Online Shopping: Tips For Buying Safely On The Internet

Online shopping has become widespread, driven by the booming e-commerce sector. While it offers convenience, consumers must be vigilant against criminal activities. Protecting personal data, upholding consumer rights, and ensuring secure transaction networks are vital. By being cautious and proactive, users can safeguard themselves from potential risks and enjoy a safe and fulfilling online shopping experience.

Purchasing safely online is important to save your confidential information and financial details and provide a positive shopping experience.

These tips include the necessary guidelines to make safe purchases on the Internet:

First of all… secure your networks

The previous step to any online purchase is ensuring that the device used is properly configured and protected to avoid a possible malware infection. Installing an antivirus tool to detect potential threats is essential when a transaction occurs.

Also, check that the operating system is updated with the latest version and all installed programs and applications. In this way, security flaws are avoided. Keep only the applications you are using on your mobile since the greater the number of apps installed, the more difficult it will be to keep the device updated and protected.

Lastly, it is recommended not to use devices for public use to carry out transactions since it is not precisely known what their security status is or the purpose of their service.

Make your purchases on trusted websites

To verify that an online store has a security certificate, check that the URL begins with HTTPS and that a padlock icon appears. By clicking on the icon, you will have all the information related to the website’s digital certificate. It is not recommended to continue with the purchase process if the website lacks a security certificate since it does not meet the minimum recommended requirements.

As for mobile applications, a reliable application reports on the security mechanisms it uses to protect information and personal data in the purchase process. Conveniently, you review what the app requests and why. User reviews and the number of downloads are data to take into account: a malicious app will not have many downloads. Also, reading the privacy, payment, and security policy can help us distinguish a secure application from one that is not.

Learn to recognize a fake store

Although it is advisable to make purchases on official or reputable websites, it is important to distinguish when a store is fake. These fraudulent businesses do not contain the biological and physical data of the company on their website. Nor are the conditions of sale, returns or claims, or legal texts displayed. It should also be suspected when prices are well below the market price.

In terms of visual style, fake online stores are not heterogeneous and lack optical coherence. The images it contains are of poor quality (they appear pixelated or include watermarks), and the cover photo is not its own. However, the foolproof method to recognize a fake store is if the website advertises various forms of payment but ultimately only accepts cards.

Eye! When buying second-hand products

In recent years, new online services have appeared that act as intermediaries between the buyer and the seller of second-hand items. This service consists of a publication where the seller describes the product’s characteristics, the price, and the contact… But these services are not exempt from fraud.

Before buying second-hand items online, ensure you get the seller’s information, investigate it, and read reviews, comments, and ratings… Discard ads with generic photos of the product or whose wording is not careful. Finally, avoid paying with services such as Western Union or MoneyGram when buying products from abroad.

In summary, prepare your devices before making a purchase, check that the store provides you with all the information you need about consumption and data processing, and do not trust flashy offers and non-homogeneous web pages.

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