Online Shopping: How to Ensure Secure Payments

Nowadays, online shopping is the most popular way to get what you want when you want and delivered to your door in a few days. Still, buying on e-commerce platforms can also threaten your bank account if you introduce your sensitive information to sketchy websites. So, it’s crucial to ensure you buy only from trustworthy e-shops and take all the prevention measures to ensure no one gets access to your money. In this article, you can find some effective recommendations on how to pay securely online:

Pay with Crypto

Cryptocurrencies are the future of online transactions, surpassing any traditional payment method. If you are already a crypto enthusiast, the good news is that you can finally start using the coins from your digital wallet because more and more companies worldwide are adopting this new payment method. Cryptocurrencies were created to make payments anonymously, so understandably, they boast a high-security level characteristic. This happens because blockchain, the underlying technology, is decentralized, hence personal information is not required, making the transactions anonymous.

Moreover, many people don’t have access to banks or just avoid them, but crypto is accessible to anyone with internet access. If you want to use this payment method to secure your online purchases, you must look for websites that accept the cryptocurrencies you want to use. Suppose you are still not sure about your purchase on an online store that accepts XRP, leave your products in your cart for a few more days and conduct research on xrp price prediction to figure out the best time to shop, according to its price evolution.

Identify potential frauds

You can easily get fascinated by a life-changing product you see while scrolling on social media, but how do you know it’s not a scam? Humans are naturally naïve, and scammers know our weaknesses so well that they take every chance to steal from us. Hence, you might find yourself in the situation of introducing your sensitive data on sketchy websites and become the victim of fraud. So, to make sure you visit only trustworthy sources, you should take a closer look at the website structure to identify the warning signs of a possible data breach, or you can make a wise choice and pay with crypto to remain anonymous.

For instance, you can receive emails from unknown sources tricking you to believe that you could benefit from discounts and offers and containing malevolent links that lead you to a website designed to steal your information. Also, you should pay extra attention to the structure of messages you receive after making an online payment and alert your bank for any suspicious activity. That’s why you should make sure that the website you want to purchase from has a strong security level, requiring prevention measures like a one-time password, two-factor authentication to log in, and personal information encryption.

Encrypt your sensitive data.

Data encryption is a complex mathematical algorithm that refers to hiding your information from malicious individuals who want to steal your data. This method is a priority for people who know about the dangers of the internet and care about cybersecurity. Encryption is something that anyone can use; you don’t have to be an FBI agent to learn to protect your information. You can encrypt your information and devices yourself or seek professional help to make sure you don’t miss a step.

Moreover, you can also protect specific files or just use this technique to make sure you remain incognito on every website when purchasing products online. Still, you can find apps, software, USBs, and other tech gadgets that are already encrypted; you just need to conduct some research to find out the best options for you.

Integrate payment verification

To safeguard online transactions from fraud, banks ask you to confirm your identity in your banking app whenever there is a financial activity. Payment verification is crucial for any online shopping lover and trustworthy websites to ensure they are not the victim of cybercriminals. So, if you don’t know how to activate it, consider contacting your bank. There are three types of verification:

• Card Verification Value (CVV): it’s a three or four-digit code you can find on the back of your card required during online transactions
• Two-factor authentication: when you insert your card information, you will receive a one-time code you should provide in addition to your credentials
• Address verification system (AVS): the billing address is compared to the address given to the user’s bank to help the system identify any discrepancies that could alert fraud.

Monitor your banking app.

With today’s technology, you can resume your whole life on your smartphone, including your money. Every bank provides a mobile app to make your life easier and help you track your financial status and activity without going to the bank every week. Still, even when you think you have everything under control, you might be surprised by suspicious activity on your account after an online payment.

So, it’s essential to monitor your banking app frequently to identify suspicious activity and alert your bank to inform them that you might be the victim of fraud. Ensure that after your purchase, the right amount of money is taken from your account and there are no following transactions.  

Secure Online Payments: Tips for Safe Shopping

 You might think, “It can’t happen to me.” Well, the bad news is that it can, but the good news is that you can prevent it if you pay attention to the aspects we presented in this article. Online shopping is fun, but you should be aware that malevolent individuals are waiting for a simple mistake from you to get your money. So, security should be your top priority whenever you use your cards to purchase online, or you can always opt for e-shops that accept crypto payments to remain incognito while enjoying your shopping spree.