ONLINE shopping has become the a norm for most of us today as we’re stuck at home due to the pandemic.
However, there’s still “danger” even though you are purchasing from home as hackers and scammers could be targeting you.
According to Google Malaysia’s communications manager of Consumer Products, Nadia Khan, online shopping makes it possible to make purchases for essentials in just a matter of clicks, but shoppers need to keep themselves protected from unscrupulous sellers, phishers and scammers.
“Online shopping can be just as exciting as in-store visits, therapeutic even for some. Before you decide to ‘add to cart’, just always remember to exercise caution, and when in doubt, go back to some of these tips suggested to ensure your online shopping safety,” she said.
Before you drop your payment details on those hard-to-miss deals, do check out these steps.
Tip #1: Protect your online shopping accounts
Most of us create multiple accounts when accessing e-commerce platforms to purchase items, and these accounts often contain sensitive information, like your contact details and credit card information.
Make sure you choose a strong, unique password that’s at least eight characters long, and use a different password for every account, so that if one account is hacked, your other accounts aren’t compromised.
And should you ever get logged out of your account and need to quickly regain access, adding recovery information like a phone number or email address will definitely be helpful. Using a password manager, like the one built into Android, Chrome, and your Google Account can also help make this easier.
Tip #2: Download secure apps
The festive season brings brisk business for e-commerce sites which might prompt you to download their dedicated shopping app for a better shopping experience. Just be aware of any fake shopping apps that set out to steal your personal information.
To prevent that, make sure you’re downloading apps from trusted sources like the Google Play Store and other trusted payment methods which scan all apps for malware before and after you install them.
Tip #3: Beware of phishing when surfing online
Phishing cases are on the rise and spotting them can be a challenge, even for savvy web users. It is important to learn how to spot suspicious emails and websites, preventing yourself from revealing critical personal information such as your password.
To avoid being a victim of phishing attacks:
* Never click on questionable links
* Always double-check the URL to make sure the browser shows a lock symbol to ensure that you’re entering your data into a legitimate website
* Before submitting any information, make sure that the site’s URL begins with ‘https’ (versus “http”), meaning it’s secure
Use web browsers which have security steps in place to keep users away from phishing sites. For example, if you visit a site with malware or attempts to phish you, you’ll be warned by Chrome and taken back to safety. For example, if you type your Google account password into a suspected phishing site, Chrome will surface a warning and add protections to ensure your account isn’t compromised.
Tip #4: Beware of offers that sound too good to be true
Online marketplaces are a great place to get the best bargains for the festive season. But do think twice about that great bargain you’ve spotted, especially if it sounds too good to be true.
To prevent yourself from falling victim to an e-commerce scam, here are some easy steps to follow:
Always check the seller’s score and track record, and only purchase from reputable sellers
Use shopping platforms that release payments to the seller after you have received the goods
With millions of buyers online selling products, you can look to secure sites via the Google Shopping Tab to surface merchants who meet a minimum review score so you’ll know they’re safe.
Tip #5: Use Google Pay for more secure payment
Stolen credit card information is a common concern during the holidays, whether you are shopping at a store or online.
Google Pay technology is said to be much safer than using your credit card.
When you add a credit card to Google Pay, your bank creates a random sequence of numbers that corresponds to your card.
This is called a ‘token’. It is stored, encrypted, on your phone.
When you pay for stuff with Google Pay, the app uses this token instead of the credit card number itself.
Even if a bad person is ever able to access the token, it will just appear as a random number string and will be useless to them.
Additionally, critical transaction information associated with the token expires after a brief period of time.
And even if you lose your phone, you can remotely lock or erase all information from your device using “Find My Device”
Source: News Straits Times
