s official website directly from your web browser to ensure the email is real. It’s important to follow this tips for safe online shopping because many people fall for this trap.
Never click on links provided in the email. Instead, go directly to your financial accounts and make changes there if necessary.
Don’t store payment information online
Many websites will offer you to store your information, so you don’t have to enter your information manually again the next time. Don’t fall for that trick. You should never store your payment information on the website.
Storing information online might seem convenient, but attacks happen every day, which is why your data is unsafe with any of those companies.
If you choose to store information, pick a ‘prepaid’ card that is easy to cancel in case your information is stolen. Revolut, Wise, or Paynoneer can offer such cards.
Use a VPN
If you frequently shop online, you may want to consider using a virtual private network (VPN) to protect your data while shopping. VPNs help encrypt your internet traffic and protect your data from hackers. Basically, VPN establishes a secure connection between you and the internet.
Using a VPN is a great way to protect your online data, but make sure you use a reputable company. Avoid free VPNs that are often less secure and have a history of data breaches.
If you’re looking for a reliable and secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider, then NordVPN is one of the best options. NordVPN is a top-tier VPN service trusted by millions of people worldwide for its high-end security and privacy features.
NordVPN uses military-grade encryption to protect your data from hackers and snooping eyes. It also has a strict no-logs policy, meaning it does not keep any logs of its users’ online activity.
NordVPN also offers a kill switch that will disconnect you from the internet if your VPN connection drops, so you’ll never be left unprotected. Get secure and private access to the internet with NordVPN.
Create a strong password
A strong password might be hard to remember, but it keeps your account safe from hackers. No matter which sites you use online, always have a strong password for logging in. This is probably the easiest tip for safe online shopping.
Combine numbers, letters, and special characters and create a long password. That way, hackers will have a hard time breaking into your accounts.
2 Comments