Shopping is a polarising experience. Some people would describe it as one of their favourite activities, would even go as far as calling it a hobby, and take a lot of enjoyment out of strolling through shops endlessly and looking at everything they have to offer. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the people who dread going shopping, for whom the mere thought is enough to make them both tired and exasperated. These are the people who only hit the stores when they really need something and wouldn’t conceive of browsing through the shelves otherwise. Whichever category you find yourself to be closer to, one thing’s for certain, online shopping has changed the way people buy forever.
It means that you don’t have to leave your home to get the items you need, all you have to do is place an order and wait for it to arrive. It has also closed down geographical borders, since you can now buy products from the other side of the globe and have them delivered to your doorstep. Until not long ago, this was something that only the wealthy could afford to do, and it would take many months to receive the package. The advent of modern technology has made long waiting a thing of the past.
However, as with any other online activity, there are some safety measures you should keep in mind when you’re making an online purchase so you can make sure you’re safe and sound. Here’s what you should remember anytime you make a purchase.
A trusted seller
One of the most important things is to only buy from trustworthy sources. For example, you can never go wrong when purchasing from big, well-known brands. Their online stores are certainly going to be fully secure and you can trust them with your personal details. However, just because you haven’t heard of a shop before doesn’t make it automatically untrustworthy. You’ll just have to do a little background check to learn more about that specific business. If you can’t find any pertinent information, or you come across many negative reviews from clients claiming their purchases didn’t arrive or weren’t as described, it’s better to take your custom somewhere else. Chances are you’re dealing with a scam, and it’s always better to steer clear of those.
When you shop with a reliable vendor, you’re also less likely to experience anything akin to personal data infringement. These situations are highly troublesome, and becoming increasingly frequent due to our confidence in online systems. Annually, hackers target many businesses and enterprises with the sole goal of accessing and exposing sensitive information. Millions and documents and records are exposed this way, and the implications can be very serious. Individuals dealing with it themselves report heightened levels of stress and anxiety, and this is without taking into account the financial toll it takes, as well as the threat to your identity.
If you’ve fallen victim to a violation of your personal information, reach out to Data Breach Compensation Expert. Their team can help you tackle this situation so you can have a positive outcome. Firstly, they’ll analyse your case and see its intricacies. As a general rule, if a data controller or processor failed to protect your information, either by having inadequate security systems or accidentally exposing it, then you’re eligible to start a claim.
Secure device and connection
Not just the website you buy from must be safe, but also your device and network connection. If you’ve got viruses on your computer, it’s not a good idea to key in your personal information on a website. It might easily become visible to cyber attackers, who can easily extract it from your computer and use it for their own ends. You should also be sure that your computer is updated and running on the latest version of the software and applications. Upgraded gadgets are less vulnerable to malware.
Secondly, you must always ensure that your internet connection is secure. Avoid making purchases on public WiFi networks. You have no way of knowing who else might be connected, and if they have any malicious intentions. And lastly, make sure you check the URL before you place your order. The page you’re on should be secure and encrypted, and you can easily tell if it is or not by checking for the lock icon by the web address. This is very important because scammers frequently try to attract unsuspecting customers by creating duplicate sites that look exactly like the legitimate ones they copy. The difference is that their sole purpose is to steal your card credentials. So make sure to double check before you buy anything.
Don’t save
Most websites offer the option of storing your bank details directly on their platform. This method provides extra convenience. The next time you shop there, you can fill in your data automatically and not take the extra time to key everything in again. And while it does sound good in theory, it also means that your data is at heightened risk in the event of a data breach. Since you don’t want to leave your personal details at the mercy of hackers, it’s better to take those moments to add all your information yourself every time you make a purchase. Sure, it might take a bit more time but it’s not really that much of a hassle, and it might save you a lot of trouble in the future.
Card safety
When it comes to online shopping, you can never be too careful about your bank details. Make sure you have digital receipts from all your online purchases. This way you can check everything you’ve bought and signal if there are any problems. For example, you might notice duplicate transactions or purchases you don’t recognise. While the former are typically just the cause of a glitch in the system and can easily be arranged by contacting the vendor, the latter are usually a sign that something’s wrong and you should dig a little deeper to find out what happened. If you notice any suspicious activity, contact your credit card issuer immediately and consider freezing your accounts for a while.
While we can all agree that online shopping is one of modern society’s best developments, it’s important to remember that following a few simple safety rules is still important in order to avoid unpleasant situations.
