Secure Your Online Shopping Experience: Top Tips to Protect Your Privacy

Online shopping privacy has always been of utmost concern for shoppers and everyone who enjoys browsing online stores in their homes. How often have you seen a targeted ad about the new T-shirt you mentioned to your friend a few minutes earlier? And how many times you saw an ad on your Instagram about the same sunglasses you just searched on Google when you do your online shopping?

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Our digital footprint has been collected by search engines and online shopping websites for third-party use. If we’re lucky, there are little chance of encountering an online scam or identity theft. But we all know that our data has been compromised, and our online privacy has been violated.

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Does anyone want to give up the joy of online shopping? Absolutely not, but how to keep our information safe? And how to protect our privacy in this digital age? There are no ultimate answers or solutions for this matter. However, we do have some advice on simple ways for you to protect your online shopping privacy.

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1.Beware of using a public Wifi

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Many risks are associated with using a public Wifi, especially with its lack of security. Malware, virus attacks, or even hackers can use this public network to access your data. Don’t use important and sensitive information such as credit cards or bank accounts to stay safe when using public Wifi. Even if you are rushing for a payment with your online shopping, try not to use public Wifi as much as possible. Only access “https” websites, which are encrypted with an extra layer of security.

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Turn off file sharing so that your folders are not accessible to anyone who connect to that public network. Use two-factor authentication and keep your device’s security software up to date.

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2. Secure your online payments

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When it comes to personal and financial information, it is always necessary to take extra caution, especially when handling payments while shopping online. The same advice for using public Wifi to ensure your online shopping privacy: use a secure website with double authentication and up-to-date security software.

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In addition, a trusted payment method, such as PayPal, credit cards, and services that offer online protection, should never be overlooked. Finally, remember not to save your payment information and monitor your accounts on all online shopping stores you frequently visit to keep track of all the changes.

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3. Be cautious with online links

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A general rule of thumb: don’t click on suspicious links online, especially those from an unknown text message or unsolicited email address. Scammers can often send phishing emails and texts that look like those from reputable retailers when you shop online, so double-check and pay attention to every detail.

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Online shopping scams are usually tricky to spot, and they can lead to undesired consequences and financial losses. Therefore, one should be wary of online shopping offers or deals that seem too good to be true, such as half-priced luxury items or discount codes from nowhere.

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4. Log off after shopping online

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How often do you close a tab immediately after making a payment on your favourite online store? One simple act of logging off from your online shopping accounts can be the best way to protect yourself from online risks and keep your online shopping journey private. It helps protect your personal information, keeps your browsing history safe, and prevents anyone from accessing your account to make unauthorised payments. By logging off, you can avoid identity theft and online fraud.

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5. Use a VPN

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Virtual Private Network (VPN) creates an encrypted and secure connection between your device and the Internet. This technology makes your internet activity appear to be at a different location from where you are by routing your connection through a different server. While using a VPN, you can browse the Internet and shop online with better security and privacy since it is difficult for websites, advertisers, or anyone to view and track your online shopping activity. You should also use a VPN to avoid security threats while connecting to public Wifi, especially if you want to fully enjoy your online shopping experience and privacy

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Remember that there’s not only one step to keep you safe from privacy violations and online security risks, but you should be mindful while shopping online and stick to the advice above. A small, simple action can help create a private and secure connection for the best online shopping experience.