Object it as much as you want, but today’s the world of Online Shopping. We spend a lot of time online when compared to the time spent on local stores and supermarkets. And, indeed, there are attractive factors – ranging from the discounts to easiness of selection and comparison. Nevertheless, at the same time, there are some people who abstain from online shopping because they think it’s not safe. Some of you may also have that doubt – is online shopping really safe. In this article, we will clear that doubt by analysing the different concepts of online shopping. We can also give you some tips to make it secure.
Before we move onto the online shopping scenario, let’s break down the local shopping concept. Given that you are using Credit Cards and Debit Cards for shopping, this is going to blow your mind.
The Thing with Stores
Suppose you are the store, to buy a multimedia suite software for your business. You go to the store, search all over for finding the exact product and pick it from the place. Then, you are at the payment station with the debit/credit cards with you. You swipe the card and provide the PIN for a seemingly-safer transaction. In seconds, you get the payment approved and have the receipt at your disposal.
By the way, do you think Internet isn’t involved there?
Well, you are pathetically wrong, because the entire transaction is relied on the web servers and internet. When you swipe the card and provide the PIN, the POS will communicate with the servers for validation and verification. And, it is not at all different than what happens in online shopping stores.
Yeah, let’s accept that. You spent a lot of time in the store — searching and finding — for the mythical concept of safety, security and privacy. In fact, you are getting the same level of security in both methods. And, what’s more, you have been completely wrong about the easiness of purchase, especially in the case of software products. Local stores have complex concepts of return and refund when it comes to software. So, this can be troublesome in the long run.
Let’s Come to Online Shopping
As you know, online shopping is entirely based on the concept of Internet and there’s nothing else involved. You can find the desired products very quickly — thanks to easier search methods and personal recommendations. Once you find it, it is just about processing the payment. Depending on your choice, the product can be delivered to your doorstep. On the other hand, if you are purchasing something digital — say, an antivirus tool or Documentation tool —, it will be delivered instantly.
Extra Readings: 5 Tips for Safe and Secure Online Shopping
Talking of the security here, it’s better than what you get at local stores. You have to provide the debit card, credit card or internet banking details, but all these are seen by you only. So, don’t think of anyone standing behind you and reading all the PINs from your finger movements. And, in case if you are wondering, online stores use the top-level encryption to stay secure from hackers. So, the information you provide will be communicated with the banking servers only. And, there is nothing a hacker can do about it.
In short, when you choose online shopping than the local store shopping, you actually get better safety. You don’t have to keep the card in hand or visit the store. With an internet-connected computer or smartphone, you can purchase every single product you want. And, if you don’t want to pay online, you can even opt in for Cash on Delivery and get rid of the payment gateways.
Don’t you think that was really safe? And, there are many ways to make it safer.
How to Make Online Shopping Safer?
Yeah, if you follow these tips, you can have a safer online shopping experience ahead. There are both automated & manual methods to use. Regardless the ones you use; it will help you a lot.
- First of all, you need to make sure that there is no malware in your computer. If there are malware such as spyware and adware, your details may be exposed to threats. The best way to get rid of malware is to get an antivirus tool or a dedicated anti-malware scanner. These will surely help you stay secure.
- Instead of typing your payment credentials every time, you can use an automated solution. As you may know, a lot of antivirus tools come with password manager and confidential data manager. That is, you can store debit or credit card details in a safe interface and it will fill the corresponding spaces when you need to process payment.
- Purchase from the sites that you really stuff. As you might know, there are many online shopping that sell you nothing but fraud. So, before you hit the Check Out button and pay, be sure about the authenticity of the site. If you come across something wrong, there’s no going back. So, as we always say, it’s good to take precautions.
- HTTPS or Nothing: This is something important when you are browsing. Before you make the purchase, you must be on an HTTPS page.
Let’s Sum Up
So, it should be pretty clear that online shopping is really safe. In fact, it’s much secure when compared to the offline store methods of credit cards and verification. At the same time, there are digital threats and developers are trying to stay as secure as possible. We have also shared some tips to stay extra secure while shopping online. So, if these things are fine for you, you can definitely give a try to online shopping, even without an antivirus suite.
