As Internet usage becomes more common among Americans, about 90 percent of online users say they have taken some kind of action in an attempt to protect their online privacy, according to Fox Business online.
Mitch Wenger, a professor at The University of Mississippi who specializes in accounting information systems and IT auditing, said that any time you shop online, you should make it a priority to be sure the website is secure.
“You want to be careful about conducting business — say when you are on a public Wi-Fi, especially if it is insecure, (because) someone else may be trying to read what is taking place,” Wenger says. “ You want to try to reserve that type of activity for maybe behind the protection of your home network.”
Wenger, like most cyber security experts, advocates the use of cellular packet data networks rather than public wireless for sensitive transactions.
Andrew McFann, a junior social studies education major, is a frequent online shopper who is aware of safety concerns when making online purchases.
“I usually go to a website that I trust, usually a trusted, well known name brand or website,” McFann said of the basic precautions he takes.
McFann said he thinks the safest way to purchase things online is through PayPal.
“You give all your credit card and billing information to them and they give it to the websites that are supported with PayPal, so it is always a safe, secure process,” McFann said.
Another popular way of purchasing things online is through the website Craigslist.org.
However, there are a variety of things to be skeptical of when doing business on the known website, according to McFann.
“Sometimes there could be somebody trying to get you to send money to them via money order or Western Union,” McFann said. “So, if they are not wiling to provide you with a phone number to call or text, you do not really need to bother with that.”
Wenger said many Internet users leave themselves vulnerable to being hacked, especially when providing any personal information online to a website that is not secure.
Nick Biancamano, a sophomore English major, said his father learned this lesson the hard way. His father submitted private information including his social security number to a suspect tax return website. His dad had his information stolen and used to register a credit card that was maxed out and left unpaid, which damaged his dad’s credit.
“One thing that I would have to say is just to be wary of entering your personal information online and anything that seems too good to be true, then it probably is,” Biancamano said.
