Safer Internet: Browsing: Shopping

Summary

"Remote shopping, while entirely feasible,...
[1] Use Correct, Secure Site / App
[1] Protect Credit Card Info: store in password manager -- not browser, not vendor site
Provide a temporary (instead of your actual) credit card number,
e.g., Apple Pay; Virtual Account Number (Citi), digital wallet,
privacy.com linked to debit card or checking account, with 1Password integration,
when possible, esp. for one-off purchases on smaller / lesser-known sites
[2] Consider other Forms of Payment, e.g., Paypal; [3] Cryptocurrency?
References

[1] Use Correct, Secure Site / App

Many of these already covered in other sections:
Be sure to navigate to correct web site, esp. not via ads / impostor links
Use HTTPS: for login & entering contact / payment details -- see section
Clear purchase history on sites?
If using an app, make sure it's authentic & up-to-date: app store, exact name, ratings, etc.

[1] Protect Credit Card Info

Save credit card info in a password manager rather than browser -- more secure, sync across browsers/platforms
macOS: Safari > Preferences > AutoFill > Credit Cards: off
iOS: Settings > Safari > AutoFill > Credit Cards: off
Avoid storing credit info on merchant site, if possible -- though some may require a card on file
This should be less of an issue for major vendors, e.g., Amazon, Apple -- who can invest more on security
If you misplace your card, you can lock your card with some credit card companies (and unlock it later when you find it).
Check your credit card statements monthly, or more frequently, to detect fraudulent charges
Enable account notifications (email/text) if supported, e.g.,
for an international charge
for an online, phone or mail charge
for an amount over $x
Check Apple Pay (or similar) settings, if applicable
iPhone: Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay
iPhone: Settings > Safari > Check for Apple Pay
Rank credit cards by importance and impact; what happens if one is compromised?
Use different credit cards for different purposes/sites, e.g., online only, regular automatic payments, one-time purchases with new vendors, etc.
A single-use, virtual credit card number linked to a credit card (or bank account) provides additional security
Virtual Account Numbers creates a temporary credit card # & security code; you set expiration date and credit limit; e.g., Citi not avail for Costco Visa apparently
Bank of America formerly offered virtual card numbers via "ShopSafe", which has now been discontinued in favor of Digital Wallets?
Check with your bank or credit card company

[2] Consider other Forms of Payment

PayPal can be linked to checking account or credit card; vendor doesn't see credit card info
Downsides: yet another account; does not provide same protection for contesting charges; may block some quasi-legal purchases, which use VPN or violate their definitions of copyright, decency, etc.
Other services can be used to transfer cash, e.g., Square, Messenger, Venmo -- understand possible fees and consumer protections
[3] Avoid cryptocurrency, e.g., Bitcoin
Although a cryptocurrency might provide more anonymity and can be used to hide transactions, it's also unreliable, variable and hackable; also, definitely not an 'investment'

References

{TCYOP-4: 106-109; TCYOP-3: 89-90}
section: Refs: Amazon; Apple; Crytocurrency, e.g., Bitcoin; Google; Payment, e.g., credit card, money transfer; Paypal
topics: Cyber Monday, E-commerce, GoFundMe, Google Play/Wallet, Square, Venmo
Wikipedia: Online shopping; micropayment
HowStuffWorks: How Electronic Payment Works; 5 Ways to Send Money Online
Tips for Canceling Online Subscriptions
it's easy to sign up but not always so easy to stop a service.
F.T.C. is proposing rules to change that; NYT; 7/7/2023
Canceling Online Subscriptions Is Confusing, Difficult and Absurd... by Design
many companies use tactics called "dark patterns" to make it difficult to cut ties; CNet; 4/4/2022
Why the Internet Is Turning Into QVC
greed, fear and China; NYT; 11/14/2021
How to Protect Yourself From Online Card Fraud
be wary of websites that offer brand-name goods at steep discounts;
credit cards have federally mandated protections; NYT; 10/22/2021
How to cancel your account at Netflix, Amazon Prime, and others Verge; 1/15/2021
It's Time to Audit Your Autopay Subscriptions average American spends $237 a month; LH; 10/9/2020
How to Protect Yourself From the Newest Mobile Banking Malware LH; 6/11/2020
They See You When You’re Shopping How Sephora, Gucci, Kiehl’s and more track about 20 million online shoppers every day; NYT; 11/26/2019
How to Not Get Phished When Shopping Online Make sure the URL is safe and accurate; Use a browser with DNS over HTTPS; Don’t click on suspicious email links or attachments; Bookmark the real website and/or login pages; Use a password manager; Use the official mobile apps for online stores/services; LH; 11/18/2019
E-Commerce Promised the World. Are We Happy With Our Purchase? It's been 25 years since the first online transaction, but we are still struggling with the balance between convenience and security; NYT; 8/10/2019
7 Ways Artificial Intelligence Can Help Protect Us Against Online Fraud
1. AI Can React Immediately To Suspicious Activity.
2. AI Can Help Spot Fraudulent Online Ads.
3. AI Is Helping Humans Do More Work.
4. AI Learns From A Variety Of Businesses.
5. AI Could Make Transactions Faster, Not Slower.
6. AI Can Assess Where The Most Likely Threats Are Coming From.
7. AI Can Help Us Identify Social Engineering Hacks; MF; 7/2/2019
How Dark Patterns Change Our Behavior LH; 7/1/2019
How to avoid Internet fraud, scams, phishing and other cybercrime PC; 6/25/2019
How E-Commerce Sites Manipulate You Into Buying Things You May Not Want dark patterns; fake notifications; default options; NYT; 6/24/2019
How to Find and Report Fake Businesses on Google Maps LH; 6/21/2019
Apple Pay vs. Google Pay vs. Samsung Pay: Mobile payments compared CNet; 6/17/2019
In Stores, Secret Surveillance Tracks Your Every Move Bluetooth 'beacons' work well at short-range, indoors; remove retailer & spy apps, shut off location services and Bluetooth where they are not needed; NYT; 6/15/2019
Stanford Team Aims at Alexa and Siri With a Privacy-Minded Alternative Almond virtual assistant software is decentralized and connected by programming standards that will make it possible for consumers to choose where their information is stored and how it is shared; NYT; 6/14/2019
Loyalty programs cost you your personal data -- are the rewards worth it? TNW; 6/12/2019
Don't Use a Debit Card at the Gas Pump card skimmers; use digital wallet (e.g., Apple/Samsung/Android Pay) or credit card (fraud protection); LH; 2/22/2019

Google

Google is tracking your purchases through Gmail every time a store sends a confirmation to your Gmail account, Google adds it to your list of purchases; see, manage here; CNet; 5/17/2019
Update Your Google Pay Privacy Settings Now LH; 3/16/2019

Payment

All the Ways Your Credit Card Info Can Be Stolen LH; 7/27/2023
How to Look Up an Unauthorized Charge on Your Credit Card WhatsThatCharge.com; LH; 11/7/2022
Why You Shouldn't Pay for Anything With Zelle LH; 10/7/2022
Insomnia, addiction, depression: The dark side of life trading crypto WaPo; 4/29/2022
The Easy Way I Protect My Credit Cards Online and Keep Free Trials Free privacy.com; NYT; 4/26/2022
Fraud Is Flourishing on Zelle. The Banks Say It's Not Their Problem. NYT; 3/6/2022
Venmo gets more private—but it's still not fully safe Ars; 7/25/2021
Yes, You Should Be Using Apple Pay or Google Pay paying with a smartphone is actually more secure and more efficient than using a credit card; Wired; 11/7/2020
How to Pay Using Virtual Credit Cards in 1Password each tied to a separate merchant -- linked to debit card or checking account (not credit card); one-off & recurring payments; can also use privacy.com directly w/o 1PW; LH; 9/24/2020
How to Reduce Credit Card Fraud NYT; 6/8/2020
Beware the Fees That Come With Some Money Transfers on Apps treated as cash advances, with interest accruing immediately? Paypal? Venmo? Square? NYT; 4/24/2020
A Case for Paying With Your Phone NYT; 2/5/2020
How to Use Up the Last Few Dollars on a Prepaid Gift Card buy an Amazon e-gift card for the exact amount on the Visa gift card; LH; 2/4/2020
How Scammers Can Use Your Old Credit Card Numbers use only 1 credit card (or virtual cards) for online purchases; LH; 1/6/2020
How I Survived a Week Without My Wallet with just smartphone; NYT; 9/27/2019
What it Costs to Send Money Internationally With Wire Transfer Apps MoneyGram, TransferWise, Xoom, Western Union, WorldRemit; LH; 9/3/2019
Deep dive into the byzantine tracking and analytics industry around credit card purchases and steps that consumers can take to improve their privacy WaPo; 8/26/2019
MoviePass exposed thousands of unencrypted customer card numbers TC; 8/20/2019
Here's Why Everyone Already Has Your New Credit Card Expiration Date auto-updater services; LH; 5/17/2019
Unless you want your payment card data skimmed, avoid these commerce sites Ars; 5/8/2019
Apple Card will be the most secure credit card ever, and here's why AI; 4/2/2019
Apple Card FAQ: Interest rates, rewards, sign-up and everything else you need to know MW; 3/27/2019
Apple Card has a rotating security code that is protected by Touch ID or Face ID, helping better prevent credit card fraud TC; 3/25/2019
A new rash of highly covert card-skimming malware infects ecommerce sites Ars; 3/14/2019
Check Your Credit Report Even If Your Credit Is Frozen a freeze does not prevent someone from using an existing account to make fraudulent charges, which is far more common; LH; 3/8/2019

Paypal

Why You Should Skip PayPal and Donate Directly to Organizations LH; 6/3/2020

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Safer Internet: Browsing: Shopping

Summary

[1] Use Correct, Secure Site / App

[1] Protect Credit Card Info

[2] Consider other Forms of Payment

References

Amazon

Apple

[3] Cryptocurrency, e.g., Bitcoin

Google

Payment

Paypal