Which practice is aligned with protecting yourself from identity theft when shopping online?

• A. Use HTTPS and reputable websites
• B. Use unsecured networks
• C. Post personal data publicly
• D. Ignore site security indicators

Answer: (A)

Use HTTPS and reputable websites when shopping online. HTTPS means that the data you send, like your credit card number and address, is encrypted as it travels between your device and the retailer’s site, making it much harder for someone on the network to read or steal it. Reputable sites are more likely to have up-to-date security measures, trusted payment systems, and legitimate business practices, which reduces the chance you’ll encounter a phishing or fake site. Look for the web address starting with https and a padlock icon in the address bar, and be cautious with sites that look unfamiliar or show security warnings.

The other options expose you to greater risk: using unsecured networks can let others on the same network see what you’re sending, posting personal data publicly increases exposure, and ignoring site security indicators means you might be entering details on a fraudulent or compromised site.