“Online shopping is fast and convenient,” says Thomas Pays, co-founder and CEO of i-Pay – a South African EFT payment gateway. “As more and more South Africans make use of online shopping, it is crucial that the public is made aware of how to avoid the dangers of cybercrime,” Pays says. Pays offers the following tips for keeping your money secure when shopping online: Do: Know your http from your https When you see ‘https’ at the start of a URL, the ‘s’ at the end stands for ‘Secure’. This means all information between your browser and the website is encrypted You should only ever use https sites when making online payments, including when you buy gifts on websites, because of the encryption safety feature. Don’t: Be reckless with your information B careful what sites you visit and what pop up icons or screens you click on, especially if you are new to online shopping. This is because some of these may be harmful to your device as cybercriminals can use them as a way to steal your information. Do: Make it work for you Online shopping is convenient, so enjoy the extra time it provides by allowing you to avoid the festive-season crowds. Don’t: Let cybercrime scare you By remaining vigilant, using secure sites and keeping your personal information hidden, you can keep your money safe from cybercriminals this festive season while also enjoying the convenience of online shopping.
