Use Amazon Prime? Red alert as your home address could be exposed by shopping update

But the US online retailer recently removed the option to limit Wish List purchases to items sold directly by Amazon. As a result, when someone buys a gift from your list through a third-party seller — independent businesses or individuals who use Amazon’s platform to sell their own products — those merchants may now have access to your delivery details.Amazon spokesperson Maxine Tagay confirmed the shift, explaining: If a customer has a public list and connects a delivery address to that list in their settings, gift purchasers may receive the recipient's address through sellers and delivery partners fulfilling those orders, as delivery updates and tracking information are shared as part of the shipment process.This change poses the biggest threat to people who share their Wish Lists publicly with large audiences. Aaron Engel, Chief Information Security Officer at ExpressVPN, warns that online creators, influencers, and public figures are particularly vulnerable.Mr Engel told GB News: The concern comes down to who might gain access to personal delivery information tied to a purchase from your Amazon Wish List. When an item is bought from a list, certain shipping or tracking details may be visible to the seller if the product comes from a third-party merchant.For people sharing Wish Lists privately with friends or family, the risk may feel relatively small. But it becomes more concerning when a Wish List is shared publicly or circulated online. Someone could purchase an item specifically to gain access to delivery information and potentially figure out where you live.The risks go beyond simple inconvenience. In serious cases, bad actors could use this information for harassment or doxxing – deliberately hunting down and publishing someone's personal details online. Social media content creators and charities using public lists to receive donations could find themselves unexpectedly exposed.So what can you do to protect yourself? Mr Engel says the simplest step is limiting who can actually see your list.If you don't need it to be public, change the settings so it's private or only accessible through a direct link you share with trusted people, he advises.Another option is removing your address from the Wish List altogether. Mr Engel said: That way, if someone wants to send you a gift, they'll need to contact you for your address, giving you control over who has your information. To remove your address from Amazon Wish List, follow these steps: Go to your wish list: Log in to your Amazon account and open the Wish List you want to edit.Open “More” or “Manage List” settings: Click on the “More” dropdown or “Manage List” option (depending on your device).Check your shipping address settings: Look for the section labelled “Shipping Address” or “Delivery Preferences.” This is where your address is linked to gift purchases.Adjust privacy or address visibility: If available, switch the setting to limit visibility or remove the saved address from that list. You may also replace it with a pickup point or alternate address. Remove default address (if needed): Go to your main account settings “Your Addresses” and delete or edit the address you don’t want associated with gift purchases.Save changes: Make sure all changes are saved before exiting the page.Double-check by viewing the list as a guest: Use the “View as public” option to confirm what others can see when they access your Wish List.For creators who need to keep their lists public, Mr Engel recommends using a P.O. box instead of their home address.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSRoku hits record-breaking new milestone, and Fire TV just can't competeBritish brand launches long-awaited Sky Q rival to watch, pause, and record tellyBest VPN dealsSpotify is treating you to more than 1,400 Peloton workout classes at no extra costShark launches £130 handheld fan that promises to 'instantly cool' skinMr Engel also suggests checking seller details before adding items: On the product page, look for the 'Ships from' and 'Sold by' sections, and if they both say Amazon, the shipping process typically stays within Amazon's system and poses less of a risk.However, Mr Engel cautions against relying solely on this approach: Third-party sellers can always start shipping their products directly later on.For an extra layer of privacy, he also suggests using initials rather than your full name in shipping details.If you're looking for extra security during all of your online activity, employing the help of a VPN may also prove to be beneficial. While it can't protect your personal data already tied to your account on a site like Amazon, there are several other noteworthy features worth exploring. Protect your online activity with ExpressVPNWith its new multi-tier subscription structure, ExpressVPN has never been more affordableIf you want to unlock the ExpressVPN Basic plan, which offers unlimited access to its award-winning reliable and ludicrously speedy VPN servers across the globe, it has cut monthly subscriptions by 80.If you sign up for a 12-month plan, you'll be gifted with a generous 4 months of access to the award-winning VPN service for free. That equates to under 6 pence per day!What is a VPN?VPN stands for Virtual Private Network.It's an application that encrypts and anonymises everything you do online — bolstering your privacy, hiding your location, and stopping advertisers, trackers, and even governments from keeping tabs on you.VPNs are widely used by businesses to keep proprietary data safe from prying eyes. Whistle-blowers and journalists also rely on these apps to shield sensitive information. And now, VPNs are fast becoming an essential tool for everyone with a smartphone, laptop, desktop PC, streaming set-top box, or tablet.What can a VPN do?Using a VPN isn't just about boosting your privacy online. These versatile apps have a slew of different features. We've put together a list of some of the most useful VPN features below:Protects your data onlineKeeps you safe on public Wi-Fi networksUnlock access to blocked sites in your countryBlock trackers from advertisersBlock trackers from governmentsCheck prices of flights, hotels in other countriesAccess apps that are blocked in your countryAvoid censorship in your current locationStream sports from anywhere in the worldBypass speed blocks from your broadbandOptimise online multiplayer games Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter