Online Shopping Safety
Some years back when one would have felt the need to shop, stores or shops within certain proximity from their homes were the destinations. Now with the blessings of technology a person who is sitting in the remotest corner of the world can buy anything from anywhere around the globe. Geographical constraints have completely vanished. If you have access to internet, everything from everywhere is reachable for you. Sometimes while shopping online people encounter some problems with payments or with thefts. Here are some easy to remember tips to make ensure online shopping safety.
Getting To Know If The Site Is Secured
The huge variety which is available while shopping online can give you butterflies in your stomach, but you have to make sure that the site is secure for you to enter all your valuable information. There are different aspects to security and everyone shopping online must be aware of those. One should limit the shopping to secured sites only. URL can be helpful for you to know if the site is secured or not. Secured sites have their URL’s start with HTTPS:// while the unsecured ones may have it like HTTP://. In addition to this a small lock icon will be visible on the lower right corner of the screen.
Shop Through A Secured Computer
To ensure you online shopping safety, use a computer which is protected from virus attacks through an up to date anti-virus and a strong firewall system. You can avoid using computers in the library or at cyber cafes or in your office as it is a shared computer and your card details can be stolen. You will almost never be aware of any spyware or malware which has affected your computer.
Use A Credit Card Instead Of A Debit Card
For online billings it’s always wise to use a credit card instead of a debit card. Credit cards can safeguard you against identity thefts that debit cards don’t offer. In much simpler words when using a credit card, the liability for any unauthorized or fraudulent charge is limited to $50. If while using a debit card someone gains access to your card details, all your account will be wiped clean before you even noticing that something is wrong. It’s only a possibility that your money will come back at all.
Keep The Records Safe
For any transaction online the receipt should be saved for references. This electronic receipt will help you in tracking your order as well as will give you a proof of your payment.
Prefer To Sign Up
If the shopping site is giving you an option to sign up, prefer that. With signing in your transaction will require on extra password to authorize your deal. Verified by visa or a master card secure code will give your transaction added protection.
Keep An Eye On Your Statements
All the documents should be cross checked as soon as they are received from the bank. Any unknown transaction should be reported immediately. Any written card details should be carefully shredded.
As the technology is helping you in shopping worldwide, its also helping people in their fraudulent deeds through internet. The only way to be safe is to be aware.
source: http://itselectricblog.com/blog/tips-tricks/online-shopping-safety/