Online shopping has put the world at our fingertips. From groceries to gadgets and everything in-between, we’re able to get whatever we want and need at the click of a button.
While online shopping is super-convenient, it’s important to make sure that you don’t leave yourself and your personal data vulnerable to hackers, cyber-attacks, or third parties who may be able to view and misuse it.
Keep your privacy secured by following these 5 tips for smart online shopping in 2021.
Make Sure You’re Shopping on a Secure Site
Before you checkout and enter all your financial details, make sure you’re doing so on a secure server. Secure eCommerce sites will employ SSL technology at checkout to keep your data protected. You can tell whether a site is using SSL technology by looking for a little lock icon on the side of the web address bar in your browser.
Use a VPN When You Shop to Ensure Your Security
Before you open a shopping site, connect to a VPN to make sure that your identity is masked, thus ensuring your privacy. A VPN download allows you to connect with the VPN server location of your choice, which will mask your IP address and encrypt any personal data you share while shopping.
Make Price Comparisons
Don’t just jump at the first good deal you find. There’s a chance that another site may have an even better offer. Use a price comparison app to search for the product you want to buy and make sure that you’re always getting it for the best price.
Read Authentic Product Reviews
You should always check out the reviews before you make a purchase online, and you should always make sure that the reviews you’re reading are authentic. Look for reviews written by verified buyers, and be wary of products that have tons of great ratings but barely any written reviews – these ratings can be created by bots, possibly leading you to a scam.
Look for Coupons and Discounts
A lot of products and shopping sites have offers that they don’t put in the spotlight for you to see – you might have to dig a little bit to find them. Look around the site you’re shopping on and check the product and website both on Google to see if there are some offers you may have otherwise missed out on.
Follow the tips above and share them with your family and friends to ensure that you stay safe and smart while shopping online in 2021.
