Shopping online is both easy and convenient but is it safe? This is a question that more than a few people have asked themselves and for good reason. Identity theft is on the rise and everyone is on the look out for ways to keep their credit card and personal information safe.
Wanting to keep your information safe doesn’t mean that you need to forego the ease and convenience of shopping online. If you follow a few easy steps, you can ensure that your online shopping experience is safe and secure.
1. Look for the Lock - This is perhaps the easiest of the tips for keeping your online shopping safe. When you go to checkout on a site, look for the secure lock in the bottom right hand corner of your computer screen. This lock ensures that the page you are on is safe. The lock means that that page has SSL, or Secure Socket Layers. SSL encodes any information on the page into an encrypted code that can only be translated by the proper program.
2. Check for the VeriSign seal - VeriSign is what is known as a third party verifier. If you see their seal that means that VeriSign has checked the site and has issued that site a security certificate. The security certificate is given to sites who can prove that their site’s SSL is in proper working order.
3. Be careful who you shop from - Check out the site you are going to buy from. Can you find a physical address somewhere on the site? Do they provide a phone number that you can use to contact them? You probably wouldn’t buy from a physical store if all the employees were wearing masks and refused to speak to you. The web is no different. If a company is safe and reputable, they will make their address and phone number available.
4. Never email your credit card number - Don’t ever put your credit card information into an email. Emails are not secure and can be very easily intercepted. Never pay for anything through and email with your credit card and never send your credit card information to anyone through an email, even if the email looks like it is coming from a safe company.
5. Do not share your passwords - Many companies now store your credit card information to make online shopping easier for you. Your credit card information is only accessible by signing into your account with that company. If you share your password information with anyone, you are increasing the likelihood that your information will be stolen. And remember, a safe online company will never ask for your password in an email, so don’t send it to anyone through an email even if that email looks like it is coming from a safe and trusted company.
If you follow these few steps you will make your online shopping easy, convenient and safe!
For more information about safe shopping online visit the FTC’s webpage on Online Shopping.