• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GO TO EXPAT LIVING SINGAPORE
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Hong Kong HomepageExpat Living Hong Kong

Moving to Hong Kong and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Hong Kong.

Menu
  • Living In Hong Kong
      • Living Here
      • Where To Live
      • Schools
      • For Guys
        • Traditional festivals in Hong Kong - Dragon Boat FestivalTraditional Festivals & Events in HK
        • Junk boat rental and catering companies in Hong Kong - Charter JunksA guide to junk companies & caterers
        • 5 Reasons to Use a VPN in HK
        • South Lantau - moving to Hong KongGuide to Pui O Village, South Lantau
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things To Do
      • What’s On/Calendar
      • Competitions & Offers
        • Public swimming pools in Hong Kong - Tung ChungBest public pools for families
        • Traditional festivals in Hong Kong - Dragon Boat FestivalTraditional Festivals & Events in HK
        • Top beaches in Hong Kong - Stanley BeachTop 35 Best Things To Do In Hong Kong This Weekend
        • What to watch this month – Netflix & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Activities & Things To Do
      • Education & Enrichment
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mums & Babies
      • Podcasts
        • Public swimming pools in Hong Kong - Tung ChungBest public pools for families
        • image of family for story on advice for expat parents raising third culture kidsAdvice for expat parents
        • Filling the learning gap in the COVID recovery
        • Cambridge education at CDNIS - Students on the summer learning programmeGet a Taste of a Cambridge Education in HK!
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Décor
      • Readers Homes
        • Stanley Home - outside area with ocean viewSee inside this stylish Stanley home
        • Children's books author Bhakti Mathur in hr home on the Peak Hong KongA writer’s retreat on The Peak
        • Asian furniture and home décor - Altfield swirl vases7 must-have Asian classic pieces
        • Causeway Bay apartment home makeover - Christina Standaloft and partnerSpace-savvy Causeway Bay home makeover
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Short Breaks
      • Further Afield
      • Travel News & Offers
        • Junk boat rental and catering companies in Hong Kong - Charter JunksA guide to junk companies & caterers
        • South Lantau - moving to Hong KongGuide to Pui O Village, South Lantau
        • Mount KinabuluClimbing Mount Kinabalu in Sabah
        • Top beaches in Hong Kong - Stanley BeachTop beaches in Hong Kong
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Recipes & Groceries
      • Bars & Restaurants
        • Middle Eastern restaurants in Hong Kong -Maison LibanaiseTaste Test: Middle Eastern Eats
        • Harbourside Grill5 Dining discoveries in Hong Kong
        • Salted Vanilla Caramel Ice Cream Balls Recipe
        • Baan Thai restaurant in Hong Kong, Thai foodTaste Test: Thai food in Hong Kong
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • Skincare anti-ageing products, overnight creams, face and eye serumsTried and Tested: Anti-ageing Products 
        • Best foundationsFab foundations for hot climates
        • Tried and Tested: Lip glosses and lip liners
        • Teenager having a facialWhen is it time for your first facial?
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Medical & Dental
      • Fitness
      • Wellness
        • The benefits of exercise for breast cancer
        • Menstrual cupsHave you considered a menstrual cup?
        • 6 stages of life where family medicine matters
        • pregnancy - for web article on common problems in pregnancy and how to relieve symptoms10 common problems in pregnancy & how to help
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
      • Magazine
      • Advertise With Us
        • March-May2022
        • March-May2022
        • March-May 2022 Issue – $36 (Free Shipping)
        • SALE! ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION PRINT & DIGITAL BUNDLE – $128 (USUAL $192.00)
      • View all
    Close

5 Tips for Safe Online Shopping

21 February, 2022 by Expat Living 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/nordvpn-service-for-online-privacy-and-internet-security/

The online shopping boom continues at a cracking pace, both in Hong Kong and around the world. More and more of us are embracing the variety and convenience that it offers. But have you stopped to consider the issue of internet security, and some of the risks of purchasing directly from websites? From phishing attacks to identity theft and other online scams – even just accidentally leaking personal information or bank account details – there is plenty that can go wrong.  This is why an easy-to-use VPN service and other security tools provided by the likes of NordVPN can be a great addition to your internet setup. For more food for thought, consider these five key issues around safe online shopping.

NordVPN service for digital privacy and internet security

#1 HTTP vs HTTPS

Having a gut feeling about the safety of a website will only you get you so far. Thankfully, there are some visible signs that can help as a guide. One is to check if the online store you’re visiting uses HTTPS. The extra ‘S’ at the end stands for ‘secure’; if you can see it in the URL at the top of the page, it means the admin of the website has implemented basic TLS encryption as a security step. It’s not a guarantee of 100% security, of course, but it’s a start!

#2 Are you at the right online store?

Just because you know the name of the brand you’re looking for, doesn’t mean the website for that brand is the first one you stumble upon. Always check that you’re on the correct online store before you enter any personal information as part of the check-out process. It’s easy enough for hackers and spammers to redirect you to a site that looks like the one you’re seeking but is in fact a fake. So, scrutinise the URL to make sure it’s the precise one you need. If something doesn’t look right, shut the tab and move on!

#3 Don’t use public Wi-Fi for shopping

Entering all your bank details from the comfort of home is okay (provided you’ve found the brand’s legitimate website!); however, doing this on a public Wi-Fi network isn’t such a good idea. These networks can have poor security and be a target for hackers looking for a way in. The same goes for public computers (in libraries, for example).

If you don’t have an option and you simply must use the public Wi-Fi for a purchase, be sure to use a VPN. Doing so provides an encrypted connection to protect your data.

#4 Keep an eye on your bank card

Today, more than ever, it’s important to monitor your bank statements, so you can track your purchases. Is the correct store listed in the entry on your statement? And is it the price you paid for the item? It’s another way to help you spot if scammers are at work; but it’s also a way of ensuring that legitimate stores aren’t changing prices or adding hidden fees. If something doesn’t match up, get in touch with them. Also, if you have a banking app, allowing push notifications from the app lets you follow any payment you’ve made.

NordVPN service for digital privacy and internet security

#5 Use passwords wisely

We’ve all heard jokes about the increasingly complicated passwords required by websites these days. But it makes sense – why give hackers an easier job? The problem, of course, is that it can be tricky to remember all your different passwords when you’re trying to make them unique and complex. This is where a password manager comes in. NordPass is one example of safe way to store all your passwords in a single place, then log in to your apps and websites with a single click.

Final word

As you can see, there are plenty of inherent risks in online shopping. But there’s also action you can take to secure your digital privacy before you click on the check-out cart, from being savvy about passwords to ensuring your credit card details are encrypted with a VPN. Take these on board – and happy shopping!

For more information on NordVPN, click here.

Written in collaboration with NordVPN.


See more in our Living in Hong Kong section.

Categories: Living Here Living In Hong Kong Tags: NordVPN

Get the latest events, stories and special offers
sent to your inbox.

By signing up, you'll receive our bimonthly newsletters and offers, which you can unsubscribe to anytime.

You May Also Like

Considering moving to Singapore for your next expat post?

The benefits of being a school leader

Stamford international school in Singapore

An introduction to international schools in Singapore

Primary Sidebar

  • COMPETITIONS & OFFERS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Expat Living Hong Kong, All Rights Reserved.