{"id":92240,"date":"2023-01-11T13:09:23","date_gmt":"2023-01-11T11:09:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vpncentral.com\/?p=92240"},"modified":"2024-03-01T15:57:15","modified_gmt":"2024-03-01T13:57:15","slug":"how-to-stay-safe-when-shopping-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vpncentral.com\/how-to-stay-safe-when-shopping-online\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stay Safe When Shopping Online [The Ultimate Guide]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We all shop online but how many of us take extra security measures to stay safe? Considering online shopping fraud costs tens of billions a year<\/strong>, now might be the time to start!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide explores the main online shopping risks and how you can fill up your virtual basket with confidence.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

13 Tips for safe online shopping<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re using mobile apps or a traditional browser, our safe online shopping tips will keep your personal and financial info secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Only use secure websites<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Only shop on websites that start with \u201chttps\u201d and have a padlock icon<\/strong> next to the URL<\/strong> in the address bar. This indicates that the site is secure, and your information will be encrypted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is particularly important when providing payment details as it ensures neither the site admins nor hackers can gain access to your data when it\u2019s sent or stored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, non-secure websites don\u2019t use encryption. As a result, your personal and financial info is transmitted in plain text and is vulnerable to interception by hackers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By only using secure online shops, you can help protect your personal and financial data and reduce the risk of identity theft and fraud<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Use a VPN<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Using a virtual private network (VPN) is the safest way to purchase online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A VPN encrypts your internet connection<\/strong>, which helps to protect your personal and financial information from being intercepted by others on the same network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, it hides your IP address<\/a><\/strong>, which makes it difficult for others to track your online activities. This can help protect you from being targeted by hackers or scammers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We recommend ClearVPN for safe and easy online shopping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All you have to do is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Subscribe to ClearVPN<\/strong><\/a> and download the relevant app for desktop or mobile.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Launch the app and click the shortcut to Browse securely & privately. This will automatically connect you to the fastest VPN server. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \"clearvpn<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Next, go to Settings and toggle on the kill switch. This feature pauses internet traffic if you ever become disconnected from the VPN to prevent data leaks.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        \"clearvpn<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. If you don\u2019t want to be targeted by ads when shopping, click the shortcut to Block ads while browsing. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          1. Once connected, open your desired shopping app or website.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            ClearVPN <\/a>offers AES-256 military-grade encryption <\/strong>to hide your traffic from malicious parties. It also abides by a strict no-logs policy, so its databases won\u2019t store any of your personal details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            3. Pay with your phone and a credit card<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Safe shopping starts with your credit card. Using it for payments allows you to dispute any unauthorized charges<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Your credit card company can investigate such charges and, if they\u2019re fraudulent, you won\u2019t be held responsible, and you\u2019ll get a chargeback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            It can be more difficult to get your money back if you use a debit card because they don\u2019t have the same level of legal protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Additionally, use<\/strong> Apple or Google Pay<\/strong> on the front end, with the credit card as the funding method. Mobile payments let you use an extra verification<\/strong> step<\/strong> like a fingerprint or single-use code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            4. Don\u2019t save payment information<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            While it may be convenient to save your payment information online, it\u2019s important to consider the potential risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            If a store suffers a data breach, your information could be stolen<\/strong>. Likewise, if a device where you\u2019re logged in is compromised, a thief could make purchases using your saved info.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            It only takes a few minutes to reenter your card details whenever you make a purchase, and many sites now use quick photo scans to save time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            5. Checkout as a guest<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Safe online shopping is about maintaining privacy. Checking out as a guest rather than registering an account means less information is stored<\/strong>, so there\u2019s less of it to be compromised. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            However, if you must create an account, here are some more shopping safety tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            6. Use a strong and unique password<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Create a reliable password for each of your accounts. This way, if one password is ever compromised, the breach won\u2019t cascade to multiple accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            A strong pass is also very<\/strong> hard to guess<\/strong>, even by people who know you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            To maximize your security, use at least 8 characters <\/strong>and a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, such as !, #, or $. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Moreover, don\u2019t use personal information<\/strong> like your name, address, or birthdate, as others can easily obtain those details. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            7. Use mobile fingerprint instead of password<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Enabling your mobile fingerprint sensor <\/strong>on shopping apps in place of the password is generally more secure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            This method requires physical verification to access your account, whereas anyone with your password could easily log into it unless you use 2FA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            8. Enable two-factor authentication<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            2FA is an additional layer of security that protects your accounts by requiring a second authentication step<\/strong> before logging in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Many shopping apps and sites require it, but if they don\u2019t, you can usually turn it on from within your account settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            This second step is commonly a code you receive via SMS<\/strong> but can also be a security key or a code generated by an authenticator app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            2FA keeps your account secure even if someone has compromised the password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            9. Avoid shopping on public Wi-Fi<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Public Wi-Fi networks typically lack encryption, which means the data transmitted over them isn\u2019t secured. This makes it easier for hackers to intercept and steal sensitive information<\/strong>, such as login credentials or credit card numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Public Wi-Fi can also be vulnerable to other types of threats, such as man-in-the-middle attacks or malware infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            To help protect yourself when shopping online, it\u2019s generally safer to use a secure, private Wi-Fi or a mobile data connection when away from home. If you must use public Wi-Fi, at least use a VPN on your device<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            10. Recognize phishing emails and messages<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Phishing involves using fake emails, text messages<\/a>, and\/or web pages that are made to look like a real company or brand. The aim is to trick you into entering your login details or other info so it can be stolen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Be wary of communications that ask for personal information<\/strong>, such as login credentials or credit card numbers. A genuine online store will never send an email or text asking for such details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            You can recognize most phishing attempts by simply taking a closer look. Emails are often sent from addresses that are similar to, but not exactly the same, as those of legitimate organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            They also often include<\/strong> fake links<\/strong>. If you hover your mouse over the link, you\u2019ll see the actual URL at the bottom of your email client or browser. Compare it to the real website or use a phishing URL detector like checkphish.ai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            A good rule is to only visit the shopping site directly<\/strong> in your browser rather than clicking any email or SMS links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            11. Use real-time antivirus software<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            If available, turn on the real-time protection within your antivirus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            This feature monitors risks<\/strong> while browsing the web and blocks suspicious sites, prevents malware from being downloaded, and detects if a third party is trying to intercept data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            12. Avoid surveys and other data grabs<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            The more personal data you share online the higher the risk of fraud and identity theft. Shopping sites often ask if you want to complete surveys, sign up for promotions and newsletters, or join loyalty programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            While the intention isn\u2018t to harm customers, this data is almost always sold to third parties<\/strong> who may not handle it securely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            At the least, you\u2019re opening yourself up to marketing and spam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            13. Use trusted and well-known websites<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            Buying online safely is about trust. While sites of any size or standing can fall victim to security breaches, it\u2019s always wise to choose well-known stores and brands over those that have seemingly popped up from nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            It\u2019s easy for scammers or poor-quality sellers to target customers via ads on Facebook<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            These often use legitimate-looking images and storefronts but are rife with fake positive reviews and questionable products located overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n