Safe online shopping

Online shopping is a convenient way to buy almost anything from the comfort of your home. And while there are some risks with shopping online, there are also many ways to protect yourself and your financial information.

Shop from home

To protect sensitive information like credit card numbers, you'll want to shop from your home Internet connection if possible. Try to avoid shopping when connected to a public Wi-Fi network or when using a public computer, such as a library computer. Public computers and Wi-Fi networks are at a slightly greater risk for hacking, which could put your information at risk.

Look for HTTPS

Many websites will display a lock symbol in the address bar. This is most commonly seen on the payment page of an online store. This means the website is using an HTTPS connection, which makes it safe to enter your information. 

You won't see this symbol on every page of an online store, and that's OK—not all pages really need this extra layer of security. However, you should avoid entering your credit card number or other financial information if you don't see this symbol.

Research the company or seller

Anyone can set up a shop online, so it's important to research a company or seller before buying from the site. Make sure the business has a physical address and phone number you can contact if there's a problem. You can also check for reviews on sites like Yelp and Google.

Use secure payment methods

Credit cards are generally the safest way to pay for items online. Avoid options like direct wire transfer, bank transfers, or sending cash or checks through the mail. And if you don't like the idea of giving your credit card information to different retailers, you could try an online payment service like PayPal or Google Wallet. Check out our What is PayPal? lesson to learn more.

Keep a record

Always save records of your online transactions, which should include the receipt, order number, product description, and price. You will also want to save any emails you send or receive from a seller, which may come in handy if there's a problem later on.

Trust your instincts

In the end, use your common sense and trust your instincts. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. And if anything seems suspicious, remember that you don't have make the purchase.

Read More

How to avoid malware

Malware is one of the most common hazards to your computer when you're online, but it's easy to avoid. Developing safe and smart browsing habits can protect you from malware and other threats, like viruses. Securing your computer and learning how to identify and avoid suspicious links are the fundamentals of safe browsing habits.
 

Secure your computer

Limiting your computer's vulnerability to malware is a crucial safe browsing habit. You can protect your computer by running antivirus and antimalware software like Bitdefender, Norton, or Kaspersky. 

These programs can block malware from being installed and can remove it if it does get onto your computer. Even if you don't see signs of malware on your computer, running regular scans can catch any malware that has escaped notice.




 

 Learn more in our lesson on How to update your software.

Many malware programs take advantage of security flaws in Windows and other software. Keeping your OS, browser, and other programs updated is an important step in protecting your computer. The security patches in these updates make your computer immune to many threats. 

Back up your files

Some malware can delete or corrupt data on your drives. Preparing for the possibility of data loss is much easier and cheaper than attempting to recover data after a malware attack. The two most common ways of doing this are copying your data to an external drive and using an online backup service.

Learn more in our lesson on Backing Up Your Files.

Avoid suspicious links

Most malware requires you to click something to download and install it. These links are often disguised as something they are not. If you are aware of what suspicious links can look like, you can avoid them. Here are some examples of misleading links concealing malware downloads.

Ads on websites can look like system messages or diagnostics warning you that something is wrong with your computer, like the image below.

Ads can look like messages saying you have won a prize and instructing you to click to claim it.

Pop-up windows frequently contain malware or attempt to lead you to a less secure site. Most reputable sites don't use pop-up windows. Many browsers block pop-up windows by default.

If you are prompted to download something you weren't expecting—or if it seems to be unrelated to the page you were on—it's probably malware.

Headlines that are ambiguous and sensational that encourage you to click to read more are called clickbait. Sites that use lots of clickbait headlines are more likely to contain links to malware. 

Identify suspicious sites

If you're ever unsure whether a website or download is safe, close it and investigate the site before returning to it. It's always a good idea to be cautious when browsing unfamiliar sites.

Ask your friends if the site is reputable or if they have any experiences with the site.

Search for information about the site. Use a search engine to find news about the organization that runs the site, or look for posts on forums about other people's experiences with that site.
Check the address bar in your browser. Some malicious websites are designed to look like other well-known sites, but your address bar will tell you which site you're actually on. If you are no longer on the site you expected to be, it's suspicious.

Run a Google safe browsing diagnostic on the site. Copy and paste the URL of a site into the search box on the diagnostic page, then click the search button. This will display a site safety report.

Read More

Your browser's security features

Your computer faces different threats whenever you browse the Web, including viruses, malware, and spyware. The good news is your web browser has a lot of built-in security features to help protect your computer. Let's take a look at some of the most important features you should know about, as well as some simple tips you can use to stay safe online.

Check the web address

Malicious websites often use deceptive web addresses to trick users. For example, www.wellfargo.com looks similar to www.wellsfargo.com, but it's missing the s in the middle.

Double-checking the domain name is a good way to ensure you're going to the real, trusted site—not a phony site with a similar web address. Some web browsers will even try to make the domain name easier to read. In the example below, you can see that wellsfargo.com uses a darker color in the address bar.

Look at the security symbol

Some websites will display a lock symbol in the address bar. This is most commonly seen with certain types of websites, like online stores and banking sites. This means the website is using an HTTPS connection, which makes it safe to enter your personal information.

You won't see this symbol on all websites, and that's OK—not all websites need this extra layer of security. However, you should avoid entering any sensitive information, such as your credit card number, if you don't see this symbol in the address bar.

Update your browser regularly

New viruses and malware are created all the time, so it's important to update your browser regularly. Your browser will usually notify you when it has an update available, but you always have the option to update manually. In this example, we're updating Google Chrome to the most recent version, but the exact update procedure will vary depending on your browser. 

Read More