Online Security Tips
Online shopping can actually as safe, if not safer, than shopping over
the phone. Still, almost any individual can put up an online store under
any name. To avoid being a victim of fraud, keep in mind the following
tips:
Use a secure web browser.
Your web browser has to support the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) security
standards. SSL encrypts the data you send over the Internet to make
sure it is useless to anyone not authorised to view the information.
This applies to any personal and purchase details you send to an online
shop. Most computers already have the web browser set up this way out
of the box, or you can choose to download a free, secure web browser
from the Internet.
 Make
sure the website is secure.
Check that the website you are shopping from is using your
web browser’s security features by looking for a small icon of
a padlock at the bottom of the browser window. This usually indicates
that the details being sent from that particular page are encrypted
and cannot be used by any third-parties who may possibly intercept the
information as it is sent from your computer to the website. The padlock
icon (or whatever convention your browser uses to indicate a secure
connection) doesn’t have to appear on every page of the website
you are browsing, just on any page that you send sensitive information
from.
Keep your passwords private.
When creating a password on a web site, make use of a phrase
or combination of letters and numbers that you can easily remember but
is difficult for anyone else to guess. Never use a single word for your
password, or something as obvious as your email address or something
out of your personal details (the name of the company or department
you work for, for example). Telephone numbers, birthdays and anniversary
dates are also combinations you should avoid because these are easy
for password guessing programs to figure out through “brute force”
cracking methods.
Pay by credit or debit card.
By transacting through a credit or debit card, you can take
advantage of your bank’s policies that protect their customers
against fraud. Try to look for companies that provide an online shopping
guarantee that protects you from being held accountable for any unauthorised
charges from online transactions. Some credit and debit cards also offer
additional return, warranty or purchase protection features.
Keep a record.
Always make a copy of the purchase order or invoice, and print
it out for your records. Take note of order confirmation and shipment
tracking numbers. This way you can easily follow-up with the company
you ordered from, and you also have the necessary information to track
the item’s shipment to you. Most importantly, this provides proof
of your payment and purchase.
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