If you’ve ever shopped online, you’ve likely experienced some of the pitfalls that can come with it. You may have ordered something and then received it weeks later, or maybe your package was damaged in transit. In order to have an enjoyable online shopping experience every time, you must be aware of the ways to protect yourself.
Never use a public wifi network to shop online:
Public wifi networks are insecure. If you connect to a public wifi network, your information can be accessed by hackers and other malicious people who may have access to the same router. You could be tracked by advertisers or spied on by governments. When you visit a website, a website places a piece of data called a cookie on your computer’s hard drive. Advertisers use this data to track customer browsing patterns. Governments often do this as well, but there’s no way for consumers to know whether or not their browsing history is being shared with third parties without giving away their personal information first.
Try to look for coupons before you purchase anything:
It’s essential to keep a few things in mind when shopping online. First, look for coupon codes on your product page or in the checkout process. A coupon is a way to get a product at a discounted price or to get free shipping. Second, always check how much shipping will cost before buying anything from an online retailer like Alibaba, Amazon, or Walmart. Some companies charge extra for purchases made outside their warehouses (like when ordering from another country).
If a website looks suspicious, don’t use it:
Avoid using websites that look suspicious, outdated, or primitive.
Check all the product reviews you can find
When you’re out shopping, check the product reviews. You can find these on the website, but also if you follow the review’s author on social media or other sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Customers can use reviews to determine if an item suits their needs and budget. If there are no reviews available—or none that are helpful—don’t hesitate to ask others who have bought it how they found it (how long did it take them to receive their order? Did they like everything?).
We hope this guide has provided you with some insight into how to stay safe while shopping online. The most important thing is that you know what to look out for and remember, if something seems suspicious, then don’t do it! Always use your best judgment.