Online shopping is all the rage for most people these days. You can buy everything from groceries to alcohol, electronics, and digital content, on the web.
Whether you are paying for access to online games or cleaning supplies, you may need to add your credit card details on a website. Entering your information on any computer or smartphone, without taking the necessary precautions, is extremely risky.
Theft of credit card numbers and other payment information is rampant, with people hoping to gain access to another person’s details by snooping on digital transactions.
Below are five steps to secure your computer before adding credit card information on any website:
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1. Maintain Device Privacy
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when paying for goods or services online is entering your credit card information on a shared computer. Should you have a single shared family laptop, be sure you are careful about adding your details to that device.
Not only are you providing other people in your household with your credit card details, but you are also exposing your information in other ways. When you are the only person using a computer, you can be assured that you are not engaging in any online behavior which may lead to viruses or malware on the device.
If other people are also using this device it may lead to corruption by a virus or malware, and this could compromise your credit card information. Only use your card details to pay for online transactions if your device is entirely private.
2. Use a Secure Connection
Another area where you can expose your credit card information is through your connection to the internet. If you are sitting down at a local coffee shop, restaurant, or library, to browse the internet on their wi-fi, you are taking a significant risk with your personal information.
Public wi-fi networks are used by many people and can pose a serious security risk to your information. Hackers can gain access to the other devices connected to the network without those people realizing that someone is spying on them.
If you are planning to buy goods or services online, connect to a secure connection that is password protected. Those who rely on public or work wi-fi regularly may want to invest in a virtual private network, or VPN, to improve their connection security.
A VPN acts as a layer between your device and a public wi-fi network, ensuring that no hacker or digital snooper can access your information.
3. Investigate the Company in Question
Before completing any online transaction, research the company you are shopping with. The safest and most reliable places to enter your credit card details are major retailers, as they take precautions to ensure customer data is safe.
If you are shopping on a website such as Amazon.com, you can enter your card details at checkout on a secure computer without too much concern, however, those who want to take an extra step to protect their information can enable two-factor authorization on their account.
The e-commerce industry is home to a myriad of small businesses in nearly every sub-sector. Many people spend the bulk of their time shopping online at small online stores, not major retailers, which is why you must investigate each company before you finalize a transaction.
Assess online reviews for sites you are using, also their time in business, reputation, and other factors, before providing them with your card details. If you have any hesitation about the reputability of the company, find another place to buy the item or service you require.
4. Use Digital Wallets or Payment Portals
One of the most effective ways to protect your credit card or bank account details is by shielding them from nearly every website where you buy goods or services online.
This strategy involves the use of digital wallets such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, or payment portals such as PayPal or Skrill. You add your credit card details into the digital wallet or payment portal by setting up a secure account, which you can then access on your smartphone and/or computer.
Now that your card details are on those platforms, you should shop at online retailers that accept the digital wallet or payment portal of your choosing. If you have your card details setup with PayPal for example, you can pay for items without adding any card details on the retailers’ websites. This will also apply to other payment platforms.
The only entity with your car details in this situation is PayPal, and you would personally log into your PayPal account each time you want to finalize a transaction. There are no extra fees for using this method, which is why it is a wise choice for anyone who wants to protect their credit card information online.
5. Remain Alert for Suspicious Activity
Taking precautions is the best way to ensure that your credit card information is secure when you shop online. Even if you do take the above-mentioned steps, there is still a chance your card information could leak due a hack or spyware attack on another company. It is for this reason you must remain alert for any suspicious activity on your cards.
Visit the website of your credit card companies, log into the relevant accounts, and enable text and email alerts for all transactions, which then means that you get an alert within seconds of every credit card transaction.
If you do not recognize a transaction, call your card company immediately to have your card disabled. They will wipe the fraudulent transaction from your record, and send you a new card within one to two business days.
Stay Safe in The Digital Age
As more of our shopping transitions move from brick and mortar stores to online retailers, everyone must take precautions to keep their personal and banking information secure.
By using a private device for your transactions, installing a VPN for greater connection security, buying goods and services from reputable websites, and using digital wallets or payment portals, you can keep your credit card details away from prying eyes.
