Who Should You Give Your Information To?

Who Should You Give Your Information To?

The internet could seem like a very dangerous place, and that there are multiple people trying to steal your credentials. However, if you stay on trusted websites, you will have no difficulties and issues. Even though it may seem like there is no indication of whether or not a website is safe, there are multiple indicators of the safety level of multiple websites. If you know what to look for, you will never run into any issues using these websites. 

Paying for Things Online

Credit card scams may seem like they are all over, and that everyone is prone to have their information stolen. However, there are thousands of transactions that occur every day, and the scams are a tiny fraction of those transactions. If you follow the basic procedures, then you should most likely be okay. The most important fact is to understand the most trusted websites by multiple companies. According to The Balance, the most trusted websites are Paypal, Venmo, Square Cash, and Zelle. By checking if the website you want to use accepts one of these payments, then you should definitely choose it. 

What Information Should You Give Out?

There might be some websites asking for a lot of information, and that could seem threatening at first. Besides credit cards, you should try to see what other information you need to give them. Asking for things like a phone number or address could seem a bit dangerous, and only should be trusted by reputable companies. Asking for things like Social Security Number, or any other very personal information should be avoided at all costs, unless the website has a valid reasoning as to why. Overall, you should try to avoid giving out personal information, unless it is absolutely necessary.

Additional Steps to Safety

A very good step to stay safe online is to use a VPN. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is an application on your phone or computer which allows you to protect yourself online. A VPN can range from $3 a month to over $20 a month. However, oftentimes there are free VPNs that are advertised, but these are likely scams, and should be avoided. 

What Browsers and Internet Providers Show

Browsers and internet providers show a lot of information, which helps you to understand the safety of a website. First, check the top left of the search bar, if the screen shows a little lock, then that means the website is secure. Another message you could see is that a website is dangerous by chrome. In this situation, Chrome will display a red screen with a big warning symbol. If this occurs, you should not bypass this screen, as the website will likely be harmful to your computer. 

Staying safe online is a very easy thing that could save you from many crimes. First, knowing what credit card websites you should give your information to. Next, only giving out important information will help you. Lastly, looking for whether or not web browsers trust the website. If you follow basic procedures, and try to practice basic safety precautions, then you should be able to stay safe on the internet. 

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