Online shopping has become such a convenient and relevant part of our everyday lives. After all, it’s easy to see why. You can get pretty much anything delivered to your door these days with just a few clicks. The shipping is usually fast, and it really only takes a couple of minutes to place an order. There are also fantastic opportunities for deals and bargains online. You can easily jump from one site to another comparing prices and deals, unlike in person, where you’re very restricted when it comes to comparison. Not to mention thanks to Covid-19, you’re probably less enthusiastic about getting out to do the shopping than you were before.
However, as convenient and enjoyable as online shopping is, it does pose some threats. One of the leading cybercrimes in recent years has seen online shoppers be the victims. Non-payment for or non-delivery of goods has been a serious problem since the growth of online shopping. Although the problem is relevant and worth a thought, there’s plenty you can do to avoid online criminals.
Use Trusted Sites
Try to do your best to shop only at trusted and recognized sites. If you’re searching for a unique or sought-after product, you may find yourself on some sites you’ve never heard of before. You should do your best to start on trusted sites and search from there. The likes of Amazon and ASOS are just some examples of reliable online retailers. Most major retail outlets have an online store anyway, so stick to the ones you know or trust. Just because you haven’t heard of a site does not necessarily make it a threat. It’s just overall safer to go with these trusted sites as they have better cyber security, reputation, and support lines in case of an incident.
Don’t Shop on Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi is an extremely convenient thing, and many people are thankful for it on a daily basis. However, that doesn’t make it safe. It’s extremely hard for public Wi-Fi providers to properly protect your data and information. This means that hackers can have a field day when it comes to people shopping online in public Wi-Fi zones.
If you have a VPN, you’ll be good to go. A VPN will encrypt your data and information, making it less impossible for hackers to get access. If you don’t have one and have no intentions of installing one, you’re probably best to leave the shopping until you come home.
Watch Your Passwords
Although most people don’t know the name of your dog, having a pet’s name as your password isn’t a good idea. In the modern-day, it’s actually quite easy for hackers to crack your password. Frequently changing your password is recommended. However, not many people make a habit of doing it. As well as that, many people would be guilty of using the same password for various different accounts and sites. To keep your shopping safe online, try to use different and complex passwords. There are password managers that can make your password extremely difficult to crack if you don’t want to worry about the strength of your password. To learn more on how you can protect yourself and your family online, click here.
