 TITLE: How to Stay Safe While Shopping on Your Cellphone CONTENT: How Can You Protect Yourself While Mobile Shopping?\n---------------------------------------------------\nKeeping your information and identity safe is clearly a priority. By taking these steps, you'll be better equipped to stay safe while shopping from the comfort of your phone.\n### 1\\. Protect Your Phone\n*   **Use** **biometrics** **and a strong passcode.** This helps keep intruders out of the sensitive information you have stored on your phone.\n*   **Keep your phone's software updated.** Outdated software can make you more vulnerable to hackers.\n*   **Look into antivirus software.** You may associate antivirus software with desktop computers, but it's a valuable asset to have on your smartphone as well. Anything that accesses the internet could be vulnerable to a virus.\n*   **Only download trusted apps.** Beware of fake apps in the app store or invitations to download unfamiliar apps that arrive by email or text (even if they purport to be from a trusted friend).\n*   **Consider cellphone identity protection.** Cellphone ID protection may be available through your wireless carrier, though you might also consider getting general identity theft protection for broader coverage.\n### 2\\. Connect Safely\n*   **Don't shop on a public Wi-Fi network.** If you must shop or do your banking when you're on the go, your phone's cellular data is encrypted and will do a better job of keeping your information private. As an added safeguard, keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your phone turned off when not in use so you don't inadvertently connect to a strange network or device.\n*   **Consider a virtual private network (VPN).** Signing up for a private mobile VPN can be relatively inexpensive and will add an extra layer of security to your mobile shopping.\n*   **Only shop on trustworthy sites.** Shop with retailers you know and be wary of offers you see in social media ads, email or texts. Verify that the site you're using is real and secure. Using your mobile browser, look for the letters \"https:\" at the beginning of the site's URL. This tells you their site is encrypted for better security. Also look for the \"lock\" icon next to the URL when you're on the payment screen.\n*   **Use unique passwords on each site you visit.** A password manager can help you generate strong passwords and keep track of them.\n### 3\\. Keep Your Information Private\n*   **Avoid storing your information.** Use guest checkout whenever practical and don't allow retailers to save your payment information. If someone gains access to your account, they can make purchases without needing your credit card number.\n*   **Use a digital wallet like Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.** Digital wallet apps don't store your credit card number on your device and don't even share it with merchants in most cases. The number the merchant sees is only associated with the app and not your actual payment information, which makes it useless to a hacker even if it is somehow pilfered. Securing your phone with biometrics makes it even harder for a payment to be made without your permission.\n*   **Consider using a payment platform like PayPal.** Third-party payment apps put a layer of security between your card information, the retailer and any prying eyes trying to get ahold of your data.\n*   **Be selective with the apps you install.** Apps can be convenient and secure, but be cautious. It's possible that an app you install could harbor malware and act as a Trojan horse to steal your data. Even when apps are legitimate, they may be gathering and selling your information.\n*   **Set up** **two-factor authentication** **on your accounts.** This security measure requires that anybody trying to access your account (yourself included) take an extra step to verify their identity. It can be a very effective way to keep fraudsters out. END