Increase in online shopping due to coronavirus increases online shopping cybercrime

There is no denying the fact that the COVID -19 pandemic has brought many sudden yet dramatic changes to businesses and the economy in general. While several businesses suffered from the consequences of this pandemic, such as layoffs and even closures to some extent, the virus helped increase the surge of online shopping in both the United States and Canada. According to an article published by Forbes, year-over-year US and Canadian e-commerce orders have significantly increased to 129% as of April 2019 and all online retail orders in both countries have seen a massive growth of about 146%. Fears of being exposed to the coronavirus outside of their homes forced consumers to opt visiting online retail websites instead for a much safer shopping experience.

With the increase of e-commerce activity because of this ongoing global health crisis, cyber-criminals have also begun to take advantage of this situation. Security Boulevard reports that Magecart attacks on both online retailers and banks have increased by 20% during the pandemic. E-commerce fraud targeting consumers have also been on the rise as consumers flock to online shops and e-commerce websites to get essential goods as well as non-essentials. All online retailers, regardless of how big they are or what they sell, can be vulnerable to these cyberattacks. Cyber-criminals often use a wide range of methods to perform cyberattacks in e-commerce platforms, from the practice of injecting malicious code to a legitimate online retail website in order to obtain payment details during a transaction without the consumer or retailer's knowledge (which is widely known as online skimming), to using phishing emails and social engineering designed to steal such information and even introducing scams to unassuming consumers, such as fake discounts and bogus deals.

Even though both retailers and consumers could become potential victims of these cyberattacks, consumers can follow certain guidelines and tips to avoid falling into such traps. For one, updating your mobile device, browser, computer, and antivirus software to the latest version could lessen the probability of being a target of cyber-criminals. You can also create a strong password or use a password manager to keep any sensitive information secure. In addition, don't open links or attachments in emails from people you don't know. While Magecart has also compromised reputable online retailers and e-commerce websites, it would be better to stick with them as they tend to have better data security measures put into place. You can also use other payment methods that do not require you to use your credit or debit card, such as cash and mobile payment services like Google and Apple Pay. You can also be safer if you pay for a product or service after you receive it rather than paying in advance using any type of payment method, as this could minimize the risk of fraud.

When shopping online, you should also be aware of any red flags and warning signs for potential fraud. If you see that the price of a product is out of line, you may Google the name of the product to get an idea of how much that product actually costs. It is also recommended if you search for the refunds and exchange policy of the online shop or e-commerce website you are visiting to make sure that you are shopping on a legitimate retailer. You may check this information by going to the customer service page or frequently asked questions of the online retailer's website.

in online shopping due to coronavirus ongoing attacks on online shops
There is no denying the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many sudden yet dramatic changes to businesses and the economy in general. While several businesses suffered from the consequences of this pandemic, such as layoffs and even closures to some extent, the virus helped increase the surge of online shopping in both the United States and Canada. According to an article published by Forbes, year-over-year US and Canadian e-commerce orders have significantly increased to 129% as of April 2019 and all online retail orders in both countries have seen a massive growth of about 146%. Fears of being exposed to the coronavirus outside of their homes forced consumers to opt visiting online retail websites instead for a much safer shopping experience.

With the increase of e-commerce activity because of this ongoing global health crisis, cyber-criminals have also begun to take advantage of this situation. Security Boulevard reports that Magecart attacks on both online retailers and banks have increased by 20% during the pandemic. E-commerce fraud targeting consumers have also been on the rise as consumers flock to online shops and e-commerce websites to get essential goods as well as non-essentials. All online retailers, regardless of how big they are or what they sell, can be vulnerable to these cyberattacks. Cyber-criminals often use a wide range of methods to perform cyberattacks in e-commerce platforms, from the practice of injecting malicious code to a legitimate online retail website in order to obtain payment details during a transaction without the consumer or retailer's knowledge (which is widely known as online skimming), to using phishing emails and social engineering designed to steal such information and even introducing scams to unassuming consumers, such as fake discounts and bogus deals.

Even though both retailers and consumers could become potential victims of these cyberattacks, consumers can follow certain guidelines and tips to avoid falling into such traps. For one, updating your mobile device, browser, computer, and antivirus software to the latest version could lessen the probability of being a target of cyber-criminals. You can also create a strong password or use a password manager to keep any sensitive information secure. In addition, don't open links or attachments in emails from people you don't know. While Magecart has also compromised reputable online retailers and e-commerce websites, it would be better to stick with them as they tend to have better data security measures put into place. You can also use other payment methods that do not require you to use your credit or debit card, such as cash and mobile payment services like Google and Apple Pay. You can also be safer if you pay for a product or service after you receive it rather than paying in advance using any type of payment method, as this could minimize the risk of fraud.

When shopping online, you should also be aware of any red flags and warning signs for potential fraud. If you see that the price of a product is out of line, you may Google the name of the product to get an idea of how much that product actually costs. It is also recommended if you search for the refunds and exchange policy of the online shop or e-commerce website you are visiting to make sure that you are shopping on a legitimate retailer. You may check this information by going to the customer service page or frequently asked questions of the online retailer's website.