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Today's Featured Website: amazon.com
One of the oldest "stores" on the Internet, amazon.com sells everything from books to electronics, to music, to CDs, to tools and hardware and lawn and patio furniture. They're known for their reliability and are one of the most secure sites to purchase from.
http://www.amazon.com
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Today's Featured Computer Term: Encryption
The translation of data into a secret code. Encryption is the most effective way to achieve data security. To read an encrypted file, you must have access to a secret key or password that enables you to decrypt it. Unencrypted data is called plain text; encrypted data is referred to as cipher text.
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Today's Topic: Safe Shopping on the Internet
A lot of being a savvy online consumer is common sense, but if you are new to the Internet and online buying you may not know the facts. Here are things to look for before you enter your credit card number.
Look for the secure transaction symbol on your screen before entering your credit card number. This will look like a padlock on the very bottom of your browser. Do not enter credit card information without seeing that symbol. That symbol tells you that your information will be encrypted as it goes over the Internet.
Check for a money back guarantee from the seller and the product's warranty before buying.
Use a credit card instead of a bank debit card. Credit cards will usually help you if you are ripped off.
When you make a purchase online, get some proof that you did. Print the page that shows what you ordered and your information. Keep the printout and record the date and time on it. If you don't receive your ordered items, you will know when you purchased and the order number.
Try to determine if the company is genuine before ordering. Does it have brick and mortar stores? Does it have a good reputation? If you have never heard of the company, it does not necessarily mean not to order from them. But you should check them out a little further. You can contact The Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) and The National Associations Of Attorneys General (www.naag.org) online to investigate the company.
If you go to one of the popular auctions, be sure to check the feedback area about the seller. Auctions like EBay (www.ebay.com) keep a log of customer complaints and comments on the seller.
There are also many ways that you can check out the product online before you buy. If you are contemplating whether or not the item is safe, you can check their safety record with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (cpsc.gov).
Buying online is generally safe, cost efficient, and easy to do, but just as in the real world, you need to protect yourself. When you buy from a roadside dealer, you are a little more careful about the value and whether you can get your money back on an item. Since Internet stores can be put up by anyone very easily, you need to exercise the same care. |
