A Practical Guide to Payment Security Across Platforms

April 23, 2025 By Christine Margret No Comments 5 minutes

If you regularly use the internet, chances are that you will need to make payments at some point. On any given day, trillions of dollars are spent across the internet, and thus, payment security is a big issue for a majority of users. But how can you be sure that the payments you make across the internet are truly secure? After all, scams abound, and there are always nefarious actors looking to swindle users of their money. Luckily, you can keep your money safe by taking the following steps mentioned in this blog. Let’s dig deeper to know.

Guide to Payment Security Across Platforms

Get FastestVPN

Use Reputable Platforms

The very first step to making sure that the payments you make across different platforms are secure is to make sure the platforms themselves are. A legitimate platform that takes payments from users will be very committed to ensuring their safety to avoid losing business or facing legal action. To make sure the platform you are using is reputable, look out for a few key signs. First, the website URL should show a padlock symbol at the top of your browser. This is essentially your software confirming that the site is truly encrypted and does not have any reported security issues. You also want to look at reviews before you sign up on any platform. Look up sites like TrustPilot, Google Business and the like, and read about other people’s experiences, specifically with making payments.

Reliable Payment Channels

Another feature of reputable platforms is that they will almost always use well-known and reliable payment channels. Take casinos, for example. While there are thousands of online casinos available, using reputable ones is the best way to ensure payments are made through well-known channels. As Liliana Costache explains, many popular online casinos will allow you to make payments using Apple Pay. By doing this, you don’t have to input your account details and instead, handle your payments through Apple. The same can be said of payment channels like PayPal and Google Pay. Using reliable payment channels means that there is a permanent record of the platform you made the payment to and other relevant details. That way, if anything goes wrong, there is a centralized body you can reach out to for assistance.

Use Reliable Networks

Outside of the actual platforms you make the payment to and the payment channel you leverage, the internet network you are connected to as you make this payment also matters. As many internet experts will tell you, the internet service provider you are connected to may leave your information vulnerable to attack. This is why, when making important payments, you should connect to your own personal mobile internet or Wi-Fi. If you are using public Wi-Fi, you’re advised to use a VPN to mask your IP address. Using a VPN means that even your internet service provider cannot track your activities, leaving you much safer in general.

Use Prepaid Cards

One of the biggest fears that internet users have is that their payment details will somehow be leaked to nefarious actors who will go on to drain their accounts. One way to get around this is by using prepaid debit cards when shopping online. These cards are exactly what they sound like: cards that you load with a limited amount of money that is not explicitly linked to your main bank account. By using these prepaid credit cards to shop, you unlock a wealth of benefits. If somehow your payment details fall into the hands of the wrong people, there will be a limited amount of money that they can steal from the cards. For some, prepaid credit cards are also a way to budget and ensure that they do not overspend on goods and services. If you have this concern, look into a prepaid credit card as soon as possible.

Two Factor Authentication

Another way to keep your payments safe across different platforms online is to have two-factor authentication for your payment methods. Say you want to make a purchase and opt for Apple Pay. Before the payment is initiated, you will need to either use facial recognition or fingerprint to confirm your identity. If you use PayPal, you might be prompted to type in a code sent to your email address or phone number. Similarly, you can set up payment limits on your debit or credit card that will require you to confirm your identity before it goes through. The same can be said of crypto wallets that will require you to fill in extra information before tokens are transferred. Two-factor authentication, while it prolongs the payment process, can go a long way to making sure that no one besides you spends any of the money in your account. Look into your current payment methods and set up the two-factor authentication process if it is available.

Tokenization

These days, many consumers online are opting for tokenization to make their payments online. Tokenization essentially sees your sensitive payment details converted into a one-time token that you have to present for payment. So, instead of putting in your credit card details, for example, you’ll be prompted to confirm your identity on an external platform and then present the code. Using this code, the payment will then be approved. Tokenization goes a long way to preserve your sensitive details, as you literally do not need to give them to the platform before you make a payment.

Conclusion

The internet is chock-full of goods and services to enjoy, and this means navigating the wild world of online payments. But while there are certainly risks involved, there’s no need to be overly worried. As we’ve outlined in this article, there are a myriad of ways to make sure that your payments across different platforms are secure. From choosing secure platforms to using specific payment methods to setting up two-factor authentication, all these steps will make sure that your payment details are kept safe from prying eyes and your funds are secure at any given time.