Our 5 tips for shopping online safely during Black Friday or Cyber ​​Monday

It's so easy to do your shopping online in one click, to compare offers from the comfort of your sofa, and to receive your purchases at home without queuing in stores… However, the simplicity of one click to validate a purchase also carries risks of fraud, theft of personal data and phishingwhich can turn a pleasant shopping experience into a nightmare. To take full advantage of the benefits of online shopping, it is essential to take certain precautions to avoid pitfalls and guarantee the security of your transactions. Here are our five practical tips for buying online safely and with peace of mind.

Tip #1: Make sure e-commerce sites are reliable

The first rule for secure online shopping is to check the reliability of the e-commerce sites you plan to buy from. A trustworthy site should display legal information, such as a physical address, telephone number, and easily accessible customer service. The legal notices, the returns policy, and the general conditions of sale (CGV) must be easily consultable, because they are important indicators of the transparency and legitimacy of a site.

Additionally, the presence of a security certificate is crucial. Depending on your web browser, it is no longer as easy as before to spot the “https” in the address or the small closed padlock in the address bar. These signs are always visible on Mozilla Firefox And Operabut on Chromium in particular, you will need to click on the icon to the left of the address bar to obtain this information. In all cases, the data you transmit to the site must be encrypted and protected against interception. Finally, do not hesitate to check online reviews and make sure the site has a good reputation among other usersby checking on review platforms or via social networks.

Tip #2: Be careful of phishing

Phishing is a fraud technique where hackers pose as trusted companies (often e-commerce sites or banks) to trick users into providing their personal and banking information. These phishing attempts usually come in the form of emails or messages resembling official notifications from well-known companiesoften asking to “verify” or “update” your information. Or even incredible price alert emails on a particular product or on a well-known e-commerce site, which will turn out to be fake.

To avoid falling into the trap, never click on a link in an email or message if you are not sure where it comes from. Instead, go directly to the site in question by entering its address into your browser. If you receive a suspicious email, check the sender's address: official company addresses never have spelling mistakes, and they use known company domains (for example, an email address from your bank will never have a generic domain like @gmail.com). Being vigilant against phishing is a crucial step in protecting your personal data.

Tip #3: Use a security suite to protect your online transactions

To protect yourself against the risks of cybercrime, it is recommended touse a comprehensive security suite that includes antivirus, firewall, and specific protections for online transactions. Some security software is equipped with features dedicated to secure payments, which isolate your browser during transactions, reducing the risk of your banking information being intercepted.

These suites also provide protection against malware and spyware that can enter your computer through fraudulent sites or infected email attachments. Additionally, they often include anti-phishing features, which alert you and block suspicious sites. Although they represent a cost, these security suites are a wise investment to protect your banking and personal data.

Avast Premium Security

Among these security suites, we can particularly mention Avast Premium Security. This antivirus integrates other complementary features that make it versatile and effective. For the subject that interests us in this article, namely, securing your online purchases, Avast Premium Security has a website legitimacy verification system and a specific phishing email detection module.

Of course, viruses, spyware, ransomware and other online threats are blocked and your wifi network is scanned by Wi-Fi Inspector, a system designed to detect vulnerabilities in your network. It includes an advanced firewall, a webcam monitoring module and an option to automatically delete any personal data when you close your web browser.

AVG Ultimate

Very complete, AVG Ultimate also offers numerous security tools for both your computer and your mobile, for your personal data or your online confidentiality. Regarding web browsing and online purchase protection, this security suite has a link scanner to avoid any suspicious sites, an email agent which analyzes the attachments of your emails, and a purchase security system and internet banking operations which avoids fraudulent sites and automatically redirects you to official sites.

And to further ensure the privacy of your digital activities and the sites you visit, AVG Ultimate also includes the Anti-Track module which prevents advertisers and companies from tracking the sites you visit and your internet searches, in order to send you targeted advertising.

Tip #4: Be wary of dropshipping sites

Dropshipping is a sales method where sellers do not have their own stock, but place orders directly with suppliers, often located abroad, who send the products directly to buyers. Although this business model is not illegal, it can pose quality and customer service issues.

Dropshipping sites are not all secure and can sometimes hide behind a professional storefront to sell products of questionable quality or with more than comfortable margins.. Often, delivery times are much longer than advertised, and returns can be complicated. To avoid unpleasant surprises, check the returns and shipping policy before ordering, and pay attention to customer reviews, which can alert you to the reliability of the company.

Tip #5: Avoid saving your banking details on the merchant’s website

While saving banking information on commerce sites may seem convenient, it comes with risks. Indeed, if the site in question suffers an attack or if your account is compromised, your banking information could fall into the hands of cybercriminals. Many companies have recently paid the price, such as Intermarché or Free.

It's best to enter your banking information with every purchase, although it may seem tedious. Some sites also offer secure payment options such as PayPal or Apple Pay, which allow you to not share your banking details directly with the merchant site. You can also opt for a virtual bank card or an e-bank card, which generates a unique card number for each transaction, thus ensuring maximum security.

Applying these few simple tips will allow you to shop online safely and with complete peace of mind. And this is valid not only for commercial events like Black Friday, but also for all your banking transactions.