Online shopping is easier than ever. Nowadays, almost every store offers the option to make purchases online and get products conveniently delivered straight to your home.
And just as the convenience increases, so does the need to add more security to our credit and debit card information. In fact, it keeps getting worse with progressive cyber threats that are getting more sophisticated than before.
We’re no longer speaking of just phishing emails and hacking, but cyber threats get more complicated day after day. This is why it’s so important that online shoppers take precautions.
In this article, we will look at five of the most important things to help you stay secure when making payments online.
Use secure networks
First and foremost, you have to make sure that the network you use is secure. Of course, public Wi-Fi networks make life easy for you as you can sit at a cafe and shop on your device, but in general, these are the hunting grounds for cybercriminals. These networks usually are unsecured, which allows a hacker to easily intercept your data – including financial and personal information.
This is why all financial transactions should always be done over a private network and never on a public network. If it is absolutely necessary to make a purchase over public Wi-Fi, then it is a good idea to make use of a Virtual Private Network, or a VPN, which encrypts your internet traffic. While it’s not a surefire way to secure your information, it’s a huge help.
Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication
Some years ago, you could get away with a five-letter password with some numbers. Nowadays, you should have a long and complicated password with a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
You shouldn’t use birthdays or anything that’s easy to guess. You should also never write down your passwords or store them in your computer. Instead, consider using a password vault software that keeps all of your password safe in a digital form.
Also, many sites allow you to set up multi-factor authentication, or MFA. MFA requires a second (and sometimes third) form of verification when accessing an account. That could be something like a password, such as a phone or security key, or biometric data like fingerprints.
Many banks, social media platforms, and even online casinos have started offering two-factor authentications. Many casinos on newcasinos.com offer two-factor authentications and safer payment methods, such as PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfers to ensure safe deposits and withdrawals.
Check your account statements regularly
Sometimes hackers and criminals are so sneaky you might not even notice you’re getting bamboozled, which is why you should make it a habit to check your bank statements regularly.
Look into unfamiliar transactions, no matter how small. Often, cyber-criminals test stolen card information by making a small purchase before proceeding to make larger ones. The charge could only be a pound or two, but if you don’t recognise it, you should report it to your bank immediately.
Most financial institutions offer immediate notifications for purchases. They should be turned on and make tracking your accounts simple. You can also utilise a number of personal finance applications that provide you with all of your accounts in one place and alert you when spending doesn’t fit your usual patterns.
Recognise phishing and scams
Even though phishing emails and scams are possibly the oldest form of cyber threats, they’re still present today, and you might encounter them.
Phishing emails can be spam camouflaged as messages or emails from some renowned company that asks to follow some link or provide personal data.
You can recognise phishing emails by checking the sender (is the email from a verified company or regular email account, like Gmail) and Googling the company name.
If you’re the least bit doubtful, call the company, or visit their website by searching for it rather than clicking on the link in the email.
Remember that no good business will ask for your password or complete credit card number in an email.
Keep your devices locked down and update your software
Your devices are the gateway to your digital life, so keeping them secure should be your topmost priority. First, there should be good antivirus software installed to your laptop and desktop with updates from time to time. Most of these programs can detect and neutralise many threats before they can inflict damage.
You should also ensure that your OS and all the software are kept up to date. Many updates have patches intended to plug up the vulnerabilities that a hacker might use to gain unauthorised access. Activate the automatic update feature so that you can be protected against the latest emerging threats and remember to check that all updates are current.
It’s very important to be cautious about the applications that are installed, mainly on mobile devices. Download only from officially recognised application stores and take some time and read at least part of the reviews other users have written about them.
You should never download a third-party application that is not accessible from Google Play or Apple Store.
Read More: click here
