By SellerList,
Online Shopping is welcomed for its convenience and economy. Well-developed international shipment systems make it possible for people to purchase anything from other countries. The online shopping is secure, the selection is very goo, the bargains are there, Even returns are pretty easy, with the right e-tailers.
Follow these basic guidelines and you can shop online with confidence. Here are few tips for staying safe online, so you can start online shopping.
1. Use Familiar Websites
Start at a trusted site rather than shopping with a search engine. Search results can be rigged to lead you astray, especially when you drift past the first few pages of links. Beware of misspellings or sites using a different top-level domain (.net instead of .com, for example)-those are the oldest tricks in the book.
2. Look for the Lock
Never ever, ever buy anything online using your credit card from a site that doesn't have SSL (Secure sockets layer) encryption installed - at the very least. you'll know if the site has SSL because the URL for the site will start with HTTPS:// (instead of just HTTP://). An icon of a locked padlock will appear, typically in the status bar at the bottom of your web browser, or right to the URL in the address bar. It depends on your browser.
3. Don't Tell All
No online shopping store needs your social security number or your birthday to do business. However, if crooks get them, combined with your credit card number for purchases, they can do a lot of damage. The more they know, the easier it is to steal your identity. When possible, default to giving up the least amount of information.
4. Check Statements
Don't wait for your bill to come at the end of the month. Go online regularly during the holiday season and look at electronic statements for your credit card, debit card, and checking accounts. Make sure you don't see any fraudulent charges, even originating from sites like PayPal. (After all, there's more than one way to get to your money.)
If you do see something wrong, pick up the phone to address the matter quickly. In the case of credit cards, pay the bill only once you know all your charges are accurate. You have 30 days to notify the bank or card issuer of problems, however; after that, you might be liable for the charges anyway.
5. Inoculate Your PC
Swindlers don't just sit around waiting for you to give them data; sometimes they give you a little something extra to help things along. You need to protect against malware with regular updates to your anti-virus program.
6. Use Credit Cards and Secure Payment Services instead of Debit Cards
As general rule, credit cards, in comparison to debit cards, offer consumers additional protection when shopping online. The main advantage of the latter is that a credit card account is in no way linked to whatever funds you actually own. And that's not all - there are other benefits too. "unlike debit cards, credit cards may have a limit on the monetary amount you will be responsible for paying if your information is stolen and used by someone else". Likewise, using secure online payment services, like that offered by PayPal, are advisable. The advantage with these providers is that they act as a kind of middle man, whereby you deliver payment to them - i.e. PayPal - and they then pass this onto the retailer. Your bank details always remain unseen.
7. Opt For Your Mobile Phone Network Over public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi is unquestionably something we as consumers now expect. From shops to cafes to restaurants, being able to access the internet with little or no cost is in tune with our connected way of living. However, when it comes to buying online, all the convenience that comes with public Wi-Fi can be overshadowed by the many risks that are associated with this service. You'd be surprised at how unsecure many hotspots actually are and how easy they are to attack.
8. Be Smart About Shopping Apps
Apps make everything more convenient, including stealing your private information. Only download shopping apps from a reliable source like the Apple App Store or Android market. Pay attention to the permission that the app asks for. If you see something that doesn't make sense, like access to your contacts, make sure you don't allow the app access to it. Checking out the comments and reviews of an app before downloading is another way to identify suspicious activity.
9. Beef Up your Passwords
There's a reason this piece of advice may sound like a broken record - it's really important. Secure, unique passwords are your best gatekeepers when it comes to keeping your private information private. if you use the some password for multiple sites, take the time to change them up, If you want to be virtually hack-proof, use a password generator and manager to help you devise and keep track of the types of long, complicated passwords that are not worth a hacker's time to crack.
There are ample solutions to resolving the vulnerabilities associated with public Wi-Fi, but, in general, when out and about, Opt to use data provided by your network provider when going online.
Online Shopping is welcomed for its convenience and economy. Well-developed international shipment systems make it possible for people to purchase anything from other countries. The online shopping is secure, the selection is very goo, the bargains are there, Even returns are pretty easy, with the right e-tailers.
Follow these basic guidelines and you can shop online with confidence. Here are few tips for staying safe online, so you can start online shopping.
1. Use Familiar Websites
Start at a trusted site rather than shopping with a search engine. Search results can be rigged to lead you astray, especially when you drift past the first few pages of links. Beware of misspellings or sites using a different top-level domain (.net instead of .com, for example)-those are the oldest tricks in the book.
2. Look for the Lock
Never ever, ever buy anything online using your credit card from a site that doesn't have SSL (Secure sockets layer) encryption installed - at the very least. you'll know if the site has SSL because the URL for the site will start with HTTPS:// (instead of just HTTP://). An icon of a locked padlock will appear, typically in the status bar at the bottom of your web browser, or right to the URL in the address bar. It depends on your browser.
3. Don't Tell All
No online shopping store needs your social security number or your birthday to do business. However, if crooks get them, combined with your credit card number for purchases, they can do a lot of damage. The more they know, the easier it is to steal your identity. When possible, default to giving up the least amount of information.
4. Check Statements
Don't wait for your bill to come at the end of the month. Go online regularly during the holiday season and look at electronic statements for your credit card, debit card, and checking accounts. Make sure you don't see any fraudulent charges, even originating from sites like PayPal. (After all, there's more than one way to get to your money.)
If you do see something wrong, pick up the phone to address the matter quickly. In the case of credit cards, pay the bill only once you know all your charges are accurate. You have 30 days to notify the bank or card issuer of problems, however; after that, you might be liable for the charges anyway.
5. Inoculate Your PC
Swindlers don't just sit around waiting for you to give them data; sometimes they give you a little something extra to help things along. You need to protect against malware with regular updates to your anti-virus program.
6. Use Credit Cards and Secure Payment Services instead of Debit Cards
As general rule, credit cards, in comparison to debit cards, offer consumers additional protection when shopping online. The main advantage of the latter is that a credit card account is in no way linked to whatever funds you actually own. And that's not all - there are other benefits too. "unlike debit cards, credit cards may have a limit on the monetary amount you will be responsible for paying if your information is stolen and used by someone else". Likewise, using secure online payment services, like that offered by PayPal, are advisable. The advantage with these providers is that they act as a kind of middle man, whereby you deliver payment to them - i.e. PayPal - and they then pass this onto the retailer. Your bank details always remain unseen.
7. Opt For Your Mobile Phone Network Over public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi is unquestionably something we as consumers now expect. From shops to cafes to restaurants, being able to access the internet with little or no cost is in tune with our connected way of living. However, when it comes to buying online, all the convenience that comes with public Wi-Fi can be overshadowed by the many risks that are associated with this service. You'd be surprised at how unsecure many hotspots actually are and how easy they are to attack.
8. Be Smart About Shopping Apps
Apps make everything more convenient, including stealing your private information. Only download shopping apps from a reliable source like the Apple App Store or Android market. Pay attention to the permission that the app asks for. If you see something that doesn't make sense, like access to your contacts, make sure you don't allow the app access to it. Checking out the comments and reviews of an app before downloading is another way to identify suspicious activity.
9. Beef Up your Passwords
There's a reason this piece of advice may sound like a broken record - it's really important. Secure, unique passwords are your best gatekeepers when it comes to keeping your private information private. if you use the some password for multiple sites, take the time to change them up, If you want to be virtually hack-proof, use a password generator and manager to help you devise and keep track of the types of long, complicated passwords that are not worth a hacker's time to crack.
There are ample solutions to resolving the vulnerabilities associated with public Wi-Fi, but, in general, when out and about, Opt to use data provided by your network provider when going online.
