We appreciate the convenience and hassle-free form of shopping that digital technology has brought to our doorstep. But, come to think of it. How many people do you think of using this service? The answer is straightforward – many people. With that in mind, what is the guarantee of safety when you key in your bank details or credit information, especially on a public internet connection? Just like you need the medical alert system to come to your emergency, online shopping comes in handy to help you during emergency cases. In specific cases, the personal emergency response system solves an emergency. Similarly, you can order your drugs from the comfort of your home to save you during a medical emergency. We aren’t saying that you don’t use any of the services. Our message here is safety. Some of the medical insurance companies hide their information in small prints. Read the fine print and understand what you are signing. On the other hand, on the web, a small misread of “http” and not “https” may allow a hacker to access your bank details and withdraw everything in the account. You need to take care of it. In the case mentioned above, that simple “s” letter stands for safety. Any online shopping website must have it to prove it has an end-to-end encryption measure.
What else should you look out for to enhance your safety while shipping in the digital space?
How to Stay Safe While Shopping Online
1. Never click the save password button
Whether it’s your personal computer or an office computer, never save your passwords on the computer. What if the computer gets stolen or it’s not within your access. Someone can access your bank details and ruin your hard-earned money. This caution comes when using online payment sites. Stopping online shopping is a breach of digital technology advancement that is out of the question; your safety control is what matters.
2. Use credit cards and not debit cards
Where possible choose to use credit cards and not a debit card for the following reasons
- It has limits on the amount to withdraw
- It has no link to your main accounts
- You can block it anytime to prevent usage
3. Avoid shopping from a public WI-FI network
Public WI-FIs are ideal for accessing sites that have no link to your personal information. Even your social media accounts, never access it through a public WI-FIs. You have no control over the remote systems at the back office. Moreover, some network administrators have a monitoring tool from the end connection and can save your details for fraudulent activities. Surprisingly, some disguise in the name of the public place, yet, in the real sense, they are the real hackers and want to capture details of the unsuspecting customers. That’s how easy it is to become a victim of fraud.
4. Shop for reputable companies
Not all companies offer the services they advertise. Some are con traps to get your financial information and personal identification details to aid their suspicious online activities.
Don’t shop because you have got an affordable product. Stick to trustworthy companies who have offered the service and have a reputation for digital security.
5. Avoid opening suspicious Emails and links/ delete them immediately; they appear on your inbox.
Hackers are digital experts who have mastered the art of internet connections, integrating systems and online protocols. They mutate once they know their fishy deals are in the public limelight. They use what you love most- reading mails. Always master the mail format from your online financial institutions, including the letters. They can misspell the company name in an address and send you a notification of a suspended account. It’s something you want to sort immediately; you quickly open the link, that’s what they want. The next thing is you have no control of your online accounts. Delete the mails immediately and further remove them from your trash folder too.
6. Never disclose your financial information on email or phone
Trusted companies have a clear way of communicating with their customers. What they avoid at all costs is to call and ask for details. Any email or phone call concerning that is a hoax. However, enticing it may be, that is, a rule in online shopping, never.
7. Secure your computer with security settings and updates
Now that public WI-FI is a no-go zone, your computer is not safe either unless you also have a layer of security settings. The viruses, malware, spyware, and other web threats access your computer in that form. Always have security updates and secure security settings.
Enjoy your shopping in digital platforms with minimum hassle with these helpful tips. The business and health industry players play a significant role in providing services in the digital world. Therefore, use them under strict care now that you are in a free world.