In recent years, the popularity of online stores has overwhelmed bricks-and-mortar stores. The world has gone digital and everyone loves to shop from the comfort of their home. Just type in the favorite product in the search bar, add it to the cart, enter credit card details, and bang. You are all done with the shopping. Now all you need to do is wait patiently for the order to arrive at your doorstep While Shopping Online.
The time required for the whole shopping process varies from one person to another, depending on the speed of the internet. Unless you are not compromising on the speed of the internet for money, the time to shop online might be just a minute or two away. If you are using a slow internet connection, shopping online might turn into a nightmare rather than comfort and convenience. To avoid nightmares and curses of slow connection, Optimum Altice might be the right choice for online shoppers. Especially during the shopping season, never think of missing a deal when you have a reliable internet connection like Optimum.
Most people might go for a faster connection, but ignore the vital part of shopping online. The security and precautions every shopper ignore before entering the details of credit cards and providing personal information.
In this post, we are going to discuss some of the precautions to take while shopping online. Let’s get started.
Shop from Trusted Store/Retailer
The scammers and hackers are all out there staking for innocent shoppers who are not aware of precautions and safety measures. Scammers trap the shoppers through sponsored posts on social media platforms or by sending an email. To avoid getting trapped in this situation, make sure to shop from online sellers you know and are widely recognized among the masses.
For instance, Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart are few names that are known to each one of us, whether we shop online or not. These online shops offer a secure checkout and guarantee you the best experience without compromising your privacy and security.
Moreover, whenever an email from these stores comes into your mailbox, verify its legitimacy. For instance, most of the deals and offers might not be available in the original store. Make sure to Google the deal and verify whether the mail is legitimate or not.
Read Reviews of Customers
Before buying any product, it is better to read reviews of the customers. You will come to know the overall experience of customers especially the negative comments that would give you an idea about what’s bad with them.
Moreover, there are online sources like Better Business Bureau for online reviews and complaints. If you have any doubt about the legitimacy of the website, you can visit contact info and call them. Another way of verifying a website’s legitimacy is to visit its social media platforms.
Don’t Shop on Public Wi-Fi
Everyone knows how convenient it is to shop anywhere whether waiting for the next flight in the lounge or sitting at a café. In most cases, people don’t bother about the risks associated with using public Wi-Fi. Using public Wi-Fi allows easy access to hackers to peek into your personal information such as credit card numbers etc.
However, in case you have no other option when the last-minute deal is about to end, the best way is to turn on Virtual Private Network. VPN is a great way to hide your identity online and stay away from hackers and scammers. Some of the best VPNs you can find on iOS and Android marketplaces are ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Browsec, and many more. Stay anonymous as long as you are on public Wi-Fi by using these VPNs.
Too Attractive Offers Might be a Scam
Online stores often put items on sale with a huge cut in prices. However, the cut in prices is somehow justified. Especially during the holiday seasons, you might find Amazon deals offered at a fifty percent discount.
On the contrary, you might find Facebook pages or online stores offering products at an unbelievable price. For instance, if you find iPhone 12 Pro Max selling at $300, you might need to check the legitimacy of it. Make sure to verify the deal before putting your credit card information at the time of checkout. It is better to go on a shopping spree online through eCommerce stores that are reputed. Also, if you find any such deal, make sure to research on Facebook, Google, and other platforms.
Choose Strong Passwords
Before you sign up on a shopping website, make sure to pick the password carefully. Most people choose the same password for every store, which can prove to be a threat. If you find trouble remembering long and complex passwords, just create a text document on your laptop, and write passwords for each website. Make it as hidden as possible and don’t give any clue about your passwords.
You can try password generator tools to create a complex password. However, if you want to pick a password of your own choice, make sure to follow the tips below.
- Choose a password that contains capital and small letters along with alphanumeric, special characters and numbers.
- Don’t use your name, address, dog’s name, favorite team, or phone number that is easy to guess. Try to make it complex like combining the initial of your favorite movies or TV series.
- Repeating the same password across all the websites would prove to be a disaster in case of security vulnerabilities.
Don’t Provide any Extra Information
Legitimate shopping sites won’t ask you for any other information except name, address, phone number, and email address. However, if any website is demanding information such as driving license number, Social Security Number, or bank account number, then make sure to quit the site immediately and if possible report it to the concerned authorities. In addition, read the website’s privacy policy and look for what information is being shared by them.
Conclusion
The risk of shopping online is far and beyond our imagination. But that should not stop you from buying your favorite clothing items, electronics deals, and groceries. Just follow the aforementioned tips to avoid risking your privacy.
