To truly grasp how much technology has made life easier in the past couple of decades, spend some time speaking to anyone paying bills and shopping 25 to 30 years ago.
To ensure the lights stayed on and the trash was picked up, people had to write and mail checks to their various utility companies. And since online retailers were decades away from reality, shopping meant trudging in-person to the grocery store, mall, shoe store, and other retailers.
Fast forward to today, and all these tasks — plus plenty of others — can easily be done from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone, all with a few taps of the screen. Technology has advanced to our benefit, making bill-paying and online shopping quick and easy.
Unfortunately, there’s a dark side to this convenience: the risk of your data being stolen. Cybercriminals are busy 24/7 trying to figure out ways to access your credit card and banking information that’s used when shopping or paying bills online.
To help ensure your personal data stays secured and protected, consider the following tips:
1. Eliminate Malware
Malware is a malicious program or code that not only harms your computer but can also try to gain access to your personal data. It can get into your computer system through a spam email message containing links that looked legitimate but were malware. So that your computer is not infected, it’s essential to ensure malware removal from your system. Effective malware removal tools can provide security and peace of mind, as they will automatically find anything suspicious and eliminate it.
2. Be “Blurry” When Online
In addition to a malware removal program, consider investing in a browser add-on that will keep track of your passwords while also blocking web trackers and masking your email address. Online privacy tools can mask your credit card information, phone number, address, and more. Using this solution, you can conduct online banking and shopping without worry, with your passwords, payment information, and privacy remaining safe.
3. Stay Off Public Wi-Fi
Sure, paying your Visa bill on your smartphone is easy and fast. But you should definitely refrain from doing so while waiting for your buddy to join you at the local taco joint. When using public Wi-Fi, you’re putting yourself at risk of having cybercriminals gain access to your browser history and passwords. Indeed, these individuals could be sitting nearby trying to access your personal or financial information, even through password-protected websites. While it may be difficult to give up this practice, whenever possible, wait until you’re home to pay bills instead of banking online in public.
4. Check Your Statements Regularly
Another way to make sure your online shopping and banking activities remain safe and secure is to be proactive about checking your online activity. Don’t wait until the end of the month for a statement to arrive in your email inbox; instead, visit your banking website every few days to check your credit card, debit card, and checking account activity. You should also make sure your PayPal, Venmo, and other payment account sites are accurate in terms of your activity. If something looks amiss, contact these companies immediately to alert them of the situation.
The Benefits Can Outweigh the Risks
Granted, there will always be risks to banking and shopping online, but this is true for just about anything you do in life. By knowing about the dangers to your personal data and then taking tangible steps to keep your information safe and secure, you can continue to enjoy the convenience of these online activities.
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