The concept of shopping has changed with the advent of the internet. People these days don’t line up at electronic stores anymore. Instead, they do electronics online shopping where it’s more convenient and efficient.
But like anything involved when money changes hands, online shopping also has its inherent threats. In this article, we will explore the many ways you can protect yourself when you shop online. Read and find out how you can safely transact business online.
Here are ways to safely shop online:
1. Do your research
Before buying from a seller, make sure you do a thorough research about them. It is important that you check if they are legit and trustworthy. Make sure you do not limit yourself to testimonials on their website (as those are usually always positive). Hit the online forums and review blogs—you’re sure to find some unbiased reviews there.
2. Always protect your personal info
When transacting business with any online seller, check first if their site has security enabled. You will know that a website is secure by looking at their URL address. Those with secure website have URLs with an “s” in the “http” (i.e. “https:”). If the site is secure, a padlock icon will also appear near the URL.
Make sure that you only give out details such as your credit card number to sites that are secure. Never give out any personal information on non-secure sites, especially in social media sites.
3. Select the safer payment options
The safer payment option is through credit card. You get more protection when using a credit card rather than a debit card because banks shoulder some (if not most) of the liability whenever someone fraudulently uses your credit card. And the credit is held if ever the item you ordered online was not delivered.
4. Make sure your machine is protected
You should download a fully-working anti-virus program to make sure your computer is not under threat. Viruses and malware can attack your machine and give hackers your personal information. Avoid doing online shopping if you suspect your computer is compromised.
5. Don’t respond to suspicious emails
Never ever respond to anything that asks for your bank details on email. No legitimate and trustworthy online purveyor will ever ask this from their customers. Hit the delete button whenever you receive these mails. You can take this further by reporting these emails to the authority.
6. Strengthen your passwords
There’s a good reason why sites require you to make your passwords complicated—they want to protect you from hackers. A hacker’s life is more difficult if the characters you use for your password are mixed up. Make sure to include uppercase characters and some string of numbers when deciding on your password.
Also, it’s safer to have a different password per account. If you only have one password for all your accounts, all it takes is for the hacker to figure out one password and he will have access to all your accounts.
7. Avoid doing transactions when using Wi-Fi
It’s generally unsafe doing online shopping when you’re connected in a public Wi-Fi hotspot. There might be shady characters lurking around waiting to fish for your personal and bank information. Whenever you’re connected through a public Wi-Fi, make sure you limit your web activities. You can also ramp up the security of your device.
8. After transacting, turn off your computer
A lot of people leave their computers running even if they’re done with what they’re doing. It’s better if you turn off your computer after web browsing, especially if you just did an online transaction. This way, hackers won’t have access to your computer. You also save energy (and the environment) when you turn off your unused computer.
Follow these 8 simple ways and your online shopping experience will be both safe and secure. It’s never fun being hacked or defrauded by scammers. It pays to take precaution, especially when money is involved.
Are you ready to shop online?
Leave a Reply