Online shopping has become one of the hottest trends in recent years. The growth of e-commerce websites has resulted in a huge shift from offline to online retailing. E-commerce has grown so popular that websites are now poised to take market share from offline retailers like Woolworths and Target. Shopping online will likely continue to increase in popularity for the foreseeable future, which makes security concerns all the more pressing. Consumer interest in shopping online safely has also grown as news stories reporting attacks on popular websites have become more prevalent. Here are five tips for shopping online safely.
Use a Credit Card
Credit cards are much safer than debit cards for obvious reasons. A debit card gives a thief direct access to the customer’s bank account, while a credit card does not. Credit card companies often include provisions that protect the consumer from fraudulent transactions. Credit cards provide a barrier between the merchant and the customer’s bank account. If you don’t want to take out a credit card, there are alternatives available.
Check Out the Merchant
A new website with a spotty reputation is a prime example of a likely scammer. Consumers must do their homework before making a purchase. Asking for the website’s physical name and address allows the consumer to check with independent agencies. Consumers can also look at their customer service record by looking the business up in search engines like Shopzilla or Google Product Search. These sites have reviews of businesses from genuine consumers, giving you peace of mind when placing an order with a website you’ve never used before.
Reputable Vendors
Large brand names are the best bet for security and safety. These businesses have a lot riding on successful transactions; therefore, they are more likely to have spent every penny they can on keeping their systems secure. Consumers are better off with large names simply because of the reputational factor. Small merchants are much riskier, unless they are affiliates of larger names.
Encryption
When a transaction is being made, the connection to the merchant’s server is typically encrypted. The consumer can tell if the connection is encrypted by looking at the URL. HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the protocol used on the Internet. The secure version is known as HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS). An encrypted HTTPS connection usually has the symbol of a lock on the left side of the URL. This tells the customer it is encrypted, making it much harder for outside parties to “listen in.”
Computer Security
Using anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-malware programs is critical to keeping a computer and an Internet connection safe. These measures can help protect against outside interference with a secure connection. A favourite method of hackers is to enslave a computer and use it to attack a third party’s website. Anti-virus and anti-malware programs can protect against this possibility. Anti-spyware helps protect personal information from being intercepted and seen by unauthorised users. Lifehacker’s list of the best anti-virus software is a good place to start.