Main threats associated with online payments

In this modern age, e-commerce -the activity of which people buy and sell things online – has been the prevalent way businesses offer their products and services to their customers. It is due to how easy and safe it is to pay for these products and services, via certain online payment methods such as PayPal and Paxum. In fact, online payment methods are easily the most secure form of payment that exists today. However, there are still some risks that may pop up when using these services. Here’s some of the main threats that you should watch out for when settling payments on the Internet.

Fraud

A majority of people use the Internet for almost everything, including banking, money transfer, and of course online payments. All of these services ask that you make an account, which requires you to input sensitive data such as your personal information and location, as well as a password to secure your account. Mobile payment services usually make sure that your online transactions stay safe from external risks. For instance, the Paxum mobile app is a secure payment platform for worldwide users to make online payments.

However, people are not infallible, and are prone to make mistakes that compromises their safety. The most common way for hackers to invade your account is if you have a weak password, or use the same password for every other account. Even the best apps only check for a username and password; anyone can claim ownership of your account as long as they have these two things and rob you blindly.

Human Error

As mentioned above, humans are not infallible, and are prone to make mistakes. But making a poor password isn’t the only way people put themselves at risk of a cyber attack. Hackers rely on taking advantage of this and prey on people who are most likely to fall for their ruses – examples being suspicious links and websites, dubious emails used for phishing, fake “free WiFi hotspots” that can steal your data, and Trojan horses alongside other kinds of malware. 

What you can do to mitigate the risks and protect yourself against these threats is to be smart and use common sense. Don’t click on any link and emails without a reliable sender or source, nor should you ever download software from unsafe websites. Avoid connecting to random public WiFi networks, and make sure to buy and download software from reputable websites.

Phishing

Phishing is the act of which an outsider acquires your username, your account details, and your passwords, usually by sending someone emails or text messages that claim to be someone they trust, after which they seek for “help” and ask the person to open a malicious link that can then steal your private information. Many individuals (especially older people) are prone to fall for this scam, and have their money either stolen or spent by awful people. 

As mentioned above, you must develop some common sense when dealing with scam emails like these. When you deem an email to be malicious, report the sender immediately and delete the email. Pay attention to the websites you go to; you might not notice that you are being phished until it’s too late.

In Conclusion

Despite being usually safe, settling your payments online still carries some risks, usually because of carelessness. As long as you pay attention to your actions, you can mitigate and outright avoid dealing with these awful threats. Stay safe out there, and enjoy the conveniences that e-commerce brings.