10 essential tips for safe online shopping

As more shoppers have gravitated towards online shopping, so too have fraudsters. In just the U.S., the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, received more than 800,000 cybercrime complaints from the American public in 2022 with potential losses of USD 10.2 billion – up 48 percent on the previous year.

For consumers who are new to e-commerce, it can be difficult to know the best practices that can help them shop safely online. It’s a problem for retailers too. Traditional bricks-and-mortar stores have been forced to adopt online business models. Many have little or no experience maintaining a digital presence, which in turn creates a fertile feeding ground for online scammers looking to separate unsuspecting shoppers from their money.

“Whether you are new to online shopping, or a seasoned professional, it is worth reviewing best practices for safe shopping to avoid some of the common threats that are targeting consumers today,” says Paige Adams, Chief Information Security Officer at Zurich Insurance Group.

Here are 10 essential tips for safe shopping online:

1. Update your antivirus

Security threats are constantly evolving. Every day scammers are finding new ways to exploit weaknesses in our systems. From operating systems to anti-virus products, it’s vital that you keep your software up to date so that you can protect your information from the latest threats.

2. Shop with familiar sites

Whether you’re on the hunt for a bargain or trying to secure this year’s must-have gift, it can be tempting to turn to search engines to find the best deals. However, this can open you up to risk by exposing you to fake sites that fraudsters use to trick shoppers into falling for their scams. These fakes can be very sophisticated clones that appear almost identical to real sites. As a result, it’s best to shop directly from familiar brands whose websites you can trust, rather than searching out items from across the web.

3. Make sure it’s authentic

Before entering any personal information into a website, you should always check that the site is safe and secure. First, make sure the website starts with “https” and contains the padlock symbol to indicate that you are sharing your information on a secure site. Secondly, use third parties such as TRUSTe, VeriSign or Better Business Bureau Online to verify a website’s authenticity.

4. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is

Major retailers often promote incredible deals to entice you into their stores and onto their websites, especially during the busy holiday shopping season. Unfortunately, cybercriminals know this too and as a result they will attempt to take advantage as you scour the web for the best bargains.

A good piece of advice is to use your common sense. For example, if that incredible 50-inch Ultra HD TV that was going to cost you thousands, suddenly crops up for a few hundred – then it should start to ring a few alarm bells. As tempting as it is to click on that “buy” button, take a step back and do a little research. Dig into the company’s reviews or look up the company on the Better Business Bureau website, to make sure that it’s not a scam.

5. Steer clear of phishing scams

Phishing is one of the most popular techniques that fraudsters use to attempt to steal your personal information. Often taking the form of emails offering cash prizes or rock bottom prices, they are designed to dupe you into revealing your private information.

There is always a significant increase in this kind of scam during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, particularly on social media such as Facebook and Instagram where criminals target would-be bargain hunters with malicious links to fraudulent websites.

6. Use your credit card

Wherever possible it’s always best to use your credit card when making online purchases, particularly if you’re not 100 percent certain about the authenticity of the virtual store you are buying from. Unlike debit cards, most major credit cards offer payment protection, which means that you will face zero liability in the event of a fraudulent transaction.

7. Pick strong passwords

Ensure you have a strong password, or a passphrase, set up on all your accounts (and do not repeat them across sites). Include upper- and lower-case letters and a combination of numbers and symbols or special characters (e.g., @). And make them at least 12 characters in length.

8. Enable multifactor authentication

Multifactor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts. Instead of just relying on a password, MFA requires you to provide additional proof of your identity (e.g., face recognition, or a one-time code from an authenticator app) before granting you access. MFA makes it much harder for unauthorized users to access your account, helping enhance its security and protecting your personal information from unauthorized access.

9. Avoid public WiFi

In theory, you can make your online purchases from anywhere in the world. In practice, it’s best to do your online shopping at home. Why? Because shared computers and public WiFi networks open you up to digital snoopers who can steal valuable data such as passwords, credit card details and personal information.

10. Use a VPN

If you do use public WiFi, protect yourself with a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs create an encrypted tunnel between your device and the server, which hides your location and makes it look like you are somewhere other than your actual location.

Cybercriminals won’t be able to see what you are doing or seize your personal information. A VPN is the only way to shop online safely from public Wi-Fi public spaces such as cafes and airports.