Shopping online is very convenient to do. You can do it almost anywhere as long as there is an Internet connection. The range of price and item varieties are limitless. But the threats of Internet fraud and hacker are also there.
Hackers prey upon unsuspecting victims by stealing their personal information, such as from credit card and debit card. An internet fraud, on the other hand, tricks their victim by creating a dummy website which sells fake items or simply acting as a pretender who sells items but then never sends them after he/she has got the money from the victim.
There are many ways for cyber thieves to steal your money when you do an online transaction. Here are some tips for you to avoid being one of the fraud victims.
Inspecting Your Device
By cleaning up, it means that you should eliminate malware or spyware from your device. Installing applications that do not come from legitimate sources increases the potential for your device to be hosting hidden malware. Remember when was the last time you are enjoying a cracked app on your phone, and see if there is a suspicious space taken more than it should be. An app that consumes more space than necessary is a sign of malware activity.
Mobile devices are vulnerable to malware attacks whenever there is an install suggestion coming from a pop-up. Do not click install immediately. Instead, try to read if there are a convincing app description and legit developer. If you have encountered this experience, but you took the wrong decision, you can backup your data to a cloud storage platform and scan all of them by a reliable antivirus such as McAfee or Norton. Purge any suspected files and only keep the healthy ones. Factory resets your device and then restore your malware-free data.
Entrusting Your Money to a Credible Payment Platform
Payment platforms offer a safer way to make an online payment. They function as a third party that encrypts your data and conceals them from the receiving side.
Payment platforms specialize in online security; they have been testing and updating their systems so that they can overrule crackers (hackers with criminal intention). Regular sites, however, do not specialize in online security. Credit card information that you submit to them is susceptible to crackers. If the sites get hacked, so do your data.
Protect Yourself from Hackers
HTTPS is more secure than HTTP. Safe online shops should have HTTPS formats for their sites. Next time you want to buy an item online, pay attention to the site’s address.
Also, do not overlook that lock logo on the top of your browser. It stands for an accepted and synchronized SSL certificates from both your browser and the site. The information shared between them is encrypted, and anyone who tries to penetrate will get nothing but undecipherable data.
Some banks may provide authentication procedures, which can ensure more safety to your online transaction. It will require you to have a registered phone number or a verified email to proceed payment. The process might be longer if compared to using an online payment platform, but not all shops accept such method. Bank authentication offers you a safe transaction for sites that ask directly for your card’s data.