The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have refreshed their guidance on shopping and paying safely online. Whether for our business or personally, online shopping is now a normal feature of our daily routine. What tips do NCSC provide that can help us stay safe?
Check the shop is legitimate
- Criminals send emails or texts that contain links to fake shops. These might direct you to a website that looks very much like a legitimate website, including the shop’s logos and so forth. The web domain or address could also look reasonably convincing.
- It is good policy to never click links from emails unless you are absolutely sure that the person who sent it is someone you trust and you know the email has come from them.
- Using consumer websites, which usually have reviews, can help you to identify whether a site is legitimate. They may also help you identify whether a business you are considering using has a good reputation.
- If possible, try typing the official website of the shop directly into your browser’s address bar.
- When using a search engine, take the time needed to read the entries on the results page rather than just clicking on the first item on the page.
Pay by credit card
- Credit cards often have more protection for online purchases.
- Using PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay may not provide the same level of protection, so make sure to check the ‘terms & conditions’ to see what protection you have.
- Whatever you do, don’t pay by direct bank transfer.
Be sparing with the details you provide
- When you make payment only provide the mandatory details, which are usually marked by an asterisk.
- NCSC advise that it is best not to create an account unless you think you’ll become a regular customer. So, use the ‘checkout as guest’ option. Or, assuming they provide the protection cover you need, using PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay could be your friend since using them means you don’t usually need to create an account.
- Whatever the case, you shouldn’t let your browser remember your payment details if it prompts you to do so. And if you do create an account, don’t allow them to store your payment details for future purchases.
Use strong passwords
- You should make sure that your shopping, online banking and payment accounts are all protected by strong passwords that aren’t used for any other account. Otherwise, if a criminal gets hold of the password to one account, they have free rein to access others.
- Using 2-step verification is also a good defence as even if a hacker knows your password, they can’t automatically access your account.
These tips can help you stay safer when shopping online and minimise the problems that come if you end up being a victim of fraud.
To look at the guidance in more detail, please see: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/shopping-online-securely