Online shopping is reaching an all-time high.
With at least 38 shops closing every day across Britain, the digital era is transforming buying experiences for people of all ages. It’s now estimated that mobile phones account for more than 70% of all online orders on retail websites.
Whether you enjoy a regular Amazon delivery or prefer to keep on top of the latest fashion trends, it’s so important to keep your personal details safe. From preventing unauthorised access to recognising phishing attempts, here’s how to shop online with full peace of mind.
Only use legitimate websites
Make sure you’re shopping only on popular or familiar sites.
If you’re about to use a website that’s new to you, browse recent customer reviews to make sure that it’s not a scam. You’ll get a good feel for the typical customer experience by doing this, so it can also be handy for setting your expectations when it comes to delivery times.
Genuine retailers will usually have secure websites too. Check for the small padlock icon in the top search bar: this indicates that your chosen site has SSL encryption. This invisible layer of security could prevent hackers from accessing your data or IP address remotely.
Use a VPN
A VPN or Virtual Private Network is an optional service for your computer. It keeps your internet connections encrypted and conceals your identity, making you appear on servers as a different user with another IP address.
By establishing a secure connection between your internet connection and your computer, using an online VPN protects your privacy. Whether you’re shopping for something expensive or testing out new retailers, it’s a useful additional layer of security to boost your peace of mind.
Don’t shop on public Wi-Fi
There are some inherent security risks when it comes to using public Wi-Fi networks. These are openly accessible and often lack an essential layer of security called encryption.
When you use unprotected public networks, your personal information is much more likely to be compromised. Unfortunately, it increases the likelihood of a man-in-the-middle attack, which is where cybercriminals interrupt private communications to steal data.
This usually takes place when your computer sends messages to websites over the network and could be as simple as heading to checkout. Keep your information safe by limiting your public browsing to window shopping.
Pay with a credit card
Finally, it’s worth keeping a dedicated credit card aside for your online shopping habits. Along with keeping your personal account details away from the internet completely, this means that you’ll be protected under the Consumer Credit Act.
If you enter debit card details, a hacker could directly access your personal funds and account. However, credit cards work slightly differently and there’s no “pot” of money that could be stolen or transferred elsewhere.
Using a credit card means you can simultaneously keep an eye on your spending and protect yourself from theft by successful hacking attempts.