Blog Archives
Are You Safely Shopping Online?
Welcome to Part Two of “Be Smart, Secure and Safe. A Guide to Managing Your Online Privacy.” I am going to walk you through factors to consider before making an online purchase.
Shopping online is increasingly becoming more popular and more convenient. We’re low on time yet highly plugged in…it just makes sense to browse, add item(s) to cart and check-out. Done.
When we shop online are we looking for the important factors that indicate the website is capturing our personal information securely? Maybe yes. Maybe no. It’s certainly something to be top-of-mind if we’re providing billing information and credit/debit card information.
You’ll know a website is secure when you see any or all of these signs:
- https = This is a solid sign the website is secure, hence the ‘s’ at the end of the typical http we normally see across the web. Here’s an example.
- The company’s Privacy Policy = Aside from reading the Privacy Policy from top to bottom, one thing to look for is the date it was revised or updated. That’s an indication the company is up-to-speed on rules and regulations regarding protecting consumers’ privacy rights. This is Nordstrom’s Privacy Policy, updated 11/14/11.
- Options for checkout = If a website offers PayPal or Google Checkout, select one of those rather than the standard check-out. PayPal and Google Checkout are recognized for their consumer protection. Moreover, both allow you to easily open claims if there is a dispute between you and the vendor.
- SSN = Do not share your social security number to online retailers and business. It is not necessary to provide that information for transactions. If there is a field requesting it, that is a “warning sign” and would advise to reconsider moving forward.
- Badges = Does the website have a VeriSign badge? How about the Business Accredited badge from Better Business Bureau? If a company is featuring these badges (usually in the footer) it tells the consumer (us) that they’ve taken extra steps to ensure our shopping experience from start to finish is safe and trustworthy. What does Business Accredited mean? It’s when a business is committed to resolve any consumer complaints.
This online retailer features both badges!
Do you shop online? Have there been times you were unsure if the website had your best interest in mind? I would love to hear about your experiences.
