There are so many eCommerce websites that offer anything that a person could ever want and need. From online services for businesses to handcrafted gifts for kids, you can just search for what you are looking for and there is sure to be a site offering just the thing. However, no matter how appealing an offer those sites give you, it is important to first make sure that they are a secure site before making any payments.
Cybercriminals do wait to attack
Unsecured sites can leave your payment information vulnerable and can be used for cyber-crimes. Those cyber-criminals just wait to pounce for their attack. Cyber-crimes happen often but there are preventive measures that you can do as an end-user to secure your online payment transactions from falling in the hands of cyber-criminals. Being able to determine the site is trustworthy at first glance can save you from falling into a hacker’s trap. Here are the things to look for:
SSL Certification
Checking if a site is secured through SSL is the simplest way to check the trustworthiness of a site. SSL certificates make sure that any sensitive information provided to the site is protected from unauthorized third parties. All you have to do is to look at the website’s URL. If it starts with HTTPS, then the site is protected. However, if the URL only says HTTP and lacks the S, then the site does not have SSL integration. It only takes a minute or two to check for the SSL certification.
Check the website’s information
Know a bit more about the site you are going to buy from to know what you’re getting into. Read over their privacy policy carefully. This will tell you exactly how your data is being collected and used on the site. Any online business that doesn’t provide a privacy policy or has one that doesn’t tell you anything is a big red flag. You should always know how your information is being used so you can make an informed decision to share it or not.
Check their contact information
A legitimate online business will always provide you with a means to contact them other than just an email address. Check to see if they provide a phone number as well as an address if they have one. Sharing their social media pages is also a plus. It doesn’t prove that they offer any protection for your information, but it shows that they will be able to be reached for any concerns. If there seems to be only one way to contact them, such as a form to be filled, you might want not to continue with your payment transaction.
Verify the site’s trust seal
Most sites who offer products or services for sale have a badge you will see with a lock on it. These are called trust seals and they are there to ensure that the site protects its users from malware. Simply clock on the badge to check if it’s legitimate. If you are redirected to a verification page, then you know it is secure.