Online shopping offers unparalleled convenience, from snagging great deals to effortlessly comparing prices and having items delivered right to your doorstep. However, cyber threats like identity theft, scams, and data breaches loom large in the online shopping world.
Staying vigilant and informed is key to safeguarding your personal information and ensuring a secure shopping experience. In this guide, we will walk you through 11 essential tips for online shopping, helping you navigate the digital marketplace with confidence and security.
Key Takeaways:
- Online shopping, though convenient, exposes you to risks like identity theft, scams, and data breaches.
- Despite these risks, online shopping should not be avoided, as there are effective strategies to enhance safety.
- Key safety tips include shopping on reputable sites, using a VPN, and regularly checking bank statements for any discrepancies.
Top 11 Tips for Safer Online Shopping
It is important to stay vigilant while shopping online to keep your personal information from falling into the wrong hands. Take a look at our tips below to avoid falling victim to the bad guys.
1. Stick to popular online retailers
Only trust well-known and reputable online retailers for your shopping needs. It is a good idea to save these trusted sites as bookmarks for quick and secure access. Do not type the retailer’s name in your browser.
After all, a small spelling mistake can lead you to a fraudulent website that closely resembles the legitimate one. Making transactions on such fake sites could risk exposing your credit card details and personal information to scammers.
2. Research new sellers
When considering a purchase from an unfamiliar online store, make sure to research the business beforehand. Look up customer reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Yelp, or Google to gauge the store’s reputation.
Also, visit their “contact us” page to find an address and phone number. Do not just stop there; make a call to confirm the business’s legitimacy. That is because some fraudulent sites may use real businesses’ contact details to appear genuine.
3. Shop on secure websites
Always verify the website’s security by checking the address bar in your browser. A secure website will show a padlock icon next to the URL, signifying the presence of SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption, which ensures that your data is transferred securely.
Additionally, a secure site’s URL will start with “https://” – the ‘s’ stands for secure. Modern browsers like Google Chrome label any site lacking this extra ‘s’ as ‘not secure‘, making it easier to identify potentially unsafe websites.
Related Read: HTTPS vs VPN
4. Avoid public Wi-Fi
Refrain from shopping on public Wi-Fi networks in places like coffee shops, airports, and hotels. That seemingly harmless person nearby could be snooping and intercepting your online activities.
If you absolutely must shop on public Wi-Fi, use a VPN to keep your data encrypted and safe. Otherwise, using your mobile data is a more secure alternative than risking an open Wi-Fi connection.
5. Keep your information private
Online retailers do not need details like your Social Security number for a purchase – just your payment and shipping information. If a site insists on such personal data, it is okay to provide false info as it is unlikely they will cross-check these details.
Limiting the personal information you share is key to protecting your identity. The less data potential scammers have about you, the less likely you are to fall victim to identity theft. With frequent data breaches on major sites, sharing minimal personal data is a wise approach.
6. Beware of incredible deals
If you ever come across ads on social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram promising extremely low prices or free items, do not pay attention to them. Often, such too-good-to-be-true offers are exactly that.
Always take a moment to compare prices across different sites before deciding to buy anything. Exceptionally low prices can signal a fraudulent site designed to capture your personal details or defraud you.
7. Pay with your credit card
When scammers get hold of your debit card details, they gain immediate access to your bank funds. For safer online shopping, consider using a credit card or a mobile payment app. Some banks even provide one-time use credit card numbers for extra security.
If anything appears off when checking your bank and credit card statements, promptly contact your bank to resolve the issue. With credit cards, ensure all charges are correct before paying your bill, to avoid any unwarranted expenses.
Related Read: Safest online payment method
8. Use a separate email address
Setting up a dedicated email account exclusively for your online shopping can help minimise spam. This approach not only reduces clutter in your primary email inbox but also neatly segregates your shopping-related communications.
You could also use anonymous email forwarding services – these hide your main email address, providing an additional layer of privacy. They also help in filtering out promotional emails directly so that only important shopping updates reach your primary inbox.
Related Read: Top Free Anonymous Email Accounts
9. Be careful with shopping apps
Apps can simplify your shopping experience, but they also pose risks to your personal information. To stay safe, only download shopping apps from trusted sources such as the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Be mindful of the permissions each app requests. If it asks for access to irrelevant data, like your contacts, it is wise to deny that permission. Additionally, reading through an app’s reviews and comments before downloading can help you spot any red flags.
10. Get a VPN
Using a high-quality VPN like PureVPN is a great way to safeguard your online shopping activities. It encrypts your internet connection, ensuring that your personal and financial details remain secure from potential cyber threats.
In addition, a VPN also helps in getting better deals while shopping online. By changing your virtual location, you will be able to explore discounts and lower prices available in other regions and buy stuff for less.
Related Read: How to Shop safely
11. Install security apps
Use a password manager like PureKeep to generate and manage strong, unique passwords for your online accounts. This tool not only stores your passwords securely but also automatically fills them in during your shopping sessions.
To further enhance the security of your online shopping, we recommend installing robust antivirus software on your devices. Moreover, keep it up-to-date to ensure constant protection against new threats.
Final word
By staying vigilant and adopting these practices, you can enjoy the convenience of online shopping while protecting yourself against cyber threats.
