If you are using the Internet to make payments, it’s always a good idea to use a secure connection. SSL technology protects your personal information from being stolen while online. Most websites offer this option by default, including social media websites, financial institutions, and e-commerce websites. If you’re not sure how to make sure your information is protected online, it’s important to learn more about SSL technology and why it’s so important.
Avoid making online payments from websites you don’t know or don’t trust
Using online payment services is a convenient way to make purchases, but it also comes with risks. Hackers and other thieves can steal personal information, so online payment services should be kept as secure as possible. While these precautions can help reduce the risks, they will never be totally secure.
Avoid connecting to the Internet via a public Wi-Fi network
Whenever possible, use a secure network to connect to the Internet. If you are not able to find a secure network, you can also use your mobile phone as a hotspot. Public Wi-Fi networks can be vulnerable to cyberattacks and information thieves.
Public Wi-Fi is a prime target for malicious software called browser hijackers, which can spread viruses and other malware to unsuspecting web surfers. These infections are often triggered by seemingly innocent pop-up ads. Another risk is packet sniffing, which is illegal monitoring of data sent from one device to another. If you do not protect yourself against this, you can end up losing or changing vital information.
If you do connect to a public Wi-Fi network when paying for something online, you may be exposing your personal information. Those details could be used by cybercriminals or even strangers. So, it is always better to avoid using these public networks.
You can easily detect rogue networks by the authentication process. The genuine ones will ask for personal details and require you to agree to their terms and conditions. If you are required to login immediately, this is a red flag. You can also try using a packet sniffer, which is used by system administrators to monitor network traffic. These software programs are used to detect any bottlenecks in a network.
Another risk of connecting to public Wi-Fi networks is the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks. These attacks are often carried out by hackers who impersonate legitimate public WiFi services. This type of attack can cause financial and reputational damage.
Avoid entering your credit card number or other financial information if you don’t see this symbol
If you don’t see the lock symbol when paying on the web, your card or financial information may not be valid. There are several reasons why this can happen. For example, your security code might be incorrect. This can result in the transaction failing. Another reason for invalid transactions is an invalid card number or incorrect digits. In this case, you should contact your issuing bank to find out what the problem is.
Unless you’re paying with a debit card, don’t ever enter your financial information on a website that doesn’t have a lock symbol. This symbol usually appears on the payment page of an online store. The lock symbol indicates that you’re using HTTPS, which makes entering your financial information safe. However, not all websites use HTTPS. Therefore, you should be very cautious of paying with your debit card if you don’t see the symbol on the website.