The Home Office issued advice on how to shop safely online after a survey by Cyber Streetwise (funded through government’s National Cyber Security Programme). Only just over a quarter (28pc) of shoppers look for the ‘s’ indicating ‘secure’ in ‘https://’ and just over half (54pc) actively look for an image of a padlock in the URL on the payments page. Other precautions recommended by Government to stay safe while shopping online include:
Use a search engine to check reviews of the store;
Use a credit card as it affords greater protection;
If ever in doubt, or if something just doesn’t feel right, don’t enter any details and leave the online store immediately;
Check delivery and returns policies; and
Most importantly, remember, if an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is.
The research pointed to the pitfalls of not prioritising security, with 11pc of consumers admitting they have been duped by bogus online stores. Organised Crime Minister at the Home Office, Karen Bradley said: “We want people to ensure they are shopping safely online, as they would on the high street, and the advice from Cyber Streetwise is integral in preventing cybercrime during the retail season. As well as checking for signs that a website is secure, there are other ways to stay safe when shopping online: installing security software, having up to date anti-virus software and using different passwords for different accounts and websites. These are just some of the basic security measures we should all be implementing.”
And founder of www.letssavemoney.com Sarah Willingham said: “We’re all tempted by a bargain and there is always great excitement on Cyber Monday with lots of great offers available. However this research from Cyber Streetwise shows that we need to be more aware of ways to identify safe shopping sites – always looking for the ‘s’ in ‘https://’ and for the padlock in the URL on the payments page is particularly important. Problems can arise if a bargain looks particularly appealing and we don’t stop to think. Rather than be swayed by bargain blindness, and offers that are too good to be true, shoppers should follow the clear advice on the Cyber Streetwise website.”
Visit https://www.cyberstreetwise.com.
