E-training for personal data management and privacy

There are several things you can do to protect yourself from fraud and identity abuse on the Internet.

• Be wary of offers that are unusually cheap. Compare prices. Find out what other customers and clients are saying about a provider on the Internet. If there are predominantly negative or no reviews about an online store, you should shop elsewhere.
• Pay attention to any seals of approval or association memberships on the seller's website. For example the Austrian E-Commerce Quality Seal identifies reputable online stores that have been tested for quality, customer-friendliness and security.
• Avoid payments in advance by bank transfer. Use secure means of payment and, in the case of auctions, also trust systems. For purchases from private individuals, insist on a personal handover - if possible.
• Use strong passwords: Use a strong password for each account.
• Update your software: Make sure your computers and mobile devices are updated with the latest security updates. This will help close known security holes and protect you from malware and other threats.
• Be careful about sharing information: Never give out personal or financial information such as credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, or passwords to people you meet online or don't know.
• Use only secure websites: Make sure the websites you visit start with https. This means the site uses a secure connection and your information is encrypted during transmission.
• Check your bank and credit card statements regularly to identify and quickly respond to unauthorized transactions.
• Be careful with emails and attachments: Do not open emails or attachments from people you do not know.
• Be wary of emails that claim to be from your bank or another company and ask you to disclose personal information or click on a link.
• Use two-factor authentication wherever possible. This requires an additional security code to access your accounts, making it harder to access your data.
• Use antivirus software on your computers and mobile devices to detect and remove malware.
• Use public Wi-Fi with caution, as it's easy for hackers to intercept your data. Use a VPN to encrypt your connection and protect your data.

Very cheap goods are often offered on classifieds and auction platforms and in dubious online stores, which are always counterfeit products or even stolen goods. Or it is fraud: you do not receive any goods after you have paid.