2024-07-16 19:04:26
As detailed on their page web, Temu is an e-commerce company that allows sellers and manufacturers from anywhere in the world to sell their products directly to consumers. And unlike other e-commerce, orders can take a long time to arrive, but their much lower pricesso it shows its great attraction to users.
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According to their website, Temu means: Team up, price down (Together, we lower prices).
The Chinese shopping application allows users to buy new products with FREE shipping and offers a return policy of up to 90 days. And many of the products come from Asian factories which are classified in various categories such as ‘Home and kitchen’, ‘Technology’, ‘Home appliances’ and more. Similarly, like other shopping apps Sing y Aliexpress They follow the same model.
Now, these platforms guarantee through their policies a reliable purchase with secure payment methods. However, there is another cyber security risks. In an interview for El Comercio, Fabiana Ramírez Cuenca, Computer Security specialist at ESET Latin America Laboratory, and Sergio Azahuanche, senior cyber security consultant at Marsh Advisory, discussed these challenges.
Data privacy disputes
“There are many doubt that Temu is selling behind it than one can enter, for example, card information, because the site finally allows you to enter a credit or debit card” Sergio points out. The specialist explains that although this is not demonstrable, it is a recurring rumor suggesting that users pay low prices at the expense of your data and privacy.
“So common sense no longer tells us, well, if it’s so cheap, so be itwhy is it so cheap?“, reveals.
Likewise, it points out that this collection of personal data is part of a wider strategy that includes continuous monitoring of users to analyze their preferences and consumer behaviours.
“Amazon or eBay always collect data. But Temu seems to have a larger collection, as they say, of this kind of data, where you don’t need, for example, a location, but you can still collect it. So, in that case, it could be a little more concern for the user”, he claims.
Likewise, according to reports InfobaeArkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin sued the popular Chinese shopping app, calling it “dangerous malware“What a spy collect text messages and data without authorization. The lawsuit, filed June 25, alleges that the app Temu able to access the mobile operating system users, which allows you to access the camera, location, contacts, text messages, documents and other applications.
As for the importance of details, Fabiana adds that “Our data is very exposed and it’s important to understand that The purpose of cybercrime is profit through data. Today, details are like gold.”
The price of using e-commerce platforms can be the exposure of personal data. (Photo: Archive)
Maybe one of the The most sensitive and valuable data is banking data, relating to the credit or debit card. Understand the importance of this, Sergio praises users of the following in case they decide to buy from Temu or any other e-commerce:
- Use intermediary payment methods– To avoid sending card details directly, use intermediary payment services such as PayPal or Mercado Pago, which act as an additional layer of security.
- Use cards with limited funds– The risk of loss can be limited if data is compromised by using low-fund cards.
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Vulnerabilities of legitimate sites
“From the field of cyber security we always say that There is no system that cannot be defeated“, the cybersecurity expert answers when asked if cybercriminals can attack the store’s official site. She specifies that No system is 100% secure., you can always find vulnerabilities. This means that any e-commerce application or website could be attacked and its information leaked, despite the efforts and security measures that companies put in place.
On the other hand, among the boom in low-cost shops, the two experts recognize the the proliferation of fake pages that impersonate the official ones to steal users’ personal and financial data. These pages are usually fraudulent mimic the design and look of authentic sitesforcing buyers to enter sensitive information.
“What they do is appeal to the emotions of the person, then the person sees an offer that is too good to be true and what they do is proceed quickly to buy. A great technique used to offer a good price, almost irrational than economicaland that this price lasts for a very short time, so the person somehow speeds up and provides information recklessly,” explains Ramírez.
Cybercriminals use techniques such as irresistible and short-term offers to lure victims. (Photo: Shutterstock)
How to identify a fake page?
According to Fabiana Ramírez Cuenca, to identify a fake page, the following signs must be taken into account:
- Incorrect URL: Scam pages often have slightly different URLs from the legitimate site. The name may contain errors or may be hosted on another domain.
- Security protocol: It is important to verify that the URL begins with “HTTPS” instead of “HTTP”, which indicates that the information is encrypted.
- Spelling and design errors: Fake pages often have spelling errors and low-quality design, with pixelated or misaligned images.
- Policies: Legitimate pages usually have well-defined security and privacy policies. The absence of these regulations can be a warning sign.
- Excessive information requests: If a site asks for more information than is normally required, especially bank details, it is suspicious.
“There are many antivirus and antimalware software solutions that block potentially unsafe sites and warn the user. Cyber security education is very important”, says the ESET spokesperson.
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How to ensure a successful purchase in e-commerce?
Azahuanche mentions the following recommendations when we decide to buy within electronic commerce:
- Website verification– Make sure you are interacting with the official page and not a fake one.
- Origin of the product– Buy products from well-known stores or sellers with a high reputation and good ratings.
- Seller reputation– Sellers with multiple sales and four or five star ratings are preferred, as this indicates reliability.
- Return Policies: Confirm that the store has clear return policies in case the product is faulty or does not arrive.
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