Shopping online is a very common activity today. We can use multiple services to purchase products of all kinds and from any device. However, users often make common mistakes that can affect security and privacy. We talk about it in this article. Let’s see which are the most important, in order to avoid them and not have problems.
Common mistakes when buying online
The first thing to keep in mind is that not all the web pages, programs or platforms that we use to buy are going to be safe. Many have been created simply as bait to get hold of user data. This means that we must take precautions and of course never fall into the trap.
Buy on public networks
This is an error that users often fall into. They may be in a library and make a payment. Maybe even in a mall or airport while waiting for the flight and connecting to a public Wi-Fi .
This is a mistake, since we do not really know who may be behind that network and if they have created it solely for the purpose of stealing information from those who connect. Therefore, we must avoid this type of network and, failing that, make sure that we buy through correctly encrypted services or we are using a secure VPN.
Save payment information
It is also a typical error to store payment information in the browser, whether on the mobile or computer. This could be a problem, since we can be victims of many threats such as Trojans that could collect all the data that is saved in the browser.
Our advice is not to store payment information on our systems. One more way to prevent possible attacks that could compromise our personal data. It is better to fill in the data fields each time we are going to make a payment.
Open any offer link
Without a doubt, it is a mistake that most users have made at some point. They receive a link with a supposed offer and click. This usually comes through email, social networks or even messaging programs like WhatsApp.
Hackers can use these links as bait for the victim to click and end up on a malicious website, full of malware and that could be a Phishing attack to put the keys and be stolen. Therefore, we must always make sure where we are clicking and not make these kinds of mistakes. There are always threats when shopping online that we must be aware of.
Not using safe and up-to-date equipment
Whenever we browse the Internet, we must bear in mind the importance of our equipment being properly protected and up-to-date . But this is even more important if we are going to make a payment.
Logging into a page, making a purchase or using any service where we have to put passwords and personal data can damage our security if we do not have a good antivirus and programs to protect us. But it is also essential to have the latest updates and thus be able to correct possible vulnerabilities.
Use a primary bank card
Our advice is to use virtual or rechargeable bank cards. If we use a main card, linked to our main bank account, we could be victims of any attack and compromise our money. On the other hand, if we use a card that we only recharge to buy online or virtual calls, the maximum that we can commit is the amount that we put in.
In short, these are some of the main mistakes we make when buying online. It is important that we avoid them to always keep the equipment, our personal data and any information safe when making a payment.
