{"id":22564,"date":"2022-11-24T22:59:57","date_gmt":"2022-11-25T06:59:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/?p=22564"},"modified":"2024-01-30T10:39:46","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T18:39:46","slug":"safe-online-shopping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/safe-online-shopping\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stay Safe When Shopping Online"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve all been there, especially during the holidays. You see a Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal, it\u2019s from a retailer you\u2019ve not seen before, and it seems too good to be true. Spoiler alert, it probably is. <strong>You might want to think twice before clicking on a random advertisement<\/strong>. Why? It\u2019s probably a scam and you\u2019ll never receive the item. Worse yet, your financial and personal information is now in their hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shockingly, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.infosecurity-magazine.com\/news\/half-black-friday-spam-emails-scam\/\">over 50% of Black Friday emails<\/a> sent between October and November 2022 were detected as scams. It\u2019s not getting any better either. Americans are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.helpnetsecurity.com\/2022\/09\/06\/consumers-concerned-fraud\/\">59% more afraid of online shopping fraud<\/a> than they were last year, and <strong>many see being scammed as an unavoidable consequence of online shopping<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Don\u2019t accept online scams as an everyday side effect of cyber shopping<\/strong>. You can get amazing online deals without putting your personal and financial information at risk. We\u2019ll show you how <strong>a few simple steps can make your online shopping experience safer<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background-color: #d5dde3; padding: 15px; border-radius: 10px; width: 500px;\">\n<h4>Table of Contents<\/h4>\n<a href=\"#risks\">What Are the Risks of Shopping Online\n<\/a><br>\n<a href=\"#tips-sale\">5 Tips for Safe Online Shopping<\/a><br>\n  <section style=\"text-indent: 15px;\"><a href=\"#retailers\">1. Buy Directly from Retailers<\/a><\/section>\n  <section style=\"text-indent: 15px;\"><a href=\"#digital-payment\">2. Use Digital Payment Methods<\/a><\/section>\n  <section style=\"text-indent: 15px;\"><a href=\"#devices\">3. Secure Your Devices &amp; Network<\/a><\/section>\n  <section style=\"text-indent: 15px;\"><a href=\"#instincts\">4. Trust Your Instincts<\/a><\/section>\n  <section style=\"text-indent: 15px;\"><a href=\"#alarm\">5. Raise the Alarm<\/a><\/section>\n<a href=\"#online-shopping\">Does PIA Make Online Shopping Safer?<\/a><br>\n<a href=\"#year\">Stay Safe Online Year-Round\n<\/a><br>\n<a href=\"#faq\">FAQ<\/a><br>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"risks\"><strong>What Are the Risks of Shopping Online?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not using safe online shopping habits presents <strong>a risk to your personal and financial information, device, and network<\/strong>. Let\u2019s check out some of the most costly online shopping risks.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Financial\/credit card fraud<\/strong> \u2014 Credit card fraud alone cost Americans <a href=\"https:\/\/www.security.org\/digital-safety\/credit-card-fraud-report\/#:~:text=%2438%20million%20dollars%20in%20reported%20credit%20card%20fraud%20tied%20directly%20to%20COVID%2D19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">$38 million during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic<\/a>. Scam sites, deceptive advertising, and cybercriminals increase the potential for <strong>duplicate transactions and fraudulent purchases<\/strong> while shopping from home.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Non-payment\/non-delivery<\/strong> \u2014 Non-payment\/non-delivery scams cost Americans <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fbi.gov\/how-we-can-help-you\/safety-resources\/scams-and-safety\/common-scams-and-crimes\/holiday-scams#:~:text=non%2Dpayment%20or%20non%2Ddelivery%20scams%C2%A0cost%20people%20more%20than%20%24337%20million\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">over $337 million in 2021<\/a>. The temptation to click on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter advertisements is real, but many of these sites are scams. You either <strong>don\u2019t receive the item or it isn\u2019t anything like the description or image<\/strong> if you do.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Phishing emails<\/strong> \u2014 Around <a href=\"https:\/\/earthweb.com\/how-many-phishing-emails-are-sent-daily\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">90% of all data breaches in 2022<\/a> are due to spear phishing emails. These emails attempt to get you to reveal private personal information, and often <strong>result in spamming your device <\/strong>with malware, trackers, ransomware, or other harmful software.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Identity theft<\/strong> \u2014 Online identity theft is a major concern for online shoppers, with around <a href=\"https:\/\/mycreditsummit.com\/identity-theft-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">33% of all Americans<\/a> experiencing it at some point. Giving your personal and financial information to an untrustworthy retailer can result in them using your data to <strong>open fraudulent accounts, make unauthorized purchases, and more<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/buy-vpn-online?conversionpoint=safe_online_shopping\"><button class=\"bg-btn-1\"> Shop Safer with PIA <\/button><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tips-sale\"><strong>5 Tips for Safe Online Shopping<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The internet is filled with scam advertisements and shops. <strong>Being scammed is disappointing and humiliating, but the bigger issue is the amount of information you give scam retailers<\/strong>. They get access to your name, address, financial information, and email. At the bare minimum, you should get ready for an influx of phishing scams disguised as special offers on Black Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Luckily, you can <strong>avoid scam advertisers and retailers by following a few basic rules<\/strong> while shopping online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"retailers\"><strong>1. Buy Directly from Retailers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Avoid scammers by purchasing directly from retailers. If a retailer, like Amazon, offers several different stores, make sure you pay attention to complaints and reviews. Buying directly through a retailer doesn\u2019t make a purchase 100% safe, so <strong>you need to follow a few basic guidelines to keep your information safe<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none\"><strong>\u2705 Use a retailer\u2019s designated app<\/strong> \u2014 Don\u2019t follow links from social media or other sites to purchase items. Use the retailer\u2019s designated app when shopping on a mobile device or its website via PC. If you see something you like, take a couple of seconds to jot down the manufacturer and item name, <strong>even if the link leads to a legitimate site like Amazon.<\/strong><br><br>\nThen look it up on the official retailer site or mobile app and make your purchase. <strong>Additionally, only purchase gift cards from authorized retailers or the retailer itself<\/strong>, to ensure you get a valid card. Being diligent helps you avoid trackers and tons of personalized ads from web browsers and social media.<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none\"><strong>\u2705 Look for the lock<\/strong> \u2014 A lock icon to the left of a website URL in the address bar means it uses secure socket layer (SSL). Another easy way to tell if a retailer uses SSL is if the URL begins with HTTPS. When a website uses SSL to encrypt online communications, it keeps any sensitive information entered on the site private. Try to <strong>avoid using any retailers who don\u2019t use SSL<\/strong> to protect your personal and financial information. \n<\/ul><br>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/xqCamYTZrcnGKn6zuB43R7YLxWFVbndMLDDYo3RjlMJv02KHNd6-PkOneHCIBD75Bg9AAeEaQ3BskEn0zhv1amgf38bGELoaN1EQdGhd-hGpKbGJXxoxKQIIaDWPP0R5wluI63h5UE-5uom9qWLVZ48XKyayfp24kjtFQ3zpEDJWe-c3XIt7-fz9PGImfg\" width=\"624\" height=\"276\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none\"><strong>\u26d4 Don\u2019t ignore security prompts<\/strong> \u2014 If you have a VPN, antivirus software, firewall, or other security and privacy software installed, don\u2019t ignore security prompts. <strong>They usually pop up because a site or app is buggy or considered unsafe.<\/strong> You can always find the same item somewhere else, without potentially putting your personal information at risk.\n<\/ul><br>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none\"><strong>\u2705 Stick with familiar retailers<\/strong> \u2014 When in doubt, stick to retailers you know and trust, <strong>whether local or mainstream.<\/strong> Amazon, Etsy, Wayfair, Walmart, and other major retailers all provide amazing deals for the holidays or everyday shopping, and <strong>are far safer than unknown retailers.<\/strong> \n<\/ul><br>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none\"><strong>\u2705 Check out retailers you\u2019re unsure of<\/strong> \u2014 Not every unknown retailer or new shopping app is scammy. It\u2019s perfectly fine to use one if you do your due diligence first. Pay attention to comments and complaints, <strong>do research on the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and read reviews for retailers online.<\/strong> If more people are complaining about a retailer than promoting it, it\u2019s a good indicator to stay away. \n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"digital-payment\"><strong>2. Use Digital Payment Methods<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check out using ApplePay, Google Pay, PayPal, or cryptocurrency when available. <strong>Digital payment methods provide added privacy and protection<\/strong>. You won\u2019t need to continually enter your credit card or banking information on multiple sites. Just choose your payment method (log in if needed) and check out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"devices\"><strong>3. Secure Your Devices &amp; Network<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the best things you can do to <strong>protect yourself against cyber threats<\/strong> is to secure your network and devices. These basic tips and tools can help you get on the right track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none\"><strong>\u2705 Use a VPN<\/strong> \u2014 Nothing can give you complete anonymity online, but <strong>a VPN can increase your level of anonymity.<\/strong> PIA provides strong encryption to make your traffic unreadable. We also use secure protocols like WireGuard\u00ae or OpenVPN for safer connections to and from the VPN server. <br><br>\nEnsure the VPN you choose has a strict no-logs policy to prevent collecting, storing, sharing, or selling your data. This way <strong>your personal data, location, and browsing habits remain private.<\/strong> A kill switch is also an excellent feature, as it helps prevent data and location leaks if you\u2019re suddenly disconnected from the VPN or lose your internet connection. At PIA, we offer both.\n \n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none\"><strong>\u2705 Install antivirus software<\/strong> \u2014 Even if you have a VPN installed, you still need antivirus protection. PIA has an antivirus add-on, but not every VPN does. It isn\u2019t standard practice and most VPNs can\u2019t protect you against viruses. <strong>Antivirus is necessary because it protects your software and hardware from virus attacks<\/strong> that can cripple your network and destroy your devices.\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none\"><strong>\u2705 Strengthen the 3 P\u2019s<\/strong> \u2014 Create <strong>strong passwords, PINs, and patterns<\/strong> for all sensitive hardware and frequently used devices, including your router. Avoid using sequential numbers (e.g., 1234, 7654, 0000) or easily accessible information like your birth year or graduation year. Device patterns must also be unique. Stay away from simplistic lines and shapes (e.g., L-shape, straight lines in any direction,  or a square). \n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/yPDD8eS1Ju78ZFm3ABUXgS01OH41FIs2hG-4SKCY9kXYwJErq2ouwQzvCVRDcoT-7bYNQWnZzwD1fF7hwogGSzk1uuERmfEUgO2b7DsdxEFobHgSJ9mE2B4u-QwqfJ9XC-OvyqVgqoFfBsrfWTf8aA9zuesJwDrWASUUmoSUUMgOndJV9TK8y2YZ-wsVJg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">There are tons of good &amp; free password generators out there, like the one from F-Secure.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none\">When choosing passwords, <strong>use a combination of lower and uppercase letters, numbers, and punctuation or symbols.<\/strong> Never use your name or anything easily obtainable from your social media, like nicknames people call you or your pets\u2019 names.\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none\"><strong>\u2705 Use two-factor authentication<\/strong> \u2014 Using two-factor authentication (2FA), also known as multi-factor authentication (MFA), is an excellent way to make sure every purchase is made by you. <strong>2FA options include SMS (text), PIN, push notifications, and one-time passwords (OTP).<\/strong> Some retail apps, email providers, and mobile devices give you the option to use 2FA. GooglePay, PayPal, or ApplePay can also prompt you to enter a password or PIN anytime a purchase or account access is attempted. \n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none\"><strong>\u2705 Personalize and privatize your network<\/strong> \u2014 Name your network, make it private, and create a strong password for your router. Private networks with passwords are more difficult for cybercriminals to manipulate. It\u2019s best to shop in the safety of your home using your private network.<br><br>\n\nAvoid using public Wi-Fi to shop whenever possible and, if you really need to, make sure you use a VPN when you connect. A VPN <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/vpn-features\/vpn-encryption\">masks your traffic with encryption<\/a> and provides a secure connection when you\u2019re using public Wi-Fi or unsecured networks. \n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"list-style-type: none\"><strong>\u2705 Keep your firmware and software updated<\/strong> \u2014 Install security updates for mobile and desktop as soon as it becomes available, and download firmware updates to your router for optimum functionality. These <strong>updates fix existing issues, keep hardware running smoothly, or strengthen your security.<\/strong> Regularly installing updates helps prevent anyone from exploiting weaknesses in your network and devices.\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"instincts\"><strong>4. Trust Your Instincts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When something doesn\u2019t add up, <strong>don\u2019t push your doubts aside \u2014 investigate<\/strong>. Deals seeming too good to be true usually are. Websites and services asking for information you don\u2019t really need to provide are usually a scam.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most <strong>retailers and services don\u2019t need your social security number or birthdate to sell you something<\/strong>. Of course, exceptions exist for sites needing to verify your age, such as an adult-only website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"alarm\"><strong>5. Raise the Alarm<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you find a scam site or have an unfortunate experience with a seller or retailer, raise the alarm. Leave a review or comment and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/state-consumer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">report the fraudulent site or service<\/a> to the authorities. <strong>You can make a difference to someone else<\/strong> who may not be as knowledgeable about safe online shopping as you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/buy-vpn-online?conversionpoint=safe_online_shopping\"><button class=\"bg-btn-1\"> Stay Safe Online <\/button><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"online-shopping\"><strong>Does PIA Make Online Shopping Safer?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/elAdHLVm08PfDVDrEdJ5oRudpvxJlFAdXq2ZEa71Z4p65TGZzjp9AuI7B_7flvdFxF9OI8PdRES-ypV8WjPQ86W7pBE40bp1-zEi3xbS6H7ug6aWdcSR2syWOQImUF2TddogFroHCipAJ_vjmBjMuOm9up2pg7II1ycvZVVD8LYGqYTOpgSMRZopDyY3Iw\" alt=\"\" width=\"501\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">PIA can help protect you while shopping online.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Absolutely<strong>. PIA provides all the tools you need to protect your online traffic.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You can pick your encryption level<\/strong>. Use our default 128-bit AES encryption for everyday tasks and faster streaming, or choose military-grade 256-bit AES encryption for added security to mask your traffic. Both forms of encryption are currently unhackable, so <strong>even if a cybercriminal could intercept your information, it\u2019s unreadable<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PIA also comes with an all-in-one blocker (MACE) to <strong>block annoying ads and other harmful software<\/strong> at the DNS level before it reaches your device. That means <strong>you can shop online without being followed<\/strong>. You can also choose add-ons like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/antivirus\">our antivirus protection<\/a>, to remove malware and stop viruses without tracking and logging.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where you shop online, what you browse for, and what services you use are your business. <strong>PIA never collects your usage data<\/strong>. Our No Logs policy is court-tested \u2014 we never have any data to hand over on request. Since it\u2019s the season, we also have an excellent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/black-friday-vpn\"><strong>Black Friday VPN<\/strong><\/a> offer and you get a 30-day money-back guarantee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"year\"><strong>Stay Safe Online Year-Round<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Protecting yourself online is your responsibility. Fortunately, <strong>you can have a safer online shopping experience by following a few simple steps. <\/strong>Any time of the year is an excellent time to be mindful of your privacy and security while shopping online.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PIA can help you<strong> <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/buy-vpn-online?conversionpoint=safe_online_shopping\"><strong>shop more securely all year<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 use your subscription on as many devices as you want. You can <strong>safeguard your personal and financial information <\/strong>from all your most used devices for online shopping. We include antivirus, an all-in-one blocker (MACE), and you can use military-grade 256-bit AES encryption for added security.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/buy-vpn-online?conversionpoint=safe_online_shopping\"><button class=\"bg-btn-1\"> Get Private Internet Access <\/button><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\"><strong>FAQ<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1669330973263\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is Online Shopping safe?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. <strong>When you take proper precautions, online shopping is just as safe as going to a physical store<\/strong>. Be careful about where you shop. Choose the appropriate protection for your data and online shopping devices, including a VPN and antivirus software. Above all, never give your sensitive information to sites you\u2019re wary of, <strong>and<\/strong> <strong>if something seems off don\u2019t ignore the feeling<\/strong>.<br><br>PIA provides a VPN, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/antivirus\">antivirus<\/a> add-on, and a blocker in one app. <strong>You can protect your privacy, avoid viruses, and block intrusive trackers<\/strong> without installing three different forms of software.\u00a0<br><br><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1669330989103\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">How can you tell if an online store isn\u2019t safe?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You may receive <strong>prompts from your VPN, antivirus, or firewall,<\/strong> alerting you a site may be unsafe and asking if you want to continue despite the warning. You can also look to the left of your URL on the address bar for the lock icon \u2013 if you don\u2019t see one, the site doesn\u2019t use SSL. <strong>Sites not using SSL don\u2019t offer data encryption<\/strong>.<br><br>PIA uses SSL protocol to offer secure browsing and checkout. The VPN also offers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/vpn-features\/wireguard\">WireGuard\u00ae<\/a> and OpenVPN, two of the strongest secure open-source protocols available.<br><br><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1669331000891\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">What can you do to stay safe when you shop online?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\"><strong>It\u2019s important to remain vigilant<\/strong> \u2013 no one can protect your data as you can. Make sure you <strong>shop with trusted retailers<\/strong> and always <strong>use security software, including VPNs. <\/strong>VPNs protect and send your traffic through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/vpn-features\/vpn-encryption\">an encrypted tunnel<\/a>. This keeps your internet activity safe, and stops any unwanted eyes from seeing what you\u2019re up to.\u00a0<br><br><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1669331009794\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is it safer to use a credit or debit card?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Both are safe, but <strong>using a digital payment method like GooglePay or PayPal provides added privacy when shopping online<\/strong>. Shop directly from a retailer\u2019s app or site, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/buy-vpn-online?conversionpoint=safe_online_shopping\"><strong>get PIA to increase your security<\/strong><\/a> while using your credit or debit card online.\u00a0<br><br><\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1669331018865\"><h3 class=\"schema-faq-question\">Does PIA protect you when you shop online?<\/h3> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. <strong>Browse for interesting products privately<\/strong> with a new IP address from any of the 80+ countries in our server network.\u00a0<br><br>PIA <strong>secures your online connection<\/strong> and prevents sites from offloading malware and trackers to your devices. The VPN includes a <a href=\"https:\/\/helpdesk.privateinternetaccess.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/46776990337947-The-Kill-Switch-and-ensuring-your-security-and-privacy-are-not-interrupted\">Kill Switch<\/a> to prevent data and location leaks. In addition, PIA offers two unhackable forms of AES encryption to safeguard your traffic.\u00a0<br><br><\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Want more privacy while shopping online? Discover how you can increase your privacy and make online shopping safer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":22567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2579],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22564","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-online-privacy"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.9 (Yoast SEO v26.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Stay Safe When Shopping Online | PIA VPN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Want more privacy while shopping online? Discover how you can increase your privacy and make online shopping safer.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/safe-online-shopping\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Stay Safe When Shopping Online\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Want more privacy while shopping online? 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The VPN also offers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/vpn-features\/wireguard\">WireGuard\u00ae<\/a> and OpenVPN, two of the strongest secure open-source protocols available.<br\/><br\/>","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/safe-online-shopping\/#faq-question-1669331000891","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/safe-online-shopping\/#faq-question-1669331000891","name":"What can you do to stay safe when you shop online?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"<strong>It\u2019s important to remain vigilant<\/strong> \u2013 no one can protect your data as you can. Make sure you <strong>shop with trusted retailers<\/strong> and always <strong>use security software, including VPNs. <\/strong>VPNs protect and send your traffic through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/vpn-features\/vpn-encryption\">an encrypted tunnel<\/a>. This keeps your internet activity safe, and stops any unwanted eyes from seeing what you\u2019re up to.\u00a0<br\/><br\/>","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/safe-online-shopping\/#faq-question-1669331009794","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/safe-online-shopping\/#faq-question-1669331009794","name":"Is it safer to use a credit or debit card?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Both are safe, but <strong>using a digital payment method like GooglePay or PayPal provides added privacy when shopping online<\/strong>. Shop directly from a retailer's app or site, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/buy-vpn-online?conversionpoint=safe_online_shopping\"><strong>get PIA to increase your security<\/strong><\/a> while using your credit or debit card online.\u00a0<br\/><br\/>","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/safe-online-shopping\/#faq-question-1669331018865","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/safe-online-shopping\/#faq-question-1669331018865","name":"Does PIA protect you when you shop online?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. <strong>Browse for interesting products privately<\/strong> with a new IP address from any of the 80+ countries in our server network.\u00a0<br\/><br\/>PIA <strong>secures your online connection<\/strong> and prevents sites from offloading malware and trackers to your devices. The VPN includes a <a href=\"https:\/\/helpdesk.privateinternetaccess.com\/kb\/articles\/the-kill-switch-and-ensuring-your-security-and-privacy-are-not-interrupted\">Kill Switch<\/a> to prevent data and location leaks. In addition, PIA offers two unhackable forms of AES encryption to safeguard your traffic.\u00a0<br\/><br\/>","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22564","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22564"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22564\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37118,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22564\/revisions\/37118"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.privateinternetaccess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}