Shopping online has become the preferred method of shopping
during Christmas as well as other parts of the year. Here are some tips to have
a safe online shopping experience,
·
Only shop on websites that use a secure
connection. Look for “HTTPS” in the address bar of your browser. The “S” is
your guarantee that the information being transmitted between your device and
the web site is secure from snooping eyes.
·
Do not use public Wi-Fi when shopping or
checking your bank or credit card account. Someone in the vicinity could
intercept your signal (called a middle man attack) gaining access to your
passwords and account information. It’s better to use a secure Wi-Fi connection
or your cellular data connection.
·
Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) as an extra
layer of security. A VPN acts as a tunnel between your device and other web
sites.
·
Run anti-malware software before you start your
online shopping session. This allows you to ensure that you do not have any
malware on your device that can watch what you are doing while you shop.
·
Don’t fall for fake shopping apps. Shopping with
a store’s app is a great, secure way to buy merchandise. However, hackers often
create fake apps that try to mimic apps from legitimate stores or shopping
sites. One way to try to detect the fake from the real is to look for the apps
with thousands of reviews. These are often for the big stores or web sites.
Also, go to the vendor’s web site that you are interested in making online
purchases from and see if you can download their app from their web site.
·
Watch out for phishing emails. Fraudsters will
try to get your personal information by sending you an email that looks like it
is from a legitimate company. They may have a special offer or promotion, or
they may claim that your information needs to be “verified.” Hover your mouse
pointer over the from part of the message and see if the address looks like it
really comes from the company that the email claims to be from. Do not click on
any links on a suspicious email. Go to the web site of the company and see of
the offer is located there.
·
Always use strong passwords for you shopping
accounts. And use a different password for each of your accounts.
·
Don’t overshare information with online
retailers. Only share essential information for conducting the transaction.
That should mean your credit card number, expiration date and maybe the
three-digit code on the back of the card. The shipping address is also
essential. But if they want more information such as your date of birth, think
about doing business with someone else.
·
Pay with a credit card or PayPal. Do not pay
with a debit card. Anyone who gains access to your checking account through
your debit card can wipe out your funds. That cannot happen with a credit card
or PayPal.
·
Lock your device with a password or another
technology such as facial or iris detection. If your cell phone or tablet
computer is lost or stolen, this will prevent other people from accessing your
private information.
Shopping online is a great convenient way to buy gifts.
Shopping safely will make it an even better.
Federal Trade Commission:
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