6 ways to shop conveniently and safely online

With convenience being sought after in this digital age, online shopping is at the top of the list for savvy individuals. Let’s face it, not only is it convenient, the bargains are attractive too. Online shopping makes life simpler for many individuals by saving you time and trips to the store, you get to skip the queue and have the items delivered to you – almost anywhere! 

However, even with its great convenience, it comes with dangers of its own.

While we encourage convenience and the freedom it brings – one of the reasons we offer you insurance quotes online – we also care about your safety. Consider these tips when filling up your next e-cart:

1. Put strength in your password! You’ve heard this enough to know how important it is to use strong passwords – this means that it shouldn’t be easy to figure out, even by people who know you well. Try using the first letter of a specific phrase, as well as a combination of numbers, letters and symbols or special characters in your passwords; avoid birth dates or special dates which can be guessed.
2. Check for security! It’s understandable to assume that any store that has an online shopping portal will be secure, however, this isn’t always the case. Secure sites use encryption as a security measure to help protect your data. To make sure you’re transacting on a secure site, look out for the https:// and a closed padlock beside it on the address bar or on the lower right corner of the window.

Make a habit of reading the security alerts published by websites you frequently transact on, this will keep you updated on security features and updates.

1. Keep it private! Nothing like free Wi-Fi to buy you more time online – but is it safe for everything? Go ahead and enjoy the free data, however, you may want avoid making financial transaction on public networks or hotspots and computers. To keep things safe, rather opt to do your banking and other more sensitive transactions at home or on a private network where you won’t be at higher risk. Also, use a personal firewall and anti-malware, keep all your software updated and remember to log off all sites when you’re done with your transactions.
2. Stay within familiar sites! Exploring different sites sounds great when you’re talking about road trips, but isn’t always the case when you’re talking about online transactions. Rather opt to go with sites you are familiar with; don’t just start shopping from a result you’ve clicked in a search engine. If you know the site URL, enter the site website address yourself as opposed to clicking on “blind” links If you’re prone to forgetting (or mistyping, bookmark your favourite sites
3. Stay notified! For added security, switch on online banking alerts that notify you of transactions going through on your accounts.
4. Don’t overshare! There’s obviously some information you will need to give and verify when shopping online, however, be wary of sharing personal information online – especially sensitive such as banking details.

If you’re already enjoying the convenience and ease of doing things online, why not do the same with your insurance and buy your car insurance online?