For a decade, the number of Internet purchases has exploded. Online shopping ksa has become one of the major players in the economy. When shopping on the internet, you can (and should) ask yourself the question of security, because unfortunately there are a lot of scams out there, whether it’s bank data theft, hacking, or fraud.
How to protect your banking data and avoid unpleasant surprises? Which sites can you trust? What are the most secure online payment methods? In this article, we try to give you as much advice and information as possible, so that you can protect yourself and avoid any disappointment.
Choose secure sites to shop online
First of all, a little reminder. Never respond to email solicitations for online payments that you don’t know the origin of. Some are so redundant that they’ve become famous, like those emails asking you to help them financially for a hypothetical future reward. Forget!
Sometimes the solicitations are more devious. For example, you receive a request from your insurance or tax fund, with a fine to pay for delay. In general, official sites will always ask you to connect to their platform, never to give your bank details by email. In addition, secure payment websites show a small padlock in your browser’s address bar, on the left before the site name. A padlock alone is a sign that the site is probably safe and verified, while the presence of a padlock crossed out or accompanied by a yellow triangle tells you to take your precautions. If so, don’t take any risks and change locations.
The most secure online payment methods
The blue e-card:
This option is stealing the limelight from the big names in the online payments industry because it is a very secure option and depends on your bank. So you trust your usual banking service provider.
This is software that provides you with a unique bank card number for each payment, thus preventing data theft. When you wish to make an online payment, you choose the option “payment by e-credit card” on the merchant site. Your bank’s software then opens in parallel, and provides you with a card number, an expiry date, and a cryptogram for a single transaction. You will of course have to register for this service with your bank beforehand.
If you are a frantic buyer, remember that you will have to repeat this operation each time. Also note that most banks charge for this service, with the exception of some online banks.
The 3D secure blue card:
This option, offered by Visa and MasterCard, consists of sending an SMS to confirm your purchase with a unique code, available for about five minutes. This double check limits the risk of fraud. Offered for free, it’s a great alternative for online payments.
PayPal and other payment sites:
Whether it is PayPal, the most famous, or other payment platforms (Pioneer, Google Pay, Transfer Wise, and Stripe), the principle is the same. You register on the platform and enter your bank details. The site then takes care of securing payments, asking you for your password each time. The merchant site therefore has no direct access to your data. The most skeptical will note that you must still enter your bank details with PayPal, and that like any important site, it can unfortunately be the victim of phishing (identity fraud). However, this free solution is popular with many, but unfortunately it is not available on all e-commerce sites.
Paylib:
In the same niche as PayPal, Paylib offers a payment service without bank details. This time, this service is offered directly by the banks. You will therefore need to register. The service allows you, when paying on the Internet, to pay for your purchase using only your username and connection code.
Less well known than PayPal, but just as secure, Paylib can convince those who are skeptical to go through online platforms, since Paylib is directly linked to your bank.
Some additional tips for secure payments
– Visit and pay on secure sites only displaying a small padlock on the address bar of the browser
– Use an antivirus to verify that the threat is not already present on your computer
– You can also use a VPN which makes you almost invisible on the Internet, but this option is chargeable and sometimes complex, because it slows down the connection
– Uncheck the “memorize” option on e-commerce sites, to prevent someone from using your bank details
– Check your account regularly to detect any suspicious activity
By following these few tips, you reduce the risks and you will be able to make your purchases online safely.