What you need to know before buying on Temu and other e-commerce sites: Data, fraud, and more | Technology

As detailed on their page networkTemu is an e-commerce company that allows sellers and manufacturers around the world to sell their products directly to consumers. Unlike other e-commerce, orders may take a while to arrive, but their Significantly lower pricesso it is very attractive to users.

Mira: Explore the jobs that artificial intelligence can never replace

Chinese shopping app allows users to buy new products free shipping It offers a 90-day return policy. A large portion of the products come from Asian factories and are divided into different categories such as “Home and Kitchen”, “Technology”, “Home Appliances”, etc. Similarly, other shopping apps such as Shane yes AliExpress They follow the same pattern.

Now, these platforms guarantee reliable purchases through secure payment methods through their policies. However, there are others Risks associated with cybersecurityIn an interview with El Comercio, Fabiana Ramírez Cuenca, computer security expert at ESET Latin America Lab, and Sergio Azahuanche, senior cybersecurity consultant at Marsh Advisory, discussed these challenges.

Data privacy controversy

“There are many Suspect Temu is behind the scenes For example, people can’t enter card information because the site ultimately allows you to enter a credit or debit cardThe expert explained that while this cannot be proven, it is a recurring rumor that suggests that users pay Low prices come at the expense of your data and privacy.

“So common sense no longer tells us, well, if it’s that cheap, is it?Why is it so cheap?”, reveal.

Likewise, it noted that this collection of personal data is part of a wider strategy that involves the continuous monitoring of users to generate profiling of their preferences and consumer behavior.

“Amazon or eBay always collect data. But Temu seems to have a larger collection of such data, for example you don’t need location information, but you can still collect it. So, in this case, it might be a little more Worry about users“, he claimed.

Along the same lines, it is reported that databaseThe popular Chinese shopping app is being sued by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, who calls it a “Dangerous malware” What spy Text messaging and data collection unauthorizedThe lawsuit, filed on June 25, alleges that Temu app Access to mobile operating systems number of users, allowing you to access the camera, location, contacts, SMS, documents, and other applications.

Regarding the importance of data, Fabiana added “Our data is very exposed and it is important to understand this The goal of cybercriminals is to monetize data. Today, data is like gold at that time.”

Maybe one of them The most sensitive and valuable data is banking dataassociated with a credit or debit card. Sergio understands the importance of recommend If you decide to buy products from Temu or any other e-commerce, please note the following:

• Using an intermediary payment method– To avoid exposing your card details directly, use an intermediary payment service such as PayPal or Mercado Pago, which acts as an extra layer of security.
• Using a card with limited funds– Using a low-fund card limits the risk of loss in the event of a data breach.

Mira: Apple’s ChatGPT: Will the collaboration with OpenAI compromise user privacy?

Legitimate website vulnerabilities

“From the field of network security, we always say There is no unbreakable system”, When asked if cyber criminals could hack into a store’s official website, the cybersecurity expert responded. She elaborated There is no 100% secure system.you can always find loopholes. This means that despite the efforts and security measures taken by the company, any e-commerce application or website can be attacked and its information leaked.

On the other hand, amid the boom in low-cost stores, both experts believe Fake pages are rampant Impersonating official data to steal users’ personal and financial data. These fraudulent pages usually Mimic the design and appearance of real websitestricking buyers into entering sensitive information.

“What they do is attract Emotional Then this person sees an offer that seems too good to be true and what they do is quickly go ahead and buy. A great technique to use is to offer The price is good, almost unreasonable rather than economicaland the price lasts only a short time, so the person will somehow accelerate and recklessly hand over the information in the end,” Ramirez explained.

How to identify fake pages?

According to Fabiana Ramírez Cuenca, to identify a fake page, you must consider the following signs:

• Incorrect URL: The URL of the scam page is often slightly different from the legitimate website. There may be an error in the name, or they may be hosted on a different domain.
• Security Protocol: Be sure to verify that the URL begins with “HTTPS” and not just “HTTP,” which indicates that the information is encrypted.
• Spelling and design errors: Fake pages often contain typos and low-quality designs, as well as pixelated or misaligned images.
• policy: Legitimate pages usually have clear security and privacy policies. The lack of these provisions can be a warning sign.
• Excessive information requests: If a website asks for more information than is normally required, especially bank details, this can arouse suspicion.

“There are many antivirus and antimalware software solutions that can block potentially unsafe sites and warn users. Cybersecurity education is very important“, added the ESET spokesperson.

Mira: Bill Gates recommends four books you must read

How to ensure successful e-commerce purchases?

Azahuanche mentioned the following advice when we decide to buy in e-commerce:

• Website Verification– Make sure you are interacting with an official page and not a fake one.
• Product Origin– Buy products from reputable stores or reputable sellers with good reviews.
• Seller reputation– Give preference to sellers with multiple sales and a four- or five-star rating, as this indicates reliability.
• return policy: Confirm that the store has a clear return policy in case the product is defective or does not arrive.