Some tips for safe online purchases

Thursday, 05 February 2009 11:46

The online growth has also given rise to increased cases of scams and so consumers shopping online need to be vigilant to avoid foul play.

To protect yourself against scammers, exploiters and opportunists, you must keep your anti-virus product up to date with the latest signature files. This can significantly reduce chances of malicious code or key-logging software running on your PC without your knowledge.

Never make payments online till the Firewall of your system is enabled. The personal firewall included within Windows XP and Vista is generally considered to be insufficient. It functions well as an in-bound filter but can not properly control outbound connections.

Keep in mind the oft-repeated advice: Never select the ‘remember my password’ option when registering online because when you do this, your password gets stored on your PC and this is the first thing a scammer will target in case he gains access to your system.

Follow these simple rules and protect yourself from any untoward experience while shopping online.