Buying online is something that is present in the daily lives of users. There are many services and platforms that we can use. However, not all of them are safe and our data is not always safe. It is important to take preventive measures so as not to make mistakes that could compromise us. In this article we talk about how to buy online safely, what we must take into account to know if a site is reliable or what scams we can suffer.
Electronic commerce is increasingly used
E-commerce today has a very important weight in all types of businesses. We can buy any product through the network, hire any service or sell items that we no longer need. It is very accessible to anyone, since there are multiple platforms and services.
Simply by using our mobile or computer we can access a wide range of possibilities to buy online . There are countless pages for all types of products and we will simply have to find the item we need.
The problem is that security is not always present. There are many problems that can arise if we do not take adequate measures to avoid them. There are different types of scams that could steal information, tricks so that users buy a product that does not adapt to what it should and problems when making transactions that can put our money at risk.
How to shop safely
In order to be able to buy online safely, it is very important that we take into account certain factors. Any mistake we make could lead to the theft of information, bank details or compromise our privacy in some way.
Use a secure connection
Certainly one essential thing is to use a connection that is secure. A typical mistake is to buy something online through a public Wi-Fi network. We do not really know who may be behind it, if it is some bait to steal information or if there are even hackers who could access the traffic.
Therefore our advice is to avoid networks that we consider unsafe. For example a Wi-Fi in an airport, shopping center or on the street. In case we do not have a reliable wireless network, whenever we can it is better to connect through the mobile network.
We can also apply this to any access to services or platforms. That is, not only when making the payment, but to enter with our username and password.
Use up-to-date equipment
We must also take into account the importance of always having the latest versions . Sometimes vulnerabilities emerge that can be exploited by hackers to exploit them to collect data or infect computers.
It is the developers and manufacturers themselves who release security updates. We must always have these patches installed regardless of the type of equipment or operating system that we are using.
In this way we will increase security when we go to make an online purchase. We will be using an updated and secure system, applications and tools that do not have vulnerabilities.
Have security tools
Having security software is vital to protect ourselves. This is something that we must apply to all types of operating systems or devices. A good antivirus can prevent the entry of malware that could compromise us.
There are many programs that we can use, since it is not just an antivirus. We can make use of anti spyware tools, anti keyloggers, browser extensions … All of this helps to protect us when we are going to carry out a transaction over the Internet.
Secure payment methods
This is a very important point. When buying online, we must use payment methods that are safe, that guarantee that our money is safe if there is a problem.
In this sense we have different options. It is highly advisable to pay by bank card and use platforms such as PayPal that support our money. In this way we have greater protection.
Additionally and to further increase our protection, we can use virtual cards. They are basically bank cards that we only use to buy online or even just for that specific transaction. Thus we do not expose so much data.
Buy from official sites and platforms
Of course we must always buy from pages and platforms that are official . It is true that sometimes we can find applications and sites that offer different additional functions, which may have their own characteristics. But this could be a problem for our security.
Ideally, whenever we are going to make any payment we do it from the official applications or pages. Whenever we have to install a program, we must also download it from legitimate sources, to avoid adding software that may have been maliciously modified by third parties.
How to know if a site is reliable to buy
Following the thread of what we were saying, it is important to know if that site or platform that we are using is really reliable and safe. Keep in mind that a fraudulent site, which is designed to scam, is not the same as another that is legitimate but has flaws that also expose our security.
See if it’s HTTPS
Something that we must see whenever we are going to make a payment through a web page is if the site is encrypted. We can see if it is HTTPS and even modern browsers usually put the padlock icon to tell us that it is encrypted.
It is very important that we do not carry out any transactions on HTTP sites, which are not encrypted. If we do this, anyone could access the data we are sending and thus compromise the payment.
Analyze the general appearance
It is also very important to analyze the appearance of that site . Does it inspire us with confidence? Do we see something strange that makes us suspicious? It is essential that the content that we are going to buy is adapted to that site, that we have not come through third-party links that may be false, etc.
Sometimes simply by observing how the page is, what content it has, we can find out if it really is legit or not.
See information and details
Does it offer information related to the company, with who are behind that business? Web pages, at least most, show information about who is behind the site , company data, etc.
If we are going to buy on a website that does not indicate anything, that everything is confusing and where, in addition, the payment methods are not considered as safe, we may find ourselves facing a scam.
Search the Internet
We always have the possibility to do a Google search and see comments from an online store, see if other customers have done well or have had some kind of problem. This can help you avoid problems.
There are also forums related to the theme of that website where we can see opinions and possible negative aspects.
Preventive tips after buying
In addition to everything we have mentioned, it is interesting to take into account some preventive tips for once we have made the purchase. The objective is not to compromise our data and to be alert to possible problems.
Check accounts frequently
A first step is to frequently check our bank accounts and the cards with which we make payments. It is a preventive way of ensuring that there is nothing strange, that we have not been charged more money from the account or that there are no payments that we have not made.
Do not save payment details
Another interesting issue is not saving payment data in the browser. When we are going to make a purchase and pay with the card or platforms such as PayPal, it is possible that we can save the data for a future purchase.
Our advice is not to store that information. Although on paper that information will be safe in the browser, in the future there could be a vulnerability or suffer some type of attack that exposes all this data.
Save emails or receipts
It is always a good idea to keep all emails, receipts or invoices for the products purchased. Thus, if there is a problem, we will have something to complain about. It is essential for returns and also in case we suffer a scam.
Frequent scams when buying online
Not all Internet pages or platforms are secure, far from it. We can be victims of scams that can compromise our data and expose the information on the network.
Misleading offers
One of the most common scams is deceptive offers . Basically we receive an email, a message through social networks or instant messaging platforms where we see a very cheap product.
However, once we enter that offer, we verify that this is not the case or that even where we have arrived is a fraudulent page , an insecure business and where our team can take risks.
This makes it very important to detect pages that may be a hazard. It is essential to take a good look at the general appearance of that site.
Malicious links
In the same way, we can come across malicious links . It could be behind a Phishing attack, for example. Links that are actually looking to collect user data, steal our passwords.
Fake pages
Here we can mention both fake pages as well as applications. It is common for us to come to a site that is supposedly legitimate, where we can buy products, but in reality it is a hoax. It is full of spam and is basically a scam.
Discount coupons as bait
Finally, another very common scam is that of discount coupons . We received a message through a social network or email with a supposed discount coupon. But when we enter that site or download that file, it is actually a hoax. It could be malicious software.