1. Use well-known merchants
1. Use well-known merchants
Amazon.com, Target/com, Best Buy.com, Walmart.com, Macys.com, Home Depot.com, Lowes.com are a few reliable online retailers. Be careful of misspellings or sites using a different domain (for example .net instead of .com.). A red flag are sites and apps that only accept money orders, wire transfers, or checks.
2. Look for secure sites
Well-known merchants use secure Internet connections. These sites use SSL (Secure Socket Layer) that encrypt data (“https:\” in the address bar). Never buy anything online using your credit card from a site that doesn’t have SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption installed. You’ll know if the site has SSL because the URL for the site will start with HTTPS—instead of just HTTP.
3. Sites asking personal info – red flag
No sites need your Social Security number or your birthdate. The more scammers know, the easier it is to steal your identity. Always default to giving up as little information as possible. Ignore emails or texts that claim to be from a retailer (or your bank or Internet Service Provider). They look legit, but if they ask you to confirm your financial or personal details, they’re fake. They’re trying to lure you to click a link in the email, which takes you to an authentic-looking website, and fool you into typing in information.
4. Examine statements regularly
Don’t wait for your bill. Go online and look at electronic statements for your credit card, debit card, and checking accounts. Look for any fraudulent charges. Buy online with a credit card only. Never use a debit card. If compromised, scammers have direct access to your bank funds. If you get scammed with a credit card, you are only responsible for $50 of charges you didn’t authorize.
5. Computer safety
Antivirus programs are mandatory for computer safety. Protect against malware with regular updates to your anti malware program. Your anti virus program must also fight spam, spear-phishing, emails, and phishing attacks.
6. Wi-Fi networks
Shopping via a public hotspot, stick to known networks, such as Starbucks stores (if they ever open again). When on these networks, keep your anti virus up to date, turn Wi-Fi off when not in use and absolutely TURN-OFF File Sharing and Airdrop Options.
7. Establish formidable passwords
It’s never more important than when banking and shopping online. The culture is changing that we are in the mists of creating new accounts on all sorts of e-commerce sites. Your perfect password isn’t absolute. A password manager, to create uncrackable passwords is one way to go. There are free password programs like Dashlane, Free password to keep track of passwords and enter them. Strong password are at least seven characters long, with a combination of letters, numbers and symbols, also uppercase characters. Change passwords routinely. I change every credit card, retail, and financial password once a year.
8. Think mobile
Shopping on a mobile device (smart phone) online is safe, only if using the apps provided directly by the retailers, like Amazon, Target, Walmart, McDonalds, etc. Use the apps to shop and then make the purchase directly, without going to the store or the website.
9. Avoid the card, use the smartphone
Paying for items, using your smartphone in brick-and-mortar stores, is more secure than using your credit card when using a mobile payment app like Apple Pay or Google Pay Plus. No one can scam your smart phone payment, as of today.
10. Common sense
You need to use common sense and follow above suggestions to shop with confidence as you check off items on that shopping list. We are heading into an online culture and the computer will be the method of communication with the outside world. It is just another cultural change as the automobile, washing machine and telephone was to past generations.
Computer Questions: Contact Senior Geek, 600 Borders Ave (God’s Helping Hand Building), Eufaula; Cell 925-639-6266; Email: howard@snrgeek.com.