Online Shopping Best Practices
Online shopping is not only fast and convenient for folks, but you also avoid other shoppers and salespeople while comparing prices more easily and shopping from a location and time of day that is better for you.
Online shopping is supposedly growing in 2023 to almost 21% of all retail sales. At the same time, "consumers reported losing nearly $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022" (FTC). With these two things in mind, it is the perfect time of year to think about the best practices to engage in when shopping online. Here are some of our favorites guaranteed to keep you ho-ho-ho-happy:
- Shop from home on your trusted internet connection, preferably on a virtual private network (VPN). Never do shopping or other sensitive work on a free (and likely unencrypted) Wi-Fi hotspot.
- In your web browser's address bar, look for the padlock and the 'S' in HTTPS. Both represent "secure" and offer more protection than a simple HTTP site.
- Use secure payment methods with more guarantees, like credit cards or payment services (e.g., Pay Pal, Apple Pay, and Google Wallet). Avoid your debit card, wire transfers, bank transfers, and cash.
- If you are using an app to shop through, download it from the Apple Store or Google Play—not from a random website, email, or QR code.
- Keep your personal information just that—personal. Don't supply extra information if you check out an order with "optional" fields.
- Skip offers in emails and on social media sites. Phishing and scams are always a thing to watch for, especially around the holidays.
- Research the company when not using a large, well-known retailer. Use sites that do reviews like Google or Yelp and also use their local Better Business Bureau (BBB). It is always good to look for a physical address and a phone number.
- Like the themes from last month's Cybersecurity Awareness Month: (a) Be sure your software and apps are up to date, (b) use two-factor/multi-factor authentication (2FA/MFA), and (c) have long and strong passwords.
- Trust your gut. Is the deal too good to be true? If yes, it probably is; so skip those unbelievable deals, gifts, and bonuses.
- Keep records of all purchases, such as emails, receipts, and order descriptions that show the picture and product description. Look at and scrutinize photos and descriptions. Then, track your orders. Don't trust any company that won't provide tracking information.
If you need to file a complaint, do so with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and use the FTC site to start reclaiming your identity if involved with identity theft.
Stay safe, and happy holidays!
