:: Safer Online Shopping

Being attracted by easy and convenient online shopping you might worry about security of Internet transactions. In fact an Internet buyer might have some troubles such as identity theft, or sharing his or her private information, getting a virus or even worse. If you wish to avoid problems and shop online successfully, then follow the tips given below.

Secure connections

First of all, find out whether the shop you are going to buy an item in is secure enough. How can you do that ? Make sure that the site uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). This is a special technology which encrypts credit card data you send, thus preventing your information theft. Sites which use this technology normally let their visitors know about this. Another way is to pay attention to the web address you have to send your credit card information on: if it begins with "https (rather than "http"), than the site uses SSL technology. Another technology making your connection safer is Secure Electronic Transaction.

One more way to make sure that the site uses special software is as follows: pay attention to the bottom of your screen. If you see a locked padlock or an unbroken key. there, than your connection is going to be secure.

If you still consider that paying with credit card is not secure enough, than find out whether the vendor allows you give your credit card information by phone. If there is such a possibility, than necessarily write down all the information concerning your call: the company's phone number, the date of the call and the name of the person who received your order and whom you told your credit card data.

Passwords

Never e-mail your password, as well as your credit card data. Keep in mind that your password must not be easy to guess. This means that it shouldn't imply any information known by others: your name, your pet's name, your birth date, phone number, etc. A good password should consist of at least five characters: numbers, letters or marks of punctuation. Yes, creating a difficult to guess and at the same time memorable password is not an easy matter and requires a great deal of inventiveness. But you really should make one of this kind in order to protect your data from theft.

Never e-mail your password, as well as your credit card data. Keep in mind that your password must not be easy to guess. This means that it shouldn't imply any information known by others: your name, your pet's name, your birth date, phone number, etc. A good password should consist of at least five characters: numbers, letters or marks of punctuation. Yes, creating a difficult to guess and at the same time memorable password is not an easy matter and requires a great deal of inventiveness. But you really should make one of this kind in order to protect your data from theft.

No password should be written down, especially somewhere near the computer. If you are afraid of forgetting it, encode it somehow in order to make it incomprehensible for others.

What are you going to do if someone calls you or asks for your personal information (your password, or bank account, or credit card data, or something else) by e-mail? Be very careful about such situations. For example, you can ask who you are speaking to and call back in order to find out whether such a person really works for the vendor and whether he or she has the right to call you and ask for such information. And keep in mind that the only information you must give to place an order is your password and credit card data. And nothing else!

We remind you again that no important information must be e-mailed! Beware of identity theft!

Another trouble - viruses

Keep in mind that you should never click a file ending in "exe" and attached to a commercial message, especially to an unsolicited one. Such a file, if opened might activate a virus which can damage the information you store. Another way to protect your computer is to buy and to install an anti-virus program.

As you see, online shopping can be safe, provided you take some certain measures. By following the above mentioned tips you make your online shopping as secure as usual one.

Be careful and enjoy safe shopping!