OTRS Group has compiled the seven most important tips for secure online shopping
Cupertino, November 23, 2020 – On Black Friday, cyber attacks on online stores are around 70 percent higher than on other days. The general increase in online shopping also tempts hackers to attack more frequently. Nevertheless, consumers should not let the desire to shop be taken away from them.
The experts at OTRS AG have compiled the seven most important tips for secure online shopping.
“With temporally limited special offers like on Black Friday many humans want to strike above all fast to get the best bargain. That often leads to the fact that the safety references are not considered correctly , say Jens Bothe, safety expert and global Director Consulting with the OTRS AG. “Therefore it is essential, especially during busy shopping hours like Black Friday, to follow the security tips to avoid unpleasant surprises”.
1. Only with current operating systems and apps can shoppers buy safely online
Consumers now store not only with their PC, but also with smartphones and tablets from anywhere. The recommendation, however, is to make purchases in a safe environment at home rather than in a public place such as a café. It is also important to shop only with the end device that has the latest operating system and apps with the latest updates. If the system is vulnerable to malware, the other security measures will not be able to do anything either.
2. Look for certificates and seals of approval
There are seals of approval from various providers that speak for the corresponding security of an online store. For the German-speaking countries Trusted Shops and S@fer-Shopping are to be called here.
The SSL certificates, to recognize by the “lock symbol” in the URL bar, prove that the server actually corresponds to the appropriate Webshop. For this purpose the browser checks whether the certificate matches the URL of the website, whether it is valid and whether it has been signed by a trustworthy authority.
To be on the safe side, you should first of all buy from known online merchants via known apps. With lesser known ones, there is a risk that the stores have only just been established and may not always be able to provide the desired services right away.
3. Use a secure password for each online store
It is not uncommon for criminals to try to obtain passwords in addition to account information in order to order goods at the expense of others or to misuse credit card data for other purposes. Therefore, you should make sure that you use a different and secure password for each online merchant in order to shop safely.
4. Do not click on e-mail offers
In so-called phishing mails, special offers from supposed online merchants are presented. Websites from Amazon or other well-known online merchants are simulated and may actually look very similar. This phenomenon has become even more apparent since the Corona crisis and the increased sales of online stores. To be sure that this is not a scam, you should not click on the link in the mail, but rather go directly to the page of the online store to continue surfing.
5. Choose a secure payment method
During the payment process you should make sure to choose secure payment processes, such as Visa Secure. You can approve the payment directly in the VR-SecureCARD App or have a secure transaction number (TAN) sent to your cell phone in an SMS to protect online credit card payments. Another possibility, which is already practiced in many countries, is the use of unique digital payment codes. Within the banking app, consumers can have a unique code generated that can be used instead of the credit card number when paying online and then expires. So even if hackers get the code, they can no longer use it to make purchases.
6. Button solution
In order to prevent buyers from falling into subscription traps, the wording on the button at the end of an order process must clearly state that the order is subject to payment. This is the so-called button solution. Consumers should therefore pay more attention to the last click, even if insufficient wording does not result in a binding contract.
7. Confirmation of the receipt of an order
You should also make sure that the goods are described and specified exactly before you buy. Beware of too many positive reviews, they could also be faked. Consumers should always have the receipt of the order confirmed in writing by the online merchant to have security in case of any problems. In addition, the delivery date should be mentioned in the order receipt. If the goods do not arrive in time, unpleasant surprises can occur at Christmas.
As provider of the security solution STORM, OTRS is always up to date with security trends and needs.
About OTRS AG
OTRS Group is the manufacturer and the world’s largest provider of the service management suite OTRS, awarded with the SERVIEW CERTIFIED TOOL seal of approval.
It offers flexible solutions for process and communication management to companies of all sizes, saving them time and money. Among its customers are Lufthansa, Airbus, IBM, Porsche, Siemens, BSI (Federal Office for Security in Information Technology), Max Planck Institute, Toyota, Hapag Lloyd and Banco do Brazil (Bank of Brazil). OTRS is available in 40 languages. The company consists of OTRS AG and its six subsidiaries OTRS Inc. (USA), OTRS S.A. de C.V. (Mexico), OTRS Asia Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), OTRS Asia Ltd. (Hong Kong), OTRS do Brasil Soluções Ltda. (Brazil) and OTRS Magyarország Kft. (Hungary). OTRS AG is listed on the basic board of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. For more information, see www.otrs.com.