With some simple preventative measures, you can enjoy your online shopping spree with peace of mind.
Think before you click
Beware of emails, texts or other promotions that seem suspicious or encourage you to urgently click on links. If you receive an enticing offer, check to see it is coming from an actual retailer and uses a web address that matches the company’s online store.
Do your homework
Scammers are fond of setting up fake e-commerce sites. Prior to making a purchase, read customer reviews of the merchant. Check trusted sources, like the Better Business Bureau, as well as online platforms.
Consider your payment options
If possible, use a credit card instead of a debit card because there are more consumer protections for credit cards if something goes awry.
Share with care
Pay attention to the types of information a website collects to complete your transaction. If a merchant requests more data than you feel comfortable sharing, cancel the transaction.
Keep tabs on your bank and credit card statements
Continuously check your financial accounts for any unauthorized activity. Good record keeping goes hand-in-hand with managing your cybersecurity.
Use secure Wi-Fi
Shopping online using public Wi-Fi while at a coffeeshop or airport is convenient, but it is not very secure. Avoid making online purchases via public Wi-Fi. Instead, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or your phone as a hotspot.
Enable multi-factor authentication
Create long and unique passphrases for all accounts and use multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. MFA will fortify your online accounts by enabling the strongest authentication tools available, such as biometrics or a unique one-time code sent to your phone or mobile device.