Online shopping lets you browse for deals anywhere, compare products, and get items delivered straight to your doorstep. While buying your items online is convenient, safe online shopping is important.
Purchasing online can expose you to data theft and scams—some sites may take your payment but never ship the items. Stay safe while shopping by:
- Using secure websites and payment methods
- Regularly monitoring your transactions
- Watching for red flags (scams)
Keep your financial and other sensitive information safe from bad actors with a few helpful online shopping safety tips.
Shop only on secure and trusted websites
Start with trusted retailers that prioritize security, reliability, and a positive customer experience. New or unestablished sites may have fewer security resources—or may simply be untrustworthy.
Look for sites that use Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS), which helps protect your personal information. HTTPS encrypts (scrambles) data sent between you and the site, making it harder for others to read without a decryption key. You’ll typically see “https” in the URL or a padlock icon in the address bar.
Online scammers often create sites that look legitimate to defraud shoppers of their money. Type the URL carefully because malicious pages can mimic legitimate shopping platforms. Double-check the spelling, or use bookmarks or a search engine to reach the site.
Even if the connection is secure, check contact details and reviews before you shop. If you encounter an online shopping scam, report it to the platform and the appropriate authorities.
Before shopping anywhere, ensure that you’re protecting your devices and accounts.
Protect your devices and accounts
When shopping online, keep your computer and phone security settings up to date by regularly updating your antivirus, operating system (OS), and apps. The latest versions include protections and security fixes against new threats and scams.
Use strong, unique passwords (a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters) or passphrases for all your accounts—and store them in a password manager. Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) to keep your accounts safe.
One-time passwords (OTPs) and authenticator apps add a second step, making it harder for anyone to access your accounts.
Use network-level security, such as firewalls, to block malicious sites and scan your home network for vulnerabilities. Run reputable antivirus and antimalware programs and actively monitor your devices for suspicious activity.
Consider fraud-monitoring apps and to scan the web and alert you if your identity is being misused. Choose reliable internet with built-in security tools and the right security app to alert you to data breaches, help block scam attempts, and add protection across your favorite shopping platforms.
This is crucial for keeping your identity, accounts, and payment methods protected.
Use safe and secure payment methods
When you shop online, use a credit card rather than a debit card. If there’s an issue with your order—the wrong item, failure to deliver, or card fraud—you’ll have more ways to recover your money. For scams or unauthorized purchases, credit cards let you initiate a chargeback through your bank.
Save digital receipts and order confirmations. You may need them if there’s an issue with your purchase or if you need to contest a charge with your bank. Monitor your transactions regularly to catch problems early. The sooner you spot a fraudulent transaction, the faster you can report it and start recovering your money.
Even if you use secure payment platforms and credit cards, hackers may still access your payment information if you shop on public Wi-Fi.
Avoid public Wi-Fi when shopping online
Always use private wireless connections rather than public networks to reduce the risk of data or identity theft. Private connections help ensure your payment details and personal information stay protected.
On public networks, hackers may intercept unencrypted traffic or set up look-alike Wi-Fi networks to harvest data.
Wait until you’re home to make online purchases to avoid the dangers of unsecured Wi-Fi. If you must shop on a public network, take proper Wi-Fi security precautions and use a virtual private network (VPN) to protect your location, identity, and information.
Thanks to the benefits of a VPN, it’s generally safer to use a private wireless connection than a public network.
When you focus on security and other best practices, online shopping has plenty of advantages. That’s why staying sharp is crucial to staying safe online.
Shop smarter and safer online
Safe online shopping means using secure sites, making payments through trusted processors, and browsing on protected devices. Protecting yourself from fraud, scammers, and identity theft starts with a reliable home internet connection and dependable wireless services.
With us, you can get both. Pair your services with AT&T ActiveArmor to experience the best online shopping protection possible.
Browse, shop, and stay connected with our reliable network.
