With shopping online the first port of call for buying anything big or small, in today’s climate you need to be aware of data breaches and your security online.

Today, unfortunately, data security breaches are rife, with the average breach costing US companies around $5 million. As a consumer, you risk your personal details including your name, email address, password and card details being in the hands of the wrong people.

This article will outline some top tips for how to keep your data secure when online shopping.

Avoid Using Public Wifi

If you are making an online purchase, it is important that you do so within a private wifi network. This is because public wifi networks, such as in cafes or shopping malls, are vulnerable to cybercriminals who can then hack into your browsing history and private accounts.

Further, shopping online in a public wifi network means that your card details are also at risk. As such, it is always much safer to use a secure wifi connection in the privacy of your own home.

If you do need to make an online purchase when you are on the go, then use a VPN or your mobile data instead.

Check and Update Passwords Regularly

It is really important to ensure that your passwords are hard to guess. This includes using a strong accumulation of numbers, letters and characters.

No one password should be used across multiple accounts. This is because if one account is hacked, then the rest could also be hacked too.

If you are using a laptop or mobile device to online shop, then it is worth getting Password Manager software. This helps to create a unique and strong password for each account that you may have, and stores them securely to prevent you from forgetting them.

Be Aware of Email Scams

Email scams can be incredibly difficult to detect and with hacks on the rise, it is important that you are extremely vigilant when checking your inbox, especially in terms of online shopping communication.

Emails are likely to be deemed fraudulent if they are spelled wrong or come from an unknown address. It is important that if you receive an email like this, you do not click on or open any of the links inside the email as these are likely to contain a virus.

Regularly Update Your Devices and Software

Devices, including mobiles, computers and laptops should be regularly updated to operate with the most recent systems. This is because these systems should protect against any malware threats, as cybercriminals typically target weak systems.

Do Not Give Out Too Much Information

It is important that you only provide a website with necessary details when shopping or opening up an online account with them. This typically includes information like your mobile number, email address and home address. If a website is asking obscure questions such as your tax number, then it is important to get into contact with them to find out why. This is because a fraudulent website could use this personal information to pretend that they are you.

Only Pay Using Trusted Methods

An official online store or retail outlet should never ask you to pay for your goods or services obscurely, such as writing a check. Instead, typical payment methods include paying by card or through a trusted payment system such as PayPal. If they ask for unusual methods then it is likely that the site is fraudulent and you should not make any purchases from them.

Regularly Check Your Payment Statements

It is important to take out some time each month to check your statements. This is because some cybercriminals may target your account with smaller, more regular payments that may be initially easy to miss.