CAC Provides Tips For Shopping Online

The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is offering tips to ensure a safer experience for persons who shop online.

Speaking at a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’, Information Technology Manager CAC, Andrew Evelyn, said that consumers should use the “very latest web browser” when shopping online.

“They keep updating your web browser with better security features which will protect you. Also, these web browsers try and keep up to date with the latest scams and tricks that they may have on the Internet,” said Mr. Evelyn.

He further advised consumers to shop on websites with strong encryption, noting that when their credit card information is entered, it goes over the Internet in a secured way.

Mr. Evelyn pointed out that there are specific things to look out for to guarantee a secure communication between the web browser and the online vendor.

“You need to look at the URL address to ensure that it has HTTPS at the beginning or you are seeing that padlock symbol in the browser,” said Mr. Evelyn, adding that the padlock must be locked and clearly shown as being that way.

Another major tip shared was for consumers to use strong passwords.

The Information Technology Manager said persons should not use their names or that of other relatives with their date of birth as passwords.

“Your password must be at least eight characters long. It must have uppercase, lowercase, numbers [and] also symbols,” said Mr. Evelyn.

He further urged consumers not to make purchases online when connected to free Wi-Fi as “it is vulnerable to hackers who are also on the same free Wi-Fi”.

“They have ways of accessing your device while you’re on it and possibly get your credit card information or see your transactions that are going through on that network,” Mr. Evelyn added.

He also encouraged consumers to install antivirus software on their computers as another layer of protection, noting that such software usually has Internet protection.

Source: JIS