To be certain of a safe love life online this Valentine's Day, experts are warning users to check the site before purchasing those twelve dozen red roses for your love one, as it may not be as secure as you think.
Around 50 percent of individuals in Australia admitted to not knowing how to rate transaction security on the Internet, according to a survey conducted by research group Red Sheriff.
Described as one of the biggest reasons shopping online is slow on the uptake among Australian consumers, managing director of eSign Greg Rowley said users need to be educated about security to speed the growth of Internet shopping.
Without knowing how to rate transaction security, entering credit card details on a Web site can be daunting for some. However, Rowley has come up with some helpful tips to ensure safe online purchasing this Valentine's Day.
Users should make sure the Web site has a privacy policy and look out for a small locked padlock in the tool bar of the browser.
Rowley says the padlock confirms the site is protected through the use of a Digital Certificate, which means that all information passing through the site is encrypted.
Another handy hint for shopping online is to click on the locked padlock to check that the site has a 128-bit secure socket layer (SSL) certificate, which is the "highest level of trust and security available," Rowley said.
Also check the Web sites address, as 's' after http means 'security'. Rowley warns that if a site has a statement saying it is secure but doesn't have an 's' in the address, it is not safe to conduct business there.
Other signs to look out for are whether the Web address is the same name as the company that you're dealing with, and if the site is professionally designed.
Alarm bells should ring if the padlock is unlocked in the tool bar of the browser and if there is no "real world" contact details in case a problem should occur. Furthermore, a site without a guarantee of delivery time spells trouble.
"Peace of mind is what consumers want when dealing on the Internet at all stages of transaction," Rowley said.
Some Web sites that have passed the security check for buying that special gift on Valentine's day are www.rosesonly.com.au, www.playstation.com, and wishlist.com.au.
Do you think that another reason internet shopping is slow on the uptake is because people actually enjoy leaving their house to shop?