As the world continues to digitize, more and more people have turned online for their everyday needs (even more so since the pandemic-induced lockdowns). While the convenience and ease of shopping online make it attractive, it’s important to remember to take the necessary precautions when making purchases. Shopping online can expose you to a variety of risks, from identity theft to malware and beyond. It’s essential to stay vigilant and informed when shopping online to protect yourself from these potential threats. In this post, you will learn how one company has been making waves, helping you to use your data in a way beneficial to you, the end user. Moreover, you will learn the best practices you can use to protect yourself and how to take further steps to ensure your safety while shopping online.
You Gain Access To A Range Of Exclusive And Targeted Discounts
One of the biggest bugbears of online shopping is the way in which brands and businesses use your data for their own gain. Although there has been a raft of regulations intended to protect against the misuse of your data, the fact remains that it still occurs. You can see this when you receive reams of spam emails offering discounts and services from businesses you have never even used. At best, this is annoying, but at worst, it can lead to fraud. Fortunately, SafeOpt, the tool mentioned in the introduction, comes to the rescue. It combines every you love about the thrill of discovering valuable discounts for your favorite services sans the creepy and intrusive methods of the past. You simply sign up for the service and set up your preferences (more on that in the third point), and you will begin to unobtrusively receive promotions you might actually want to make use of! Moreover, because the service works by connecting brands with one another, you may discover new services and products related to your preferences that you had never considered before.
The Service Protects Your Data From Misuse
Among the most significant challenges facing online users today is data misuse. It seems like whenever you enter your email address anywhere online; you are playing Russian roulette, constantly pondering if the brand you signed up with will sell your data to a third party. If they do, you can expect to receive a barrage of spam and ads to unrelated content. Additionally, even if the place you sign up to has a zero spam, squeaky clean image, you never know if your data will be hacked and stolen. However, when you use the service mentioned earlier, you can be safe in the knowledge that your data will remain safe and secure while still being able to receive relevant promotions. Furthermore, only that company retains access to your data because they only provide an anonymous user ID to their brand partners. That way, you can rest assured that the brands using your data will never know who you are or your email address.
It Provides Granular Control Over Settings
By now, you probably think that although this service sounds fantastic, how could businesses possibly send you pertinent deals and special offers if they can’t build an avatar of your online use? In essence, SafeOpt’s technology enables you, as the consumer, to control your settings on a very granular level. This results in a very detailed but anonymous avatar that brands can use to send highly targeted deals that you will actually appreciate.
How To Stay Safe When Shopping Online
Although the aforementioned service can help safeguard your data, there are plenty of other things you need to do to stay safe while shopping online. So let’s take a look at some of the best ways to enable you to make purchases safely.
Check For The Secure Padlock Symbol
Ensure the website is secure by looking for a padlock before inputting any payment information. If you see this symbol, your information is encrypted and cannot be accessed by hackers because the website is secured with an SSL certificate. An insecure website is one that does not have the padlock symbol, so any information you enter could be compromised.
Use Secure Payment Methods
The best way to protect yourself when shopping online is to use a secure payment method. In order to safeguard your personal and financial information, it is essential to use a payment method that uses encryption technology. You can use your credit card or PayPal as a third-party service to make a secure payment. With two-factor authentication and data encryption, processors like PayPal and Stripe also offer a high level of security. With secure payment methods like these, you can be sure that your information will be kept safe and secure.
Keep Track Of Account Activity
The key to staying safe while shopping online is to keep track of your account activity. This means regularly checking your credit report and account statements to ensure no unauthorized transactions have occurred. A two-factor authentication system will add an additional layer of security to your accounts if you notice any suspicious activity. You should immediately report any suspicious activity to your bank or credit card company.
Use Strong Passwords And Two-Factor Authentication
This final point is probably the most discussed but valuable technique to remain secure online. Staying safe when shopping online requires robust passwords and some form of 2FA. You probably already know that to create a strong password, you need to use a mix of numbers and symbols. While it can seem daunting to remember so many unique codes, you can always use a password locker that is accessed by one password (which should also be unique). Your accounts become much more secure as a result, making them very difficult for hackers to access.
Shopping online can be convenient and can often save you time and money. However, you must be aware of possible risks and take necessary precautions to stay safe from excessive spam and potential fraud. Using the service mentioned throughout this post will also go a long way in keeping you safe without removing the conveniences online shopping presents. However, you should also heed the other points laid out in the latter part of this post to remain completely safe.
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