With the growth of the internet, shopping, and banking online have become extremely common. This has made it easier for us to buy things and manage our money from the comfort of our own homes.
But as more and more personal and financial information is shared online, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself from the risks that come with shopping and banking online.
From phishing scams to malware to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, it’s important to be aware of the possible risks and take the steps you need to protect your information.
In this article, we’ll talk about the best ways to shop and bank online safely so that your personal and financial information stays safe.
Best practices for secure online banking
1. Using A VPN
Yes, you read that right. One of the best ways to shop and bank online safely is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN protects your sensitive information from hackers and unwanted visitors by encrypting your internet connection and making it safe and private to browse the web.
Using a VPN when you shop or bank online can help keep your personal information from being stolen and misused.
To get the best protection, you should choose a VPN service with a good reputation and make sure the software is updated often. The following cybersecurity stats shows how crucial it is to use a secured and trusted VPN.
2. Encrypted passwords
Another important recommended practice for safe online shopping and banking is to use passwords that are encrypted.
Encryption helps keep your password safe by turning it into a code that only you can understand.
This makes it much harder for hackers to steal or guess your password, which helps keep your personal and financial information safe.
When making an online shopping or banking account, it’s important to choose a strong, unique password with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
You should also think about using a password manager to store your encrypted passwords and make it easier to make and remember strong passwords.
Also, turning on two-factor authentication can add an extra layer of security and help make sure that only you can get into your accounts.
3. Enabling 2FA on banking & shopping accounts
Definitely! Adding an extra layer of security to your online shopping and banking accounts is a smart move, and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) is a great way to do just that.
Think of it as having a bouncer at the door of your online accounts, checking to make sure it’s really you before letting you in. With 2FA, you’ll be required to provide two forms of identification, such as a password and a code sent to your phone, before you can access your account.
Not only does this extra step help protect you from unauthorized access, it also gives you peace of mind knowing that your sensitive information is that much more secure. So why not take the extra step and enable 2FA today? Your online shopping and banking accounts will thank you!
Moreover, there won’t be any need to use a third-party app because most banking sites and applications already have 2FA options in “passwords & security” settings.
4. Preventing download of Pirated software
Ah, yes, because nothing says “I care about my security and privacy,” like downloading software from a sketchy website that could be full of viruses and other bad things.
But seriously, downloading pirated software is a big no-no if you want to keep your device and information secure. Pirated software is often packed with all sorts of unwanted extras, like viruses and malware, that can attack your computer and steal your sensitive information.
So, if you don’t want the headache and heartache of having your device hacked and your information lost, don’t use pirated software.
Trust us, and the risk isn’t worth it. When it comes to software, the saying “you get what you pay for” couldn’t be more true.
So do yourself a favor and put your money into something real. Your device and data will be grateful. Lastly, we recommend using Windows Defender and Malwarebytes together and keeping the real-time check turned on.
Conclusion
Online shopping and banking are very convenient and make our lives easier, but they also come with risks. From phishing scams to open Wi-Fi networks, it’s important to know what could go wrong and take steps to keep yourself safe.
By using a VPN, making encrypted passwords, turning on two-factor authentication, and avoiding pirated software, you’ll be taking important steps to keep your personal and financial information safe while shopping and banking online.
