10 Essential Tips to Make Online Shopping Experience Safe - How to Shop Safely Online?

Online shopping can be exciting. You spot something shiny, click the "buy" button, and the package arrives at your doorstep. Unfortunately, not every transaction goes smoothly.

In 2019, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received an average of 1,300 complaints per day regarding online theft, resulting in a total loss of $3.5 billion for individuals and businesses.

Recently, the FBI has received more complaints about consumers not receiving their purchased goods. Most of these buyers were lured by "deals" on social media or search engine shopping pages and received nothing or a random item they didn't order. These scammers can put a damper on your shopping experience. Check out our cybersecurity tips for online shopping.

How to make online shopping safe?

1. Choose reputable sellers

For safe online shopping, purchasing directly from reputable retailers is advisable. Save links to your favorite shopping sites to access them quickly and securely.

Avoid entering the retailer's name in the browser to prevent landing on fake sites that look legitimate. Purchasing on a fraudulent site may result in unwittingly sharing your credit card information and other personal details with scammers.

2. Use a VPN

Are you using public Wi-Fi? Protect yourself with a VPN for Chrome (virtual private network). A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your computer and the server, preventing cybercriminals from seeing your activity, intercepting your personal information, and shopping online while using public Wi-Fi in airports, cafes, or other public spaces.

Use VPN for the shopping experience safely. But that's only part of it because your service can open access to any website worldwide, even blocked in your region. You can even bypass blocking on various services.

Finally, you can learn how to get unbanned from Omegle without complex technical solutions. It remains only to install the free trial version of VeePN and test it in practice.

3. Avoid email scams

Staying vigilant when receiving messages from unknown sources is essential to protect yourself from potential security risks. Whether it's an email or a message from an unknown number, it's always better to err on the side of caution and delete any such messages that don't seem right.

Be especially wary of messages that offer unbelievable deals or claim to help you with package delivery issues.

Similarly, please don't click on any attachments or links in these messages before verifying their authenticity. Scammers can infect your devices with malware or viruses to steal sensitive information, so avoiding such messages altogether is always better.

4. Find out more about the seller

If you come across an outstanding product from an unfamiliar vendor, investigate beforehand. Examine online feedback and search for complaints on the Better Business Bureau website.

Check the website's "contact us" page for a U.S. address and phone number. Then go the extra mile: call the organization for verification. There may be more information on offshore platforms, especially in the same region where the company is from. Use VPN free extension to unlock more reviews.

This is crucial since the FBI disclosed that some con artists possess genuine U.S. business contact information to make their deceitful websites seem dependable.

5. Create a strong password

A strong password is similar to a secure lock that prevents cyber thieves from accessing accounts containing private information. Consider using a complex combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols or a lengthy passphrase that is easy to remember but difficult for others to guess.

Avoid using dictionary words and personal information that thieves can effortlessly find or guess, such as a child's birthdate, pet's name, or favorite sports team. Also, never use passwords across multiple sites because a data breach at one company could give criminals access to your other accounts.

6. Pay with credit

It's a scary thought: waking up one day to find out your identity has been stolen, or your bank account has been wiped out. Investing in identity theft protection is essential to protect yourself from the growing crime of identity theft.

When shopping online, it's also crucial to be smart about your chosen payment method. Rather than using a debit card linked directly to your bank account, opt for credit cards or payment services like Paypal.

This will give you extra protection and minimize your liability in case your information is hacked.

7. Avoid implausible offers

If an e-store offers too much at an implausibly low price, it's cause for mistrust. Consider whether the merchant acquired the items lawfully and whether you'll receive the items purchased.

Are they the brand shown or a cheaper substitute?

And will the product work?

Also, consider if you'll be able to return damaged goods. Like traditional retailers, scam-disposed online stores might advertise an absurdly low price and then assert the item is out of stock to push sales of substitute items, a classic "bait and switch" con.

8. Update your software

Updating your software is among the most straightforward measures to safeguard your information, but many people must put it on track. Often, software updates are launched to enhance security and counter new attacks being developed regularly.

Waiting for your computer (or smartphone) to complete updates and restart may seem like a hassle; however, the protective benefits are undoubtedly worth it. Do it the next time you see a notification to update your software.

9. Don't click on links

In today's digital age, staying vigilant and protecting yourself against online scams is essential. With the rise of social media and email communication, scammers have found new ways to lure in unsuspecting victims with irresistible deals and offer that seem too good to be true.

This is why it's crucial to be wary of any suspicious links or promotions that may come your way and do your due diligence before clicking on anything.

Take the time to verify the legitimacy of an offer, and always err on the side of caution. You never know when a harmless click could lead to a malicious attack. Stay safe and stay informed!

10. Check site security before you buy

When shopping online, it's important to prioritize security. After all, you share sensitive information and want to keep it private. One surefire way to gauge a website's security is by checking for the lock icon in the browser bar and ensuring the URL starts with "https".

These indicate that the site uses SSL encryption to protect your data. Shopping on secure websites is a wise move that can lessen the chance of privacy breaches and keep your financial info and passwords safe and secure. So, always make it a point to look for these signs of security before purchasing online.

Conclusion:

Online shopping has become increasingly popular with modern technology, but it is essential to remember that online shopping also brings forth certain risks. With these ten essential tips, you can make online shopping a much safer and more secure experience.

Trust your gut; if something doesn't feel right about the site or transaction, don't go through with it. Double-check your order information, confirm the reviews are genuine, and be alert for any suspicious activity during checkout.

Use reputable third-party payment services, and keep your personal information private when purchasing. And above all else, research before committing to the purchase – know what you are buying!

By following these simple tips, you can avoid scams, fraudulent activities, or other internet dangers and adequately equip yourself for safe and reliable online shopping experiences!

Local Business Listing

Get a Punnaka.com Page

Promote your business to local customers.

Local Business Listing

security In Software