As technology advances and online activity increases, so do the opportunities for scams, identity theft, and other online fraud. In order to protect your financial well-being, it’s essential to understand what your online habits reveal about your identity and what steps you can take to ensure you’re safe as you work to earn extra income.
Be Careful About The Websites You Use
The most obvious first step is to take care in choosing the platform you use to make money. While the platforms might not be out to get you, insecure sites can make it easier for hackers and other malicious actors to see what you are doing and steal your data or money. For example, if you like to make some money on the side, you should look for safe gambling sites that invest heavily in security. But finding secure websites can be more challenging than it sounds. If you don’t know what to look for, the following tips are a great start:
- Ensure it has an SSL certificate: An SSL certificate is used to protect confidential information transmitted over an insecure network such as the internet. You can see if a website has one by looking for a padlock symbol by the URL.
- Check the domain: Some shadier sites will redirect you to another insecure domain when clicking on the link. Therefore, you should check the URL every now and then to ensure that you are on the site you thought you were on.
- Look for certain pages: Pages like the about, privacy policy, and contact can go a long way in alleviating fears about the site. Look at these pages and see if they look genuine or poorly crafted.
- Look at the site’s design: If you use a site to make money, it should look the part. Take a cursory glance at the site’s layout and see if the owner has made an effort to craft it or thrown it together to make a quick buck.
- Read reviews: Reviews are a valuable tool for figuring out if a website is legitimate or not. You can take a few bad reviews as they come, but it might be a warning sign if they are primarily negative.
Use Trusted Payment Processors
A payment processor is an online service that uses credit card information to process payments. Payment processors are used by businesses of all sizes to accept credit card payments, from small mom-and-pop shops to large companies. They also allow customers to make purchases and transfer money between accounts. Payment processors are different from gateways because they are not a point of entry for the customer; they act as a middleman between the merchant and the bank. Without a trusted processor, you will find it challenging to make money online. However, the keyword is “trusted.” Although many of the larger platforms like PayPal and Skrill can take a large chunk out of your profits via fees, it can be worth it for the peace of mind they provide.
Take A Deposit If Possible
It is considered good practice to take a deposit from your client before the work has begun. This ensures that the work will be completed, and you will not have to worry about losing money if the client doesn’t pay. It may seem like an extra step, but it is worthwhile in the long run. It also prevents misunderstandings with clients who might not be able to pay for your services. The percentage you take is up to you, but it should at least cover the cost of materials and other expenses so that you are not left out of pocket.
Stay Away From Illegal Activities
It should go without saying, you should avoid illegal activities when making money online. However, the allure of fast, easy cash can make it highly tempting. Nonetheless, you can get in serious trouble and even risk jail time if you are not careful. Furthermore, if you happen to sell the merchandise of your favorite sports team, you must check the source of the products. Counterfeit items will land you with a hefty fine, incarceration, or both.
Use A VPN
VPNs are becoming increasingly popular as they offer a secure means of accessing the internet without exposing your personal information. There are many reasons why you should use VPN, but the reason is that they provide an encrypted connection to a remote server which can keep prying eyes away from your data,
Making money online is easier than ever, but staying safe has become more challenging. Nonetheless, by following the tips in this post, you should be able to remain safe while keeping the cash taps open!