How to protect your data in an online store

Online shopping has made purchasing items from around the world easier than walking to the store down the block BlockTo stop a computer from reaching something on the internet, or, on social media, to stop a user from contacting you. . Just remember, while you’re making online purchases easily from your couch, it’s important that you keep your cyber security in mind. Cyber criminals can use online stores and transactions to try to access your data. That’s why it’s important to know how to protect yourself while making purchases online.

Here’s how you can do some cyber safe shopping:

Don’t save your payment information

When should you save your payment information? Never. Although it might be tempting to make online purchases even more convenient by saving your payment information in an app or store you’ve logged in to, it risks exposure. Even with legitimate sites or apps like Amazon, Apple and Shopify, you shouldn’t save your information when asked to. While it might take a little more time to put in your credit card number, it’s better than risking your information being stolen by cyber criminals if they hack your favourite app or store.

Secure your network and your browsing

Never make purchases on public Wi-Fi Wi-FiWi-Fi refers to a set of wireless communication protocols that can transmit traffic to Wi-Fi enabled devices within a local area. A Wi-Fi enabled device such as a laptop or tablet can connect to the internet when within range of a wireless network connected to the internet. An area covered by one or more Wi-Fi access points is commonly called a hotspot. unless you’re using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). If you’ve taken these steps, your home network NetworkSeveral computers that are connected to one another. is much more secure. Use a secured Wi-Fi network and browse safely by looking for websites that begin with HTTPS HTTPSA protocol for secure communication over a computer network which is widely used on the Internet. . These sites use encryption EncryptionConverting information from one form to another to hide its content and prevent unauthorized access. policies to protect your information and they can keep your information secure. You should also look for a green lock symbol in the address bar. This means that website traffic is being encrypted.

When you’re ready to make a purchase, take an extra moment to verify the site is legitimate. Start by looking for a return policy, as many scams or spoofed sites won’t have one. Then double check the URL URL(Uniform Resource Locator) Uniform Resource Locator is the technical term for the address (location) of a resource on the internet such as a website or file. and address bar for any typos. If everything checks out, then you can checkout with confidence.

Conclusion

If you’re making online purchases, you need to secure your data in the process. Cyber criminals use online stores and transactions to access personal and financial data You should never save payment information online and you should always secure your network and browsing activity before making a purchase. If you take these precautions, you’ll be staying cyber safe while shopping online.