Online Shopping: Tips on how to stay safe while shopping online

Shopping online is so popular it’s now becoming the new  way for people to purchase goods, but with great popularity comes great risk and  opportunity for hackers and scammers to strike. To ensure you and your money stay safe when online here is a complete guide.

With Cyber Monday, Black Friday, and Christmas, the movement to online shopping has ramped up as consumers head online to beat crowds and snatch a bargain.

Last year, statistics revealed that Cyber Monday  brought in £968m in sales, which was over 30% more than 2014 and significantly over then the projected estimates.

New research by Financial Fraud Action UK found a potential 15 million shoppers could be at risk as a survey showed the promise of online bargains is causing  people to dangers on the web.

With so much at stake, these are the steps you should take right now.

      -Update Your Device

Before taking to the bargain-filled internet realm, make sure your devices are updated.
  These vulnerability patches and bug fixes often include vital protection against malware, spyware, and viruses.

This applies to desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and mobiles – if you surf the web on a device that is not upgraded you will inevitably be at risk of cyber attack and fraud.

  -Use Strong And  Original  Passwords

It’s Very vital to only use strong and unique passwords on any website you are shopping on.

They should be at least a dozen characters and contain a mixture of letters, symbols, and numbers.

Do not re-use credentials from another service such as online banking or social media – if one gets compromised or stolen by a hacker all your accounts will be at risk.

  Additionally, if you are using your personal email to sign into websites, make sure to turn on two-step authentication to add an extra layer of security.

- Only Use Secure Websites

Never shop on third-party websites that lack encrypted checkouts.
   Make sure, when possible, to always type the web address into the browser as online search engines can sometimes be manipulated by advertising or may direct you to fake sites managed by cyber criminals.

“When it comes to online shopping, make sure you use a site that is security-enabled,” said Robert Capps, vice president of business development at Nu Data Security. “The URL will contain https:// or a closed padlock on your web browser’s address bar.

Yes, that website you’ve never heard of may be offering some super dirt-cheap bargains, but remember the old adage – if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.”