Online shopping is big business these days, with more and more consumers across the world turning to the World Wide Web to purchase goods.
Needless to say, this has caught the attention of cyber criminals who are keen to exploit individuals benefiting from the convenience, affordability and choice.
1. Stick with trusted brands that have a strong reputation
Sticking with popular brands is as good as any advice when shopping online. Not only do you know what you’re getting by way of quality and price, but you also feel more confident that these well-established names have in place robust security measures.
2. Look out for https URL and the padlock symbol and .ie URL
In most cases, the text in the URL is preceded by a padlock symbol (if this is missing, the website should be treated with caution).
The ‘s’ in https incidentally, stands for secure. Websites that use https are safe because they utilise SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to encrypt any information that is distributed online, such as your credit card details.
Another issue is where your company is based. It is often the case that some UK retailers won’t ship to Ireland or will charge extra for delivery with longer. Check to see if a retailer has an .ie at the end of their URL.
3. Use credit cards and secure payment services instead of debit cards
(Also, of course make sure you are the person using your card!)
Credit cards, in comparison to debit cards, offer consumers additional protection when shopping online. The main advantage is that a credit card account is in no way linked to whatever funds you actually own. There are other benefits as credit cards may have a limit on amount that can be spent.
4. Opt for your mobile phone network over public WiFi
However, when it comes to buying online, all the convenience that comes with public WiFi can be overshadowed by the many risks that are associated with this service. You’d be surprised at how insecure many hotspots actually are and how easy they are to attack.
There are ample solutions to resolving the vulnerabilities associated with public WiFi, but, in general, when out and about, opt to use data provided by your network provider when going online.
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