How to Securely Shop Online: Tips to Protect Yourself
Cybercrime is a growing problem. It's a major problem in the U.S. alone, nearly half a million cases are filed every year according to the FBI, and it's not even what's published. Here's how to stay safe and not become one of the statistics.
Only Shop on Sites Using HTTPS Let's begin with the most basic advice: only buy from websites that offer HTTPS encryption. If the website is running HTTP all data transmitted via the connection, which includes passwords and payment information are not encrypted, meaning that it could be read by anyone with basic cybercrime knowledge. Remember that even though an encrypted network (HTTPS) is certainly superior to HTTP it doesn't mean it's safe. It doesn't mean the website is safe.
Be Careful Who You Shop with While cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated, you can usually identify a fake site quickly. Here are some warning signs to look out for: