Online Security
More people than ever are now shopping online and consumers are naturally concerned about computer viruses, malicious software and attempted hacking into their personal details. Online fraud is a very real threat and people are increasingly worried about identity theft. IMRG, the industry body that represents e-commerce businesses, expects that online spending in the current year will be up more than 15% on last year. If you follow some simple tips you should be able to protect yourself when making online purchases.
Protect Yourself
You can protect your computer from viruses and hackers by taking these precautions:
- check that your antivirus software is up to date;
- choose a recommended firewall which will control the programs that can access your computer;
- up-date the software on your computer and install any new security patches;
- ensure that all wireless internet connections are password protected.
There are a few free basic downloads available online but you may wish to up-grade for a more comprehensive protection. Take a look at AVG anti-virus protection, ZoneAlarm firewall and spy blocker and Avast! malware protection and anti-spyware detection for a free 60-day trial.
Secure Sites
You shouldn't enter credit or debit card information on a payment page unless you are sure that the page is secure. A secure page will guarantee that any payment details are fully encrypted before being sent to the retailer.
There are a number of things you can check to ensure that the web page you are using is secure. On older browsers, such as Internet Explorer, you should look for a locked padlock symbol and Netscape Navigator will show you an unbroken key at the bottom of the browser bar. Newer internet browsers, such as Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox 3 will clearly show you when you are on a secure page.
During any secure passage of encrypted data you will see the http:// of the url in the address bar turn to https://. The addition of the 's' signifies that a secure protocol is being used.
Credit Card Safety
Some sites will ask you for the three numbers from the signature strip on the back of your card. This is the CVC - card verification code. It is an extra level of security and confirms that you have the credit card in your possession. No one else will be able to use your card number on a site which requires these three extra digits for processing payment.
Credit cards are useful for buying online. The transaction is fast and avoids the hassles of using cheques and delaying product deliveries. Take confidence from other signs of security which may be provided on websites such as the Verisign or Safebuy SSL Certificate schemes which assure online consumers that e-commerce sites are safe and trustworthy.
Once you have made a credit card transaction you will usually be given some sort of ID or order reference number with a message that your transaction has been safely processed. You will also usually receive an email from the seller, after your transaction has been processed, to confirm the details of your transaction. Remember to log out at the end of your transaction and always check your credit card statements carefully to confirm that you did make the purchases listed.
Don't send your credit or debit card information via email or use it as proof of identity, don't reveal you credit card number, CVC number or expiry date to anyone in person unless paying for an item by phone and don't ever reveal your pin number to anyone as it is not required for online purchases.
Do keep a separate low limit credit card for online purchases only; this will give you additional peace of mind, you will be able to keep an eye on your spending and spot any unusual or fraudulent payments.
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