Online retail demand remains strong and is projected to grow into 2009, but the credit crunch also has the effect of bringing more scammers onto the Internet than before, says Andy Dalrymple, managing consultant, information risk management at Global Secure Systems.
Below are a few of Dalrymple's basic Internet security measures and 'must dos', which he believes will protect online shoppers.
Rule one: Keep your anti-virus product up to date, with the latest signature files and operating system updates from Microsoft. This reduces the likelihood of malicious code or key-logging software running on your PC without your knowledge.
Rule two: Never go online without ensuring you have your personal firewall enabled. This personal firewall adds a layer of protection to the PC by stopping unknown connections to the PC.
Rule three: Don't select the 'remember my password' option when registering online as your passwords are then stored on the PC, often in plain text, and are the first thing that a fraudster will target.
Rule four: Ensure your credit cards are registered with your card provider's online security services, such as 'Verified by Visa' and 'MasterCard SecureCode'.
Rule five: Use only one card for online shopping, maintaining a limit on the card as low as possible or even using a top-up card for your online purchasing.
Rule six: Be sure to use a credit card and not a debit card. The bank provides you security guarantees with a credit card that are not given with a debit card.
Rule seven: Be sure to check your statements regularly, and if there is any sign of irregular activity, report it straight away.
Rule eight: Always check for the little padlock at the bottom right hand corner of the browser (when using Internet Explorer) before entering your card details.
Rule nine: Make a habit of checking the site's privacy policy for details of how your personal information will be used and only provide the minimum of personal information, especially in online forms.
Rule 10: Never shop from sites that you arrive at from clicking links in unsolicited marketing e-mails (spam).
Rule 11: Don't rely on previous customers' testimonials - they are part of the organisation's marketing and not necessarily factual.
Delrymple also notes it is important to remember that you could be doing everything right, but the vendor may do something wrong, like storing all credit card data on a single server. This creates a single big target for a hacker to go after.
“These are the rules I follow as do many of my colleagues. By following these rules, you can log on and access those Internet bargains... safely,” he concludes.
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