Safe Online Shopping For The Holidays

Holiday shopping online has been consistently increasing year after year and this season is no exception. More than half of consumers are planning on doing some or all of their holiday shopping online this year. With so many people doing online transactions this is not only the greatest time of the year for online stores, but for cybercriminals as well.

Here are some tips on how you can make sure you stay safe when doing your online shopping:

1. Make sure your computer is up to date with anti-virus and anti-malware software, firewalls, latest security updates, and the latest browser versions to try to block intruders.

2. Whenever possible try to use a secure Internet connection, such as your home connection with an encrypted password, rather than a free wireless connection in a coffee shop or on the street.

3. Check to make sure the websites you are shopping from are secure. Look at the website address or URL in the box at the top of your browser screen. There should be an "s" after "http" or a lock symbol in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. If you have doubts about security, right-click anywhere on the page, and select "Properties" to see the real URL. The dialog box should say whether the site is encrypted. It would be a good idea to stick to sites you know and trust rather than trying new sites that may have a good deal but look unprofessional and that you have never heard of.

4. Beware of confirmation emails. Last year there was a flood of DHL, UPS, and FedEx related emails reporting delays or asking for confirmation. Each of them contained a malicious attachment, usually in the form of a ZIP, Word, or PDF file. This is happening again this year. Shipping carriers will normally not send you attachments. If you are unsure at all, give the carrier a call rather than opening the attachment or using the links in the email.

5. Shop with a credit card. Under federal law you can dispute the charges if you don’t receive the item. You can also dispute any unauthorized charges you may see on your card. Make sure you check your credit card statements on a regular basis so you can catch any fraud as soon as possible. Be careful if you use a debit card that is tied directly to your bank account. Check with your bank to find out what protections they offer with online transactions.

A great way to ensure that your online shopping is secure is SafeCentral’s WebProtection™. It provides end-to-end security against identity theft by locking out desktop malware and establishing trusted web connections, even on already infected PCs. Get WebProtection™ as a gift to yourself before you start shopping for everyone else. Keeping your identity and your financial information secure is possibly the greatest gift you can get this season.

Tags: Secure online shopping, safe online shopping, data protection, identity theft protection, secure online transactions