Shop safely online with Google

Do you know what to look for when you’re online shopping?  A great deal, perhaps a recommendation from a previous user?  But have you ever thought about the browser you’re using, or whether you have a secure internet connection?  It’s important to be smarter when shopping online, particularly in this time of booming eCommerce, and it’s worth considering online safety when you are sharing your personal information.It’s important to be smarter when shopping online, particularly in this time of booming eCommerce, and it’s worth considering online safety when you are sharing your personal information.Google wants to encourage Kiwis to get smart online while shopping.  It’s easy to make sure you’re safe by just following a few simple steps.  Martin Cocker, NetSafe Executive Director agrees."You can find lots of tools to help you shop online safely.  It’s important to use the tools that are available to you, and also follow the advice of experts who can tell what you need to do to stay safe online all the time,” he says.Google has put together some top tips on how to be a smart and savvy online shopper – as outlined below. These tips can help you to stay safe online. And don’t forget to use your common sense: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is!Shopping smarter online: Six top tips from Google

1. Look for https Before typing in your credit card number or other sensitive information, make sure the data is being sent over a secure connection. Usually this means that the website address starts with "https”.
2. Keep all software up to date Browsers are not the only piece of software that should be kept updated. All applications, including software plug-ins for browsers like Adobe Flash, need to be up-to-date.
3. Use a strong password Try to create unique passwords for all websites that you log in to, particularly your most sensitive accounts like banks and email. Strong passwords typically use a combination of uppercase, lowercase, punctuation and numbers. Also try to avoid using common words.
4. Have an up to date browser Your browser is typically your first line of defence against malware. No matter what browser you use make sure it’s up to date, as older versions are vulnerable to exploits.
5. Stop when you encounter a warning Modern browsers will prevent you from visiting websites that may contain malware, or try to steal your personal information. If you encounter a warning when visiting a website, make sure you really trust the site before continuing.
6. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is Be wary of unsolicited emails or instant messages asking you to send money or say that you’ve won a prize. Most of these are hoaxes that try to trick you into giving away your personal information.