When you plan on buying things online, maintaining your privacy and anonymity should be your number one priority. There are countless consumers regularly purchasing the items they need online in the internet world, never really giving a single thought about how secure their financial data really is.
The best way to ensure your online purchases and shopping behavior is safe and secure is to start getting into anonymous payment methods. They make buying things safely online possible. Some methods of anonymously paying for goods can be used in the offline world, while others only work when you shop for goods online.
Today, we will talk about the best anonymous online payment methods you should consider using in 2021.
Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies and bitcoin are probably the most famous anonymous payment methods for paying online. They work by providing validated tokens with an actual monetary value and can be used to pay for a wide range of products and services online.
Over the last few years, cryptocurrencies have quickly become one of the most secure ways to maintain anonymity, security, and privacy while shopping online.
The best way to choose the right anonymous cryptocurrency for your needs is to consider the services you need and then do some research on which cryptocurrency has the features you need. Being completely anonymous if used correctly and widely available online are the most significant advantages of cryptocurrencies.
Masked cards
Certain banks and credit card companies offer masking services that allow the user to make transactions with a real bank account or credit card but without ever disclosing any of the personal or financial information, account/card details included.
You can use these cards to make anonymous payments using your actual credit card to fund your actions. Masked cards are straightforward to use, making them a popular choice for internet users who pay attention to maintaining their privacy online.
Aside from ease of use, these cards are also quite convenient and secure. If a data breach occurs, your account information is protected, and you can always close your virtual account if you feel like your privacy has been compromised in any way.
These cards are best used for easy purchases like a gym membership, phone bills, or monthly installments, and pretty much any purchase that doesn't require recurring payments.
Anonymous payment apps
Another excellent solution for making anonymous payments online is to use anonymous payment apps like Cash App and Venmo. Both apps allow internet users to carry out semi-anonymous transactions online. Although these apps excel at offering a high level of flexibility, certain limitations vary from app to app.
However, an upside is that these payment apps can be used for a range of services, such as money transfers and online transactions, and are widely available and accessible across the web. The downside is that they aren't as anonymous as masked cards or cryptocurrencies.
PayPal
Even though PayPal wasn't initially designed to make your payments completely anonymous, there are available options you can use to set up your account in such a way to help protect your financial and personal information. To set up your account, you have to go through the PayPal website, which requires you to either register your bank account or a card to transfer money.
When you make a PayPal transaction, the recipient can only see your email address and registered name. In other words, PayPal allows you to set up an account using a replaceable email address and a virtual card that you can fund without ever disclosing your true financial information. While all this may require a bit more time to complete, PayPal is so widely accepted that it's worth it.
Quick tips for safe online payments
The e-commerce space comes with many threats and different types of fraud. With that in mind, here are some quick tips to make sure your online payments are safe and protected:
● Use the latest, advanced anti-malware program to protect both unclassified and classified attacks on digital services you're using and your computer.
● Identify and eliminate all security vulnerabilities across every internet-enabled device and web browser you're using for online payments.
● Make sure your internet connection is secure and visit reputed websites/apps only.
● Ensure that websites accepting your personal information use HTTPS.
● Use tools like Atlas VPN to hide your IP address and make your personal and financial information less vulnerable to accidental leaks and monitoring. VPNs will also keep you secure while using public WiFi, and you can use it across all devices.
Conclusion
If you want to keep your personal and financial information and identity safe and secure online, choosing the right anonymous payment methods for your transactions makes the most sense. They will allow you to shop online while keeping your credit card number, account details, postal and email address, and other personal information protected.
