Black Friday is just around the corner. Are you excited? Shopping lovers wait for black Friday shopping for months. Unbeatable deals are thrilling but don’t forget the drawbacks. It’s an exciting and fun part, yet cybercriminals are also waiting for this time. They know shoppers are rushing for discounts to grab the best prices. This is why you need a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Let’s look at how to stay safe online shopping with a VPN Black Friday!
Dangers of Black Friday shopping
Every year, millions of people shop online for every type of product. Black Friday has become a goldmine for cybercriminals. Fake websites, phishing emails, and malicious ads are increasing massively. At this time, cybercriminals are stealing personal information. Your banking details are at risk. The sheer volume of traffic makes it easier for scammers to slip through unnoticed. People are more indulged in shopping, and with this pressure, they would give any information they need. The fear of products getting sold out would pressure you to do anything.
Have you ever seen two websites with the same names? It gets difficult to distinguish between them. Perhaps you want to shop from a known brand like ZARA, but you end up on a fake website. It can be a dupe of any brand. These websites trick shoppers into sharing their details. Phishing emails or messages that promise incredible discounts are often traps to steal credit card information. Even targeted ads bring you to malicious websites. To add to the risk, many people shop on public Wi-Fi networks, which is even more dangerous.
How can a VPN assist you on Black Friday?
Do you want to know how to save money when shopping online? A VPN is a powerful tool to keep you safe and even save more while you shop this season. For example, a provider such as Planet VPN lets you browse the internet safely without worrying about your sensitive information being accessed by others. Here’s how:
Protect your personal info
You must use a VPN. It encrypts your connection and makes it difficult for hackers to intercept your data. Never enter personal information like credit card numbers without a VPN. Encryption scrambles your data, making it unreadable to unauthorized parties. This means that even if someone gets into your network traffic, all they’ll see is encrypted data they can’t get hold of.
VPN is your private, and secure tunnel that shields you from prying eyes on the internet. If you are black Friday shopping on unfamiliar websites, this is paramount. Making purchases over public Wi-Fi is also risky.
Shop without targeted ads
Targeted ads are a familiar annoyance for anyone who has shopped online. These ads are generated based on your browsing history. Websites track your activity across the internet. Have you ever searched for a product, and then it starts haunting you in ads on social media? That’s targeted advertising.
Dont let websites track your activities. Use a VPN to prevent this by masking your IP address and location. It will disrupt tracking systems and prevent them from tracking your online behavior. If you want to stay anonymous in browsing, use VPNs. You’ll be able to shop without the pressure of retargeted ads. You can focus on items that you actually want, rather than being bombarded with ads.
Avoid price discrimination in Black Friday shopping
Many online retailers use location-based pricing. They adjust prices depending on where you’re shopping from. The same product can be cheaper for a shopper in one country and more expensive for someone in another. A VPN allows you to change your virtual location – you can view prices as if in a different region. This is pleasing for electronics, software, travel bookings, or luxury items, where prices can fluctuate massively.
You can switch to a region where discounts are higher, or prices are lower. You will save a huge amount on big-ticket items. By using VPN to buy things cheaper, you can surpass geographic limitations to get the best possible price.
Get deals across the globe
Some of the best VPN Black Friday deals are only available in specific countries. Some deals are restricted to particular markets. You can change your IP address to browse as if you were in a different country. You will get deals that are not meant for you! For example, if a brand has deals for a local festival in the UK, you can take advantage of this even in the US with Black Friday VPN.
VPN protects you when you use public Wi-Fi
Shopping on the go is convenient. Yet, it comes with some dangers. Public Wi-Fi networks in malls, cafés, and other places are notoriously insecure. Public Wi-Fi doesn’t encrypt your connection. It gets easier for hackers to intercept your information. When you connect to public Wi-Fi through a VPN, your data is encrypted. Even if someone intercepts your connection, all they’ll see is scrambled data.
Tips for shopping online safely
Apart from using a VPN, these practical tips can protect yourself if you love to shop online:
- Stick to trusted retailers: Though lower prices of websites attract, this is often a red flag. Shop from reputable websites that do not appear to be a scam. Beware of unfamiliar sites with deals that are too good to be true.
- Enable two-factor authentication: It is highly effective for protecting your accounts. Even if someone has your password, they won’t be able to access your account without the second form of authentication.
- Use secure payment methods: Digital wallets like PayPal are strongly protected. Use them to enter card details directly. If using a card, credit cards are better than debit cards.
- Check for HTTPS: Before entering payment details, check if the URL starts with “https”—the “s” stands for secure. It indicates the website encrypts your information.
- Don’t save payment information: Though it’s convenient to save information. You will not have to enter details every time – but this is not recommended. It is risky if your account is compromised. Instead, manually enter your information each time to reduce exposure.
Planet VPN: Your guardian for safe online shopping
This Black Friday shopping don’t get into huge losses. You might be trying to get some discounts – but ending up losing all your savings to hackers. To stay safe, get help from a VPN service. Set up a free VPN by Planet VPN in advance to make the most of Black Friday shopping. Don’t let cybersecurity threats or location-based pricing hold you back. A VPN is a vital shopping tool that improves your online experience. Secure your VPN now and prepare for a profitable Black Friday. Let’s shop after staying protected!
