Best Practices
Some of the best practices are the same for physical shopping as well as shopping on the net:
  • Use common sense to avoid offers too good to be true.

  • Check the warranty and return policy of the merchant

  • Check the reputation of the merchant before shopping

  • Use a secure browser

  • Keep a record

  • Read the privacy policy before submitting information
Safe Shopping Online
  1. If you have many credit cards, use only one card for online transactions for easy tracking.
  2. Use credit cards in preference to debit card/checking account since you are protected totally against fraud losses in excess of $50 in case of credit card.
  3. Store details of all online purchases and check against your monthly statement. Report your card issuer immediately if any unauthorised charges is found in your statement.
  4. Review the online merchant rating (from services like TRUSTe, BBBOnline or WebTrust). Companies with brick and mortar counterpart are generally more safe than net only merchants.
  5. System security:
    • Enable alerts in your browser when you are diverted from a secure server to non-secure server.
    • Do not store password/ personal details in your computer.
    • Change your password frequently. Create passwords as combination of special characters, numerals and letters. Do not use words in dictionery or personal details as part of pass word since these are easier to crack.
    • Do not access mails containing username / password for the services subscribed from public internet sources like school/Library/Cybercafe. The next user may be able to access these details from history /temp files.
    • Enable intrusion alert program for your computer. Frequently delete unwanted cookies from your system.
  6. Your Card details are relatively safe with merchant having secure payment processing. Signs like a symbol of lock on the browser bar and the site address starting like 'https://' indicates that you are connected to a secure server and your card data is encrypted by SSL(secure socket layer). This ensures that your card data is encrypted while reaching the merchant.
  7. Do not send payment information/Personal information/card details via non-secure e-mail. They may be intercepted by packet sniffers.
            CyberAngels © 2005