Online Shopping

Online shopping has become a huge trend in society today. With almost the entire population using the internet, businesses are able to conduct their business through the use of online shopping. Online shopping is used for B2B (Business to Business) transactions as well as B2C (Business to Consumer) transactions (1). Businesses can buy their supplies from other businesses via the internet, or consumers can buy from businesses, such as retail stores or Amazon, over the internet. The two most popular online retail stores are Ebay and Amazon (1). A study showed that nearly 75% of online shoppers are concerned and worried about one thing mainly; their privacy (2). It is inevitable for online shoppers to give out an abundant amount of personal information. Every customer normally pays with a credit card, therefore the website has their credit card number. The items that the customer will buy must be shipped to an address, therefore the website knows where they live. The customer will receive a confirmation e-mail, or a notification via e-mail that their order has shipped, which is giving the website their personal or work e-mail address. Some websites have their customers give a phone number as well. This is all information that can be abused if put into the wrong hands, and there have been cases of this information being abused. There are a few steps to take in precaution of protecting your personal information when online shopping. One of the simplest, easiest, quickest ways is to check to see if the website begins with "https://" (3). This contrasts from the simple "http://" because the "S" stands for "secure." This lets the consumer know that the website is going to secure their information. If the site does not have the "S" at the end, it would be a better choice for the consumer to steer of this website, and to not use it. Another step to protecting the safety of personal information while shopping online is to check the privacy policy listed on the website (3). This discloses all of the places that your personal information will be, how it is used/secured. If the website does not have a privacy policy, it would once again be a better decision to not use this website. Although online shopping has become a huge trend, expanding each and every day, consumers need to protect themselves and their personal information and there are simple, easy, and quick ways to do so. 1.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_shopping 2.http://www.bbb.org/us/article/privacy-issues-and-id-theft-are-top-concerns-of-online-shoppers-according-to-new-survey-by-bbb-bbb-offers-advice-for-a-safe-holiday-shopping-experience-2361 3.https://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs23-shopping.htm/