Re: Use of Apps for Shopping online

Alison Wonderland · ‎02-05-2018

@Lilysmom wrote:
@LoveMyBaby posted some info about online shopping stats. This raised a question for me.

Are you more likely to get hacked shopping with an app than a browser? I ask because most people I know who got hacked did so from an app.

Anyone know? TIA. LM

How do they know? I ask because when my card was last compromised, the bank said they were not allowed - by law - to tell me which retailer reported it. They said that unless the data breach involved a certain number of people, that they could not disclose. The companies that leave our information exposed to hackers are more protected than we are, it seems.

If someone uses an app or a browser over wifi, they are at greater risk than if they use a wired connection or the data plan on their mobile device. Wireless connections, especially public ones, can be hacked and someone can capture the data and they don't necessarily even need you to be logged into a bank or store app/site. If people you know are getting their data stolen and they use wifi, tell them to consider subscribing to a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service to help keep their data safe.

You can read more about it here. The article is aimed at mobile banking in the headline, but goes on to explain it's about more than banking: https://www.thebalance.com/is-it-safe-to-bank-on-wi-fi-315819

Lilysmom · ‎03-09-2010

@Alison Wonderland , the people I know who have been hacked know that they used a particular app, not the browser. For example, my nephew got hacked ordering food delivery which he only orders from an app.

I agree with you about the VPN. I have one and I use it on all my devices. LM

Alison Wonderland · ‎02-05-2018

@Lilysmom wrote:
@Alison Wonderland , the people I know who have been hacked know that they used a particular app, not the browser. For example, my nephew got hacked ordering food delivery which he only orders from an app.

I agree with you about the VPN. I have one and I use it on all my devices. LM

How does he know he got hacked ordering food delivery? There's no notification that says "you've been hacked" when you are hacked, so how did he know it was that point of sale and not another, that's the question.

If it was because someone used his information to then order from the same service, that's an assumption that's not necessarily true and more likely a coincidence. That's generally not how hacking credit cards works. If his account on the app was hacked, like a Netflix account can be hacked, that's different. Accounts can be hacked whether you use an app or a browser.

That might be if someone used his account to order food and deliver it to another address without his consent, just like people often hack into someone's Netflix account to watch things without subscribing. In those cases, the card information wasn't stolen, someone either hacked the from the company database or found his user name and password in a list on the dark web.

Lilysmom · ‎03-09-2010

@Alison Wonderland , I don't know why he thinks he got hacked using an app but will ask. I went back and read the article you posted (thanks for that). According to the article, banking apps are more secure than browsers which is not what I thought.

It drives home the need for VPN, especially in public places. I will be more vigilant about the use.

I had a bad experience with a pop up customer service chat on the Brother Printer website. It was so authentic. It wasn't Brother at all. I very nearly got taken in. It pays to be paranoid. Although I reported it to Brother and Costco, the chat is still there. I asked the rep I was chatting with if they were Brother employees. They sidestepped the question and went on to try and provide service. LM