Safe on-line Christmas shopping
07-12-2010 16:38:00
As far as 85 percent Polish Internet users are planing to buy Christmas gifts on-line. The most popular are books, CDs, films and cosmetics. These small purchases require on-line data validation - this is what cybercriminals are looking for.
E-commerce is expanding rapidly. All data indicate that Poles like to shop on-line. Last year we spent on e-shopping nearly
13.5 billion PLN. It is no wonder: this is comfortable and fast verification of a large commercial offer. On-line shopping can be cheaper than traditional shopping. But is it safer?
Unfortunately, the increasing amount of money spending on-line on goods is an invitation to hackers. Many of new e-commerce services do not offer basic security and their customers often fall victim to cybercriminals. Stealing data, using it by incompetent people and empty bank accounts - those are just some of the dangers.
To avoid it, follow just a few basic rules.
Use e-shops with the valid SSL certificate
Websites that require any data to be sent must be secured. Such a protection is SSL certificate. To check if the service has a current certificate, click on the little gold padlock (down right corner of your browser). It will open a small "About page" window. You can view information about the certificate including expiration date.
Pay attention on https://
https:// is the second primary sign of installed SSL certificate. Unsecured sites' addresses begin with http://. Secure sites have an additional letter "s", which means "secured".
Click site seal
Site Seal is a graphic icon that proves installed SSL certificate. The way how it looks depends on the certificate, but every seal has the same function - it displays information about installed SSL certificate.
Search for the green address bar
The green address bar is a Extended Validation certificate security - advanced technology which protects websites. The process of receiving the EV is very restrictive and its security is one of the strongest.
This four basic principles are worth to remember when using the Internet.
We are the only ones to check the security of service we intend to send our data through.
Data source: ARC Market and Opinion, Gemius and the Direct Marketing Association.
