Given the many perks of online shopping—from how convenient it is to the potential cost savings it offers due to frequent online sales—more Filipinos have welcomed e-commerce as part of their daily lives. A study by data gathering platform Statista even ranked the Philippines in second place among countries with the fastest-growing e-commerce market worldwide in 2023.
Despite how mainstream online shopping has become, however, many concerns still plague Filipino e-commerce users, and rightfully so. One recurrent worry is that their personal information may be vulnerable to hackers or cybercriminals as they shop online.
While this concern is completely understandable, there are many simple things that you, as a shopper, can do to keep your personal information safe while you shop at your favorite online stores. Here are some online shopping habits you should practice to stay safe when browsing and making transactions on the web:
1) Create Unique Passwords for Your Shopping Accounts
Many people, particularly those from the older demographic, tend to use passwords such as their name or birthday across all their online accounts so that they won’t forget them. However, this actually puts their personal information at risk, given that such weak passwords make it easy for cybercriminals to guess and log into their accounts.
On your part, make sure to use a strong and unique password every time you create a shopping account. If you find it hard to remember multiple passwords, then you can use password managers to help you out. Strong passwords deter unauthorized individuals from attempting to gain access to your accounts to steal your personal or financial information.
2) Utilize Your Credit Card’s Security Features
If you’re an online shopper who frequently uses your credit card to pay for online purchases, then make sure you’re aware of your card’s security features and make the best use of them as you shop. For instance, the safest credit card for online shopping you can get is one that offers full control over your spending limits. The ability to set a daily spending limit, in addition, means that even if an unauthorized person gets a hold of your credit card details, they cannot max out your credit card and put you in deep financial trouble.
In addition to that, some credit cards, such as the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card by Maya, also provide a dynamic CVV feature. A CVV, which stands for card verification value, is a unique code found on your physical card that you enter along with your credit card details to authorize a purchase. Your Landers credit card’s dynamic CVV adds another layer of security to your transactions because it provides you with a new CVV every time you view your card details on the Maya app. This keeps you from exposing a permanent card CVV and giving cybercriminals the opportunity to exploit it.
3) Shop on Trusted Websites
Make it a habit to always check if the online store you’re shopping from has “HTTPS” and a security padlock icon in its URL, as these are the main indicators that the website is safe. Never enter your personal information on websites that aren’t secure, and always double-check if the store you’re shopping from is trustworthy by reading customer reviews of the website.
Modi operandi of phishing scammers typically include creating fake websites to trick people into giving away their login credentials. That means that you’ll want to be extra critical of which sites you shop from if you want to keep your personal information safe from such scams.
4) Transact Over Secure Connections
When shopping online, make sure you’re connected to a secure network such as your home’s password-protected network or a virtual private network. This is because cybercriminals tend to exploit the vulnerabilities of unsecured networks such as public Wi-Fi connections to steal people’s personal information. If you can take care to conduct your online transactions over secure connections only, you’ll be able to do a lot to protect your sensitive information from the prying eyes of hackers and other unauthorized individuals.
5) Monitor Your Transaction History Regularly
Regularly check your credit card or shopping account’s transaction history for any suspicious activity. The earlier you can spot any potential irregularities, the more limited the financial damage will be from such fraudulent transactions. You will also be better equipped to take back control of your account, either by changing your password or arranging to have a new card issued to you.
Set alerts as well for when transactions reach a certain maximum amount. This can cue you in right away if someone else is making purchases using your card or account.
6) Never Leave Your Devices Unattended
Another important habit to keep in mind is to always secure your devices, especially if you’re using them in public. Leaving your phone or tablet unattended, even for just a short period of time, puts your accounts at risk, as any unauthorized person can simply pick up your device and start using it. At the very least, make sure you lock the device’s screen whenever you’re not using it to prevent easy access to its contents.
Online shopping is definitely here to stay, which is why it’s important to develop sensible online shopping habits to ensure your personal and financial details are safe each time you shop. Practice the habits discussed above, and you’ll be able to accomplish all your online transactions with full confidence that your information and financial assets remain safe and secure.
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