4 Essential Tips to keep your online payments secure

Online payment security is one of the biggest trends in the world today. Everyone wants to know how to keep their payment information secure when shopping online. Here are 4 quick tips.

1.     Be careful with the sites you visit

Shopping online means sharing your personal information on the e-commerce website. Therefore, be careful with the site you choose to shop from. As a rule, ensure that the website’s URL at least starts with an HTTPS and has a small locked padlock to the left of the URL bar. These tools indicate that your connection with the site is encrypted.

2.     Update your computer software

The regular update notification on your phone or computer might be nagging, but they’re crucial. Before even opening the shopping website, ensure that all your software is up-to-date. Updates provide patches for the ‘loopholes’ that hackers use to access your computer. You can also add an anti-malware or antivirus software for extra protection.

3.     Be wary of public wi-fi

Avoid shopping over public Wi-Fi as much as possible. Most cyber criminals lurk on public hotspots waiting to prey on the ignorant Wi-Fi users. If you have to use the open Wi-Fi, at least protect yourself with a reputable VPN. Otherwise, invest in a good unlimited mobile data plan to use on such occasions.

4.     Use strong passwords

When setting passwords, avoid using family names, pet names, or your birth year. A hacker doesn’t need any skill to crack such a password. Instead, focus on strong passwords, which incorporate both capital and small letters, numbers, and some characters. You should also never repeat a password on multiple sites – each account should have a unique password.

Conclusion

There are numerous ways to secure your online payments, but it all starts with these four simple security habits. If you observe each of these tips in your online payments, you can be confident that all your information will remain secure.