UK payments organisation APACS has published some good advice for online shoppers at Be Card Smart Online. Although much of this is common sense it's good to see APACS supporting online security education.A summary of the key points:
- Check that you computer has a firewall enabled
- Update your anti-virus software on a regular basis
- Never open files attached to an email from an unknown source
- If you use a wireless network, make sure it is encrypted
- Download the latest security updates automatically
- Before entering personal details, look for a padlock or a website address that starts with 'https:'
- Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails
- Ensure that you know who you are buying from
- If an offer looks too good to be true then it probably is
- Register for Verified by Visa and/or MasterCard SecureCode
- Use a strong password that will be hard for others to guess – consider using a combination of letters, numbers and symbols
- When making a purchase using Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode always look for your personal assurance message before entering your password
- Never share or write down your password
- If the website you are using has a 'sign out' or 'log out' button then click on it when you have finished shopping
- If possible avoid entering personal details or sensitive information into a public or shared computer
- Keep a copy of your order confirmation - it can help you resolve any issues that may arise
