How to Swipe a Card When You Pay for Products in an Online Store

You’re browsing the internet, and suddenly, you come across some amazing product. It’s that one you’ve been dreaming about, perfectly fitting your current needs and mood. Excitement increases as you quickly add it to your virtual shopping cart, feeling the thrill of making it soon yours. Shipping usually takes no more than just a couple of business days, doesn’t it?

With a few clicks – you need to pick the color, shape, or size, right? – you arrive at the final step, which is making the online payment. Here is when your excitement transforms into confusion.

You’re ready to swipe your card, just as you’ve done countless times at regular stores in your town, but then you realize – you’re at home, and there’s neither payment terminal nor card reader in sight.

How to Swipe a Card without a Credit Card Machine

The thing is that you can’t really swipe a card when you order things from e-commerce stores. Or, actually, you can swipe your card but only metaphorically.

This is where the beauty of online shopping unfolds, and the question of how to swipe a card takes on a new meaning. Instead of physically swiping your card through a payment terminal, you simply enter your card details into the secure online form that is displayed right in front of you.

The “swipe” happens digitally, as you input your card number, expiration date, and CVV code into their respective fields. This is how to swipe a card online, bridging the gap between the tangible and the virtual. 

With a final click on the “Pay” button, your digital card swipe is complete, and the product is on its way to your home.

Security Measures for Online Card Swiping

Now you understand that when you buy something online, you swipe your card but without the actual swiping. It doesn’t mean though that you shouldn’t keep your card information confidential. To guarantee your details are safe:

STEP #1:  Always check for a secure website. Look for “https://” and a lock icon in the website address. It means your info is protected when you enter it. 

STEP #2: Don’t use public Wi-Fi for shopping. It’s easy for others to sneak a peek at your credit card details. Use your home Wi-Fi or a VPN. 

STEP #3: Think about installing apps like PayPal or Apple Pay because they keep your card info hidden from the store. 

STEP #4: Saving your card on a website is convenient but risky, especially on a computer others use too. 

STEP #5: Keep an eye on your card statement for anything suspicious. If you notice an operation that you don’t remember doing, you’ll need to sort it out with your bank fast. 

STEP #6: Do your best to make your e-commerce website passwords tough to crack. Mix it up with letters, numbers, and symbols. 

STEP #7: Secure your computer by checking if it has the latest security updates and antivirus software.