Shopping Safe Online

Online, it's a little trickier to spot a fake store than it is in person. There aren't any damaged windows, skewed sale signs hanging, or unsettling door greeters. There are signs you can search for to determine if you're purchasing from a risky online store even if most of us can recognize a dubious store. You need to know how to ensure that your online shopping is secure whether you're using little web shops, huge brand sites, or anything in between.

• To the left of the URL in the address bar, is a tiny padlock symbol. The security of the website's data is indicated by a locked padlock. The data on the website is not safe if the padlock is unlocked or if it is missing. No purchases should be made from websites without a locked padlock.
• Typos or errors in the address bar. This usually happens when cyber thieves create spoofed websites of popular brands. Though they might seem similar, websites like nika.com or go0gle.ca are not what they seem to be.
• The store’s privacy and return policies should be clearly presented.  Legitimate stores should have these clearly displayed somewhere on their site.
• Oddly priced items are a sign that the website is unsafe to purchase from. Those $1,600  headphones on sale for $100 are definitely too good to be true.
• Blurry images and logos or typos in text anywhere on the site could be a sign that it’s fraudulent. These might just be errors on a smaller website, but they could be signs of something is not quite right.

If you make note of any of these items it's better to be safe than sorry.  Don't purchase anything just in case!

Even if you're on the lookout for warning signals of dangerous online retailers, it's still a good idea to take extra precautions to safeguard your data when shopping online. Here are two strategies for protecting your online buying data.

1. Never store the details of your login or credit card on your browser. Say no if it requests that you remember your password.

2. Utilize your own personal Wi-Fi network to complete your online shopping. Because they are insecure, public Wi-Fi networks are frequently the target of online criminals. If you must make an online purchase while away from home, utilize your cellphone data or configure a VPN first before connecting to a public Wi-Fi network.

Online shopping is quite convenient, which is great for your specialized memorabilia collection but increases the risk to your cyber security. Spend a little more time searching for any warning indications that a website might be harmful if you're buying something online. If you follow the instructions above, you can shop online safely.

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