ONLINE SHOPPING CAN BE THE NEXT THREAT

Buying online is one of the reasons we love the internet. Keep your online shopping safe and private with our security tips.

The festival and wedding seasons are fast approaching and many of you are no doubt turning to the internet for the purchase of their gifts. While most online stores are wholesaling efforts to protect their customers' data, there are still cybercriminals who seek to steal your information. It is therefore important for you, the online shoppers, to remain vigilant and protect your personal information.

Online shopping can be the next threat
While keeping a close eye on bogus offers and web pages is a good first step, cybercriminals do anything to make them look like real bargains and that makes it difficult.

Here are some steps to follow which will allow you to stay safe during your next online purchases:

We are seeing cybercriminals sending emails with “special offers”. These “specials” or “offers you can't miss” may be phishing campaigns designed to trick users into redirecting them to fraudulent shopping sites whose sole purpose is to steal their information and money. It is important that shoppers use computer security tools and pay attention to detail when shopping online.

Install an antivirus software on all your devices: Antivirus software, will detect and block phishing attacks and malicious sites on your computer and mobile devices before they do any damage.

Use a secure browser, which is part of the Antivirus solution, includes a “banking” mode which isolates bank data and payment sites in a protected area.

Protect your data when using a free Wi-Fi hotspot: Connecting to a free Wi-Fi hotspot at airports, hotels, and cafes gives cybercriminals the opportunity to spy on you and steal information when you check your bank account or buy it online.

VPN, which stands for Virtual Private Network, encrypts your communications and prevents spies from eavesdropping on your voice and video calls.

Use a credit card: Credit cards will not only help keep track of your purchases but more importantly, they will give you the ability to contact your establishment if you notice any suspicious spending. Most credit card companies will contact the merchant on your behalf and correct the problem.

Activate dual identification (or two-step verification) as often as possible. This double security requires that you enter a second code in addition to your username and password when you log into one of your accounts. This code is usually sent to your phone or to the email address associated with your account. It can also be generated on a mobile device via an application, such as Google Authenticator. If you're not the only one signing into your account, this 2-step ID can also serve as an alarm system when someone tries to access one of your accounts and fails when entering the coded.

Look for the green padlock: The green padlock and the letters HTTPS next to the website address and inside your browser's address bar is a protocol that encrypts your data as it is sent across the web. If you're on a checkout page and can't see the HTTPS padlock, just don't enter your personal and financial information!

Update your software: Make sure all of your software on your devices is up to date. Cybercriminals often exploit vulnerabilities that can be found in outdated software, which can infect your device and steal your financial information when you shop online.

Stick to known and trusted sites: Try to stick with well-known e-commerce sites when shopping online. There are several ways for cybercriminals to lure customers to bogus online shopping sites. They try to speak badly of e-commerce sites like Amazon for example, saying that they are not trustworthy and that they can rip you off. Some fake merchant sites try to attract buyers by offering them ridiculously low-priced products and having too many positive reviews on their site. If an unfamiliar deal or site seems too good to be true, you should think twice before filling your cart and emptying your wallet.

Enter the URLs yourself: Many phishing emails include links to malicious sites that appear to be real bargain sites. It is always safer to enter URLs directly into your browser yourself. Also, for maximum security, you should avoid clicking on links and attachments included in promotional emails.

Buying online is convenient because you can shop from your home and avoid the crowds, but you need to be careful. Unfortunately, the internet is not a safe place to be and it is important to keep these tips in mind.

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