Ensuring security on the internet is crucial, especially when shopping in online stores, online marketplaces (e.g., Facebook Marketplace), or conducting transactions online. We provide you with a guide for safe internet behavior to help protect yourself and your financial resources.
Card Payments
While card payments often offer faster and more convenient transactions, they also come with their risks. Without an additional level of security, there is a risk of misuse, as users not only enter their card number but also CVV or CVC codes - information that can be used by anyone who gets hold of it. Therefore, when making card payments, ideally use payment intermediaries like GoPay or GP webpay. It is advisable to avoid entering card details directly on an e-shop, especially if it is foreign.
Suspicions of Fraud
Be cautious and do not trust any unusual or suspicious offers or requests for money. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure to do research and validate if the situation is honest. If you cannot validate, better not to risk it.
Use Trustworthy Stores, Websites, and Apps
- Buy and sell only on trustworthy e-shops (which provide, for example, a business registration number, contact for support, not just a contact form, etc.), on online marketplaces, or in apps that have a good reputation and provide user protection.
- When purchasing from an e-shop, check if it is based in the European Union. This can better guarantee your rights if needed.
- Verify if the store operates on a secure HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) protocol, ensuring encrypted communication. You'll recognize this when the URL address starts with "https://" and there's a padlock icon before it. If you find out that a specific e-shop or service doesn't have encrypted communication, be alert and don't enter any information. It might be a mere error on the merchant's part, but this error poses a security risk for you.
Review and Rating Checks
Before purchasing, check reviews and ratings of the seller or product. This will give you an idea of their credibility and quality. Don't rely solely on reviews provided by the e-shop operator. Try to find information elsewhere (e.g., shop ratings on heureka.cz, etc.).
Use Secure Payment Methods
Prioritize secure payment methods like credit cards or payments through online payment gateways that provide consumer protection. Avoid sending cash or using unverified payment systems. If in doubt, order goods for cash on delivery (pay only when receiving the goods).
Protect Your Personal Data
Never send sensitive personal information such as credit card numbers, passwords, or other personal details via email, SMS, WhatsApp, or Facebook. They can easily be misused.
Beware of Phishing
Be cautious when opening emails or links coming from unknown or suspicious sources. It could be a phishing attempt, an effort to obtain your sensitive information.
An email message may contain an official logo and other elements of legitimate communication, yet it could still be phishing. Below are seven tips to help recognize phishing:
- Unexpected Email - Unrequested emails from unknown individuals need not be opened, and if so, with heightened attention.
- Request for Personal Information - No reputable bank or financial institution will ask for your internet banking password via email.
- Poor Grammar - Typos and poor language skills are warning signs that the message might be fraudulent.
- Excessive Urgency - Attackers want users to perform the requested action as quickly as possible, leaving them little time to think. So, if an email presses you too much and forces you to click a button or link, change your password, or make an immediate payment, be cautious.
- Very Favorable Offer - Free items, services at an unbelievably advantageous price, a newly found millionaire relative from Africa - all of these are typical of phishing.
- Suspicious Email Domain - The email is sent from a public email domain (e.g., gmail.com, yahoo.com, seznam.cz), or the domain name is misspelled (e.g., instead of airbank.cz, it says airbnak.cz).
- Suspicious URL Address - The address of the link you're supposed to click doesn't match the sender or the nature of the message. When you hover over the link, the URL preview doesn't correspond to the linked text in the message.
Update Your Software and Antivirus
Ensure that your computer or device is always up-to-date and that you have current antivirus software installed. This will help protect you from various online threats.
Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication
Use strong and unique passwords for different online accounts. Also, make it a habit to change passwords regularly. If possible, activate two-factor authentication for your online accounts, which enhances their security.
Educate Yourself About Various Online Scams and Threats
The more you know, the better you'll be able to protect yourself. Never send money or personal information to unknown individuals or companies without carefully verifying their credibility. And lastly - be vigilant and think carefully before entering your sensitive information anywhere.
Sources of Information:
National Cyber and Information Security Authority - [https://nukib.cz/cs/infoservis/doporuceni/](https://nukib.cz/cs/infoservis/doporuceni/)
[https://bezpecne-online.ncbi.cz/surfuj-bezpecne/nakupy-na-netu](https://bezpecne-online.ncbi.cz/surfuj-bezpecne/nakupy-na-netu)