Six expert tips for safe online shopping


The Hindu

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While ecommerce has gathered steam in India, it is important to take steps to protect yourself from the risks, such as credit/debit card frauds and identity thefts that come with online shopping.

“Online shopping is turning out to be an easy hunting ground for opportunistic cybercriminals. Scammers and fraudsters are doing the rounds with “out-of-the-world offers and speedy deliveries” to users’ doorsteps,” says Ritesh Chopra, Country Manager, India, Norton by Symantec.

There are a thousand reasons for you to shop online - bargains are there and so are the choices, shipping is fast and so are the returns. The best part is you get to skip the maddening traffic on streets and malls or long queues at the cashiers. However, shopping securely is the key. A smart shopper needs be on guard, whether shopping online via desktops or mobiles. We bring you some simple online shopping security tips to keep in mind all year round.

1. Firstly, not all web pages are secure

Before entering any personal or payment information, take a look at the address bar and make sure URL starts with HTTPS, not HTTP. The letter S, tells the difference between a secure site and an unsecured site. This is a pretty handy tip for browsing both on desktops as well as mobiles.

2. Stick to the vendors you are familiar

It is best to stick to the vendors you are familiar with rather than going to sites offering the lowest price and attractive offers, advises Saket Modi, CEO of Lucideus Tech, a Delhi-based cyber security firm. He adds to check the authenticity of a website, a user can download free safe browsing tool WOT or Web Of Trust that helps find trustworthy websites and protects against online scams.

3. Use tools that encrypt keystrokes to bypass keyloggers

There are also application that allows cyber criminals to keep a track of all keys struck on your keyboard. Through keylogging, cyber criminals can get access to all passwords and information you enter. Experts suggest the simplest way to eliminate this risk is use KeyScramber, a free tool that encrypts keystrokes to bypass keyloggers.

4. Avoid public or unsecure Wi-Fi connection

We all love free Wi-Fi, but it has its own risks. Experts feel entering any personal or financial information on public, unsecured connection should be avoided as user can be easily snooped on. According to Norton Report 2013, about 44 per cent Wi-Fi users user public or unsecure connection to shop online.

5. Use the right card

Users should try and keep a separate credit/debit card for online shopping of lesser value, rather than one card with all your money in it.

6. Keep your computer/mobile device virus-free

It is essential to keep your operating system, application and anti-virus (both on PCs and smartphones) up to date, which may include fixes for latest security vulnerabilities. On your smartphones, download banking applications or applications of ecommerce sites only from official stores, such as Google Play and App Store. This reduces the risk of application being Malware-infected.

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