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BCS: Consumers must take care shopping online
IT News |
23/12/2011
British consumers need to take additional care when shopping online, it has been claimed.
According to BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, almost £3 billion will be spent on internet retail in the UK over the festive season alone.
Some 44 per cent of UK adults spent more online for Christmas 2010 than they did in 2009, and this trend is expected to have continued this year.
Dr Robert Rowlingson, BCS author of 'The Essential Guide to Home Computer Security' said that fundamentally, web browsing is safe, with millions of people using the internet every day with no problems.
"However, there are still risks and whilst the chances are low, the impact can be extremely high, especially in the time that might be needed to sort out any problems," he stated.
"If everyone takes a few basic measures, some technical and some non-technical, then the risks associated with shopping online can be greatly reduced."
BCS has urged consumers to follow a number of best practice guidelines when shopping on the web, both at Christmas and throughout the year.
The organisation urged people to shop at well-known and respected companies wherever possible, and never click on links if they are in any way suspicious.
"Look for a tiny padlock icon in the browser, usually located at the top right of the screen, or in the space where the web address is. If it is locked, that indicates it is a secure connection," BCS explained.
The institute advised consumers to always pay by credit rather than debit card as this offers better payment protection.
"Try to avoid storing your credit card on a company’s website. If that website is hacked, your details are vulnerable," BCS noted.
"Only provide financial information just as you make a purchase and always provide the minimum amount of information."
The institute urged consumers to avoid giving out full contact details, to protect against spam and other malware appearing in their personal email accounts.
"It's a good idea to create a 'dummy' e-mail account to input into forms that ask for one," it stated.
Consumers should always read websites' privacy policies and find out what they intend to do with your data. Where possible consumers should opt out, BCS said.
Finally, the institute called on consumers to install and run anti-virus software, as malicious software is a frequent source of security incidents.
Research conducted by Boston Consulting Group in 2010 indicated that e-commerce is worth £100 billion per year to the UK economy.
Posted by Stephen Wilkinson
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