6 Tip Aman Berbelanja di Internet

A recently discovered vulnerability could allow attackers to intercept sensitive data being transmitted between a Wi-Fi access point and a computer or mobile device, even if that data is encrypted. Time

Suka belanja online? Anda tidak sendiri.

National Retail Federation di Amerika Serikat memprediksi ritel online akan tumbuh 8% -12% di tahun 2017, sampai tiga kali lebih tinggi dari tingkat pertumbuhan total penjualan eceran.

Jelas, banyak yang menikmati keuntungan dari belanja online. Anda tidak perlu berjuang melalui lalu lintas jalan raya untuk berkendara ke mall dan berkeliling mencari tempat parkir. Toko online buka 24/7, dan anda bisa mengenakan piyama anda saat berbelanja. Sangat mudah untuk membandingkan harga antara beberapa pengecer dan membaca ulasan pelanggan dan profesional produk sebelum membeli. Pilihan produk sangat banyak, setidaknya, termasuk banyak toko dan barang-barang unik yang dijual di luar negeri. Dan, barang akan di kirim langsung ke rumah anda.

Tapi untuk berbelanja online dengan aman, dan melindungi identitas pribadi anda dari jenis berbahaya, perhatikan tips keamanan belanja online ini.

Cari gemboknya

Selalu gunakan koneksi Internet aman saat melakukan pembelian. Situs web terkemuka akan menggunakan teknologi seperti SSL (Secure Socket Layer) yang mengenkripsi data selama berkomunikasi.

Apa artinya itu bagimu? Cari gembok kecil di dalam alamat atau URL yang dimulai dengan "https" dan bukan "http" dengan "s" singkatan dari "secure". Beberapa browser akan memberi tahu anda bahwa aman untuk memberikan kartu kredit anda dengan menunjukkan anda address bar hijau, sementara yang tidak dilindungi akan di highlight dengan warna merah.

Use a secure payment method

Only shop on sites that take secure payment methods, such as credit cards and PayPal, as they likely give you buyer protection just in case there’s a dispute.

In other words, you won’t be held liable for fraudulent charges. Even before it gets to that, you might be notified by your credit card company or bank if suspicious activity is detected.

It’s always a good idea to review your account transactions online or go through monthly paper statements to see if anything looks questionable.

Beware of sites and apps that only accept money orders, wire transfers, or checks.

Look for well-known security labels such as DigiCert, VeriSign, and other seals.

Password pointers

Kim Komando tells you what to do, and what old advice to ignore, about creating passwords that will thwart hackers.

A strong password is at least seven characters long, has a combination of letters, numbers and symbols, and with some uppercase characters, too. Change passwords routinely. Or use password management apps if you’re worried you won’t remember the password.

Many opt for a passphrase instead of a password, which is typically a long sequence of strung-together words, but perhaps with a number and symbol in there, too. For example, the sentence “My dog Eddie has a birthday May 15!” could be used to create a passphrase like “Md3habM15!”

It's good to reset your shopping passwords every so often, just in case someone guesses them, or if there’s a data breach at an online retailer. And never use the same password for all online shopping sites (or other Web activities, like online banking), as once someone guesses one password, they’ll have free reign over everything else. The National Retail Federation expects online retail sales to grow between 8% and 12% in 2017.

The National Retail Federation expects online retail sales to grow between 8% and 12% in 2017. (Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Do your homework

When on marketplaces like eBay, check the seller’s reputation and read comments before buying a product to see what the experience was like for past customers. You can always ask a question of a seller and reputable ones will reply in a timely manner. Also, read the item description carefully before you buy, including where the seller is located, shipping charges, if the product is new or used, refund and return policies, and payment methods accepted.

Also, don't forget about the No. 1 tip about shopping: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Avoid unbelievably hot “deals” from unknown merchants, such as someone selling an iPhone 8 for $200.

Ignore emails or texts that claim to be from a retailer (or your bank or Internet Service Provider). These “phishing” attempts look legit, but it they ask you to confirm your financial or personal details on a website, they’re fake. They’re trying to lure you to click a link in the email, which takes you to an authentic-looking website, and fool you into typing in information.

Watch out for fake shopping apps

As we saw last year, hundreds of phony retail apps popped up in Apple’s App Store and Google Play (for Android devices), in the hopes of tricking shoppers into downloading and using them.

Similar to “phishing” emails that look like they’re from legitimate stores, these counterfeit apps — complete with an authentic-looking logo and marketing messaging — want your credit card information to steal your identity. Some have been found to contain “malware” (malicious software) that can also infect a mobile device, while others ask you to log in with Facebook credentials to lift personal data. A woman carries shopping bags.

U.S. consumers have steadily increased how much they shop on the internet. (Photo: Getty Images)

Be sure you’re downloading the legitimate app by getting it from the company’s official website or, if downloading from an app store directly, check to see it’s been around for a few years and has high ratings from many users. Never be the first to download a new shopping app.

If you’re interacting with brands on social media, make sure they’re “verified,” with the little blue checkmark by their profile, which means the company is legit.

More: Fake apps, fraud take joy out of holiday shopping

Avoid shopping on hotspots

Try not to do any online shopping when you're using a public computer (such as in an airport lounge) or when you're using a public Wi-Fi network (say, at your favorite coffee shop or in a hotel lobby). You never know if your information is being tracked and logged — so it's best to wait until you get home. Or use your smartphone as a personal hotspot, which is safer than free Wi-Fi.

Another tip is to use gift cards, like many retailers offer, as a smart way to shop without providing any financial information.

On a related note, keep your devices up to date by turning on “automatic updates.” This includes your Web browser and third-party add-ons, which could warn you if you land on suspicious websites.

Always have good anti-malware (“anti-malicious software”) installed to catch threats like viruses.