![]() | |
![]() | |
![]() |
Security Information |
|
![]() |
Top 10 tips for Safe Internet Shopping
Over £5 billion pounds was spent on online shopping in 2004. The Internet was the fastest growing retail sector last year, attracting one in four shoppers. The growth rate for the online market was 27.4 per cent, six times better than for the traditional retail market. This looks set to rise as more and more people look for more convenient ways of shopping. It's easy to search for a product and then purchase it - all at the click of a button and from the comfort of your home. You have a fun time shopping, browsing, reading and gathering information about products, and you don't have to take time out from your busy schedule to fight traffic, crowds and queues to buy the perfect gift for your recipient. But how can you ensure you are shopping safely? Brad Bagherian, Managing Director, at Elaborations Ltd, a web design company in Amersham, has put together the following tips for safe surfing: 1. Take your time Take your time when purchasing online since high pressure sales tactics, just like in the real world, often indicate possible frauds. Ensure the site is easy to use, designed well and looks professional. An amateur's site will often look cluttered. If you are in doubt, stop the transaction. You can stop the transaction anytime before pressing the Pay and / or Confirm button that sends your order off to the business. 2. Look for Contact Details You may think all online shops will have their contact details on their website. You might be surprised to find that some do not provide their details, no email address and no phone number. This is a sure red flag. Reputable online shops will always provide concise contact information, this includes a physical address and a phone number. If you are suspicious trust your gut feelings. Do not buy online if you are unsure that the shop is real. 3. Consider all costs before purchasing Shop around and compare prices before buying. When you calculate the cost of a product make sure that you take into account of the delivery charge and the VAT - these are often not included in the overall price. Also make sure what you're buying is not subject to any import restrictions. 4. Check the Returns Policy Most reputable online shops offer strong guarantees and stand behind their products. Check the Returns Policy before you proceed to the checkout. Things you should take particular note of are; what happens if the goods are damaged or faulty, who should pay the postage costs for the return of an unwanted item and how many days you have to return an unwanted item. Online shopping surpasses the physical shops in convenience, but there is a disadvantage of being unable to physically touch the products, so the greater the refund policy period the better. If there is no refund policy, the best advice is to stay away. Plus don't forget that under the Distance Selling Regulations, you do have a seven-day-cooling-off period in case you change your mind. For further information on Distance Selling Regulations see http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/ecomm.htm 5. Check Delivery Options Find out when they will be delivering and whether you can choose the delivery date and time. Make sure the address you provide for delivery will have someone available who can sign for the package when it arrives. Various delivery options may incur extra costs. For example, faster delivery, registered post and weekend delivery may cost extra. So if you don't want to be surprised when checking out, make sure you find out what their delivery terms are like. 6. Protect your Personal Information Avoid giving out personal information that is not strictly necessary for a successful purchase. Check the companies Privacy Policy (which is usually located at the bottom of the website) which tells you what they intend to do with your information. They should maintain your personal details in the strictest privacy and confidentiality according to the 1998 Data Protection Act. 7. Ensure the Transaction is Secure Check whether the website complies with the industry's security standards (SSL) which help prevent fraud and protect you by encrypting the personal information you send over the Internet during the transaction. This encryption means that a hacker will not be able to steal your credit card and personal information. You must ensure the following two measures are in place before you complete any transaction on the Internet Ensure a padlock image is present on the bottom right hand side of your browser Ensure the web address begins with "https" 8. Pay by Credit Card This will give you added protection because your credit card issuer becomes jointly responsible for the goods that you buy. So if there is a problem that the company won't resolve, the credit card company will assist you. While the problem is being investigated, you would not need to pay the credit card charge and if the company still doesn't deliver or they are a scam, you're in a much better position to claim your money back. 9. Keep a record of everything Once you have made an online purchase, you will receive an email confirmation and an order reference number. Print these out and keep a note of any reference numbers provided during the transaction. It would also be useful to print out the details of the product or service you ordered. If there was a special offer on at the time, print out the web page with the offer on it. This will include vital information such as the web address, date and time it was printed. If you can not print out the information, then save the page in a folder on your PC for reference. These may be relevant if a dispute arises. 10. Know Your Rights Online consumers have exactly the same rights as offline consumers. The goods should fit the product description and be as satisfactory as described online. If something goes wrong with your purchase, there are actions you can take with the shop, and your bank to fix the problem. For further information take a look at the Office of Fair Trading website. Brad Bagherian, Managing Director, at Elaborations Ltd comments: "As long as you have these tips in mind, you can shop on the Internet with your mind at ease. Most online shops and companies provide excellent value and discount prices because they do not have to cover the overheads of a physical business that will cost them insurance, employee pay, taxes and more. It's no surprise then that we are finding more and more businesses are taking their products and services to the web by setting up ecommerce sites." Brad Bagherian is the founder and MD of elaborations Ltd (http://www.elaborations.co.uk). elaborations is a London based Design Company specialising in website design and development, graphic design and Internet marketing.
MORE RESOURCES: Security guard shoots man at Fells Point pizza shop, police say WBAL TV Baltimore Bill in Maryland Senate would establish licensing and training standards for security guards CBS News Windows 11 bug warns Local Security Authority protection is off BleepingComputer The Case for a Security Guarantee for Ukraine Foreign Affairs Magazine Orlando OKs moratorium on new downtown nightclubs, alcohol use permit change WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando DOD Announces Additional Security Assistance for Ukraine > U.S Department of Defense TSA highlights IND's gold-standard security model with two-week ... Transportation Security Administration Security drives software purchases for half of US companies Cybersecurity Dive Waterfall Security Solutions launches WF-600 Unidirectional ... Help Net Security Commissioners Vote for IT Security Enhancements Brownwood News National Security Pay Increases in New Survey GovExec.com US Security Assistance to Somalia • Stimson Center Stimson Center Spring Cleaning of Letters of Credit as Lease Security Deposits ... Holland & Knight Six Individuals to Receive Young Professional Scholarship at the ... The University of Southern Mississippi Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a UN Security ... United States Mission to the United Nations Remarks at a UN Security Council Arria-Formula Meeting on ... United States Mission to the United Nations Fayetteville Tech will increase security after threat on social media The Fayetteville Observer Remarks by Ambassador Robert Wood at a UN Security Council ... United States Mission to the United Nations Treasurer Schroder assures public of state funding’s security Bossier Press-Tribune Online EPD: Man swings sword at hospital security guard 14 News WFIE Evansville An update on Ukraine—security, economic, and humanitarian conditions Brookings Institution Iraq and Iran sign deal to tighten border security Al Jazeera English A sustainable future and food security for all: EU countries outline ... Présidence française du Conseil de l'Union européenne 2022 IT security spending to reach nearly $300 billion by 2026 Help Net Security Zurik: NOPD investigators question Mayor Cantrell’s security team about timesheets FOX 8 Local First With unbridled attack on security chiefs, Netanyahu shows he's at ... The Times of Israel Daily Authority: Pixel's 'Acropalypse' security flaw Android Authority Council to vote on parks bond, local security Meridian Star House chairman says committee will investigate security failures of Jan. 6 to keep Capitol safe Washington Times Prince Harry sues tabloid for defamation over security story The Associated Press Israel's National Security Council issues Passover travel warnings The Jerusalem Post FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Budget Strengthens Border ... The White House Former Deputy Secretary at Department of Defense,John C. Rogers, joins HUB Security Advisory Board Yahoo Finance Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Tackle National Security ... Senator Mark Warner A New Security Category Addresses Web-borne Threats The Hacker News FACT SHEET: President Biden Signs National Security ... The White House TSA issues new cybersecurity requirements for airport and aircraft ... Transportation Security Administration Biden Administration Announces Additional Security Assistance for ... Department of Defense Microsoft Patch Tuesday, March 2023 Edition – Krebs on Security Krebs on Security CISA Regions CISA Does FedRAMP-level security make sense for your business? Wolters Kluwer Flight attack raises questions about security, mental health The Associated Press FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces National ... The White House Infinity Global Cyber Security Services Check Point Software |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
RELATED ARTICLES
40 Million People Hacked - YOU as Identity Theft Victim Saturday, MasterCard blamed a vendor of ALL credit cardproviders called CardSystems Solutions, Inc., a third-partyprocessor of payment card data, as the source of loss of 40million consumers credit card information. What to Look for before You Purchase Spyware Software Huge number of spyware software applications are available in the market, some being offered as shareware while rest as freeware. (Shareware means a software available for download / CD, and can be used for a particular length of time, usually 30 days. An Open Door To Your Home Wireless Internet Network Security? This is not some new fangled techno-speak, it is a real tool to be used for the protection of your wireless internet network and LAN. African American SMBs have to realize that if your Internet connection is on 24/7 then your network, and it is a network that your computer is connected to, is at risk. Spyware Symptoms Spyware symptoms happen when your computer gets bogged down with spyware programs running in the background without your knowledge. Spyware, adware, malware and even spamware can cause your computer to behave very strange. Secrets On Security: A Gentle Introduction To Cryptography Let us take the example of scrambling an egg. First, crack the shell, pour the contents into a bowl and beat the contents vigorously until you achieved the needed result - well, a scrambled egg. I Spy...Something Terribly Wrong (In Your Computer) This really chapped my lips.. Cybercriminals Trick: Targeted Trojan-Containing Emails Threats we ordinary Web users face online leave us no choice but learn. Haven't you noticed how many new things you learned lately? We are much better informed about malicious programs than just a year ago. The One Critical Piece Of Free Software Thats Been Overlooked Can You Prevent Spyware, Worms, Trojans, Viruses,.. Corporate Security for Your Home Business The words Corporate Security may conjure up images of a group of techies working in a wire-filled basement room of Microsoft or HP, combating hackers and terrorists online using words like algorithm and encryption. If you own your own business, do not allow yourself to think that security is only for big corporations. Reporting Internet Scams When it comes to reporting Internet scams most of us either don't have a clue who to contact or just ignore them in our email. But according to an FBI report in December 2004, nearly ten million people last year didn't ignore them and fell for the latest Internet scams. Phishing - Learn To Identify It Phishing: (fish'ing) (n.)This is when someone sends you an email falsely claiming to be a legitimate business - like your bank or credit card company - in an attempt to scam you into giving them your personal, private information that they can use to access your accounts. Website Security - Creating a Bulletproof Site in 5 Easy Steps When it comes to a secure website and passwords it is all in your hands to create a password that a hacker simply cannot crack. However, this will require that you be creative and use everything at your fingertips to create the strongest password possible for a secure web site. How to Prevent Online Identity Theft Identity theft rates one of the fastest growing crimes in mAmerica today and the Internet can make it even easier for some criminals to take your good name and drag it through the mud.Identity theft involves criminals stealing your personal information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers and other information, usually to buy things on credit or to empty out your bank accounts. Dont Fall Victim to Internet Fraud-10 Tips for Safer Surfing The Internet offers a global marketplace for consumers and businesses. However, criminals also recognize the potential of cyberspace. How To Be Your Own Secret Service Agency So you want to know who your kids are chatting with. Or if your spouse has a blossoming e-mail romance. Steganography - The Art Of Deception & Concealment The Message Must Get Through-----------------------------The year is 300A.D. Eliminate Adware and Spyware Everyone should eliminate spyware and adware from your hard drive for your computer privacy protection. Spyware and adware programs also slow down the speed of your computer by cluttering your hard drive with annoying programs. Phishing: An Interesting Twist On A Common Scam After Two Security Assessments I Must Be Secure, Right?---------------------------------------Imagine you are the CIO of a national financial institution and you've recently deployed a state of the art online transaction service for your customers. To make sure your company's network perimeter is secure, you executed two external security assessments and penetration tests. Why Corporations Need to Worry About Phishing Phishing is a relatively new form of online fraud that focuses on fooling the victim into providing sensitive financial or personal information to a bogus website that bears a significant resemblance to a tried and true online brand. Typically, the victim provides information into a form on the imposter site, which then relays the information to the fraudster. How To Cover Your Tracks On The Internet Every single time you access a website, you leave tracks. Tracks that others can access. ![]() |
home | site map |
© 2006 |