Online shopping has never been more popular. Between being the convenient alternative to having to get in your car to drive somewhere, to the added safety provided during the COVID19 crisis, there’s no doubt it’s an ideal method to get your shopping done.
However, despite the convenience and ease of use, it doesn’t come without its risks. Purchasing online safely comes down to making sure that you’ve got all your bases covered before handing over your credit card number.
Take a look at some of the most practical tips for staying safe while browsing the digital shelves.
Read Product Reviews
One of the best parts of buying online is being able to read reviews of products by other customers before you add items to your cart. Although not every customer has the same experience and results with every product, it’s still important to take reviews into consideration.
In some cases, another customer’s review could help you from being harmed by a product or service. As with anything, take what you read with a grain of salt, however, don’t push it aside either. If you’re considering buying a product that has negative reviews, it’s probably prudent to reconsider your purchase.
Use a Secure Connection
Even though it may be convenient to buy from your favorite online stores while hanging out in your favorite café, the truth is that public connections aren’t always safe. Hackers can interrupt the information that you transmit through the connection and steal your credit card number.
Anytime you’re doing something online that involves using sensitive personal information, it’s a good idea to use a secure connection.
Shop On Reputable Websites Only
Googling the product that you’re looking for may seem like a practical way to find what you need. However, Google could lead you to a potentially harmful website. Make sure that you’re shopping at a URL that is reputable and recognized.
An obscure website that you’ve never heard of may not be a trusted source to give your payment information to. Above all, always make sure that you are shopping on a site that starts with “https.”
Avoid Clicking Links From Emails
Many of us sign up for newsletters from our favorite online stores to stay up to date with the latest deals. However, in some cases, you may receive an email talking about a deal that’s too good to miss. If you receive an email advertising a seemingly impossible deal, and you’re invited to click a link, don’t do it.
Cybercriminals use this method, called phishing, to lure you into unsafe online locations. A good general rule of thumb is that if a deal seems too good to be true, it most likely is!
