As the Republic Day long weekend approaches, one of the hallmarks of this time of the year is the much-awaited sale week. In the age of digital transformation, the trend of seasonal sales on e-commerce platforms has become incredibly popular, thanks to tempting deals on premium products.
To ensure a safe and hassle-free shopping experience during these Republic Day sales, here are some tips from Sophos to navigate the virtual markets and find great deals.
Tips for safe shopping during the Republic Day sales
Use an ad blocker – Ads not only track your every move and collect enough information about your habits, but they are also a major source of malicious links and misleading content on the Internet. Not only is your browsing safer, it’s also faster and uses less bandwidth. Two of our favorites are Ad Block and Ghostery.
Avoid using a single account across multiple services – When connecting to an e-commerce site, it is often tempting to use the “Log in with Facebook” or “Log in with Google” button. Although creating a new connection will take a few extra minutes, it will provide more privacy because you’re not sharing every site you shop on with these tech giants.
Use guest login when available – In addition to allowing you to use an account on other websites, many have the option to use a guest login rather than creating a new account. This is a great option if you don’t anticipate needing technical support or doing repeat business. Fewer passwords, less personal data, fewer problems in case of hacking.
Do not save card details – Many e-commerce sites store your credit card information in your profile by default for your “convenience” (or in the hope that you will shop there again). They can’t lose what they don’t have, so tell them not to keep your credit card unless necessary.
Use credit, not debit – We all need to be wary of overspending during the season, but it’s best to leave the debit card at home. Credit cards offer considerably more protection against online fraud, and you are in a position of power in a conflict. You can simply not pay your bill while disputing the charges, rather than letting criminals directly drain your bank account of your hard-earned money.
Be wary of direct messages via social media/chat apps – With modern generative AI technology, it is almost trivial to create an entirely fake online store and trick people into sharing their personal information and payment data with you. It’s safer to shop on established sites or those personally recommended by friends and family. Many unsolicited messages lead to data collection or theft.
Don’t click on offers in emails that seem too good to be true or come from companies you don’t have an account for – these could be phishing emails hoping to trick you into clicking on links to fake sites Malicious webs.
Online shopping during this Republic Day sale week can be a safe and convenient experience when approached with careful planning and awareness. By following these tips, you can ensure a smooth virtual shopping journey, allowing you to enjoy this seasonal sale week with joy and confidence.
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