With the Christmas season fast approaching, many people choose to shop online in the comfort of their own home. The internet makes shopping 24/7, easy and convenient, though we need to exercise caution when using these services.
Identity theft and fraud most commonly involves the misuse of personal information located on the internet and can be used by offenders by means of false identities, cheques and credit cards.
Shopping on-line with a credit card may involve your card being:
Intercepted as it passes through various computer links
Sent in un-encrypted emails
Stored on insecure computers
Use Paypal to ensure that financial information is secure when shopping online.
In order to ensure your computer is safe, you should do the following:
Check that you are using a secure browser
Install and update virus protection and firewall programs
Check that the padlock or key is unbroken – this is on the bottom line of your browser
Check for attachments to the keyboard connection
