We all know that the Internet is a great place to find deals. It is no surprise that many people turn to online shopping when they want to find something for a very reasonable price. I know I like to go straight to a trusted online source like CheapToday when I am ready to save a little money. However, there can be risks associated with online shopping. And Cyber Monday, the biggest online shopping day of the year, brings out identity thieves and hackers in droves. ID thieves can steal your personal information and wreak havoc with your financial accounts, not to mention wreck your important credit score. So, while you want to take advantage of the deals on Cyber Monday, you also want to protect yourself. Here are some things you can do to protect yourself while online shopping on Cyber Monday -- and any other time of the year:
- Get the proper protection for your computer: Many people do not realize how important it is to make sure that your protection software is updated. Before logging on to shop, make sure your anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall applications are all up to date and properly functioning.
- Be smart when preparing to pay: Make sure you are entering a secure site when you pay. Look up at the address bar. Instead of "http", it should say "https". The "s" indicates a secure and encrypted connection. You can also check the site's security certificate (look for a VeriSign or eTrust logo).
- Completely close out the transaction: When you are done with your transaction, log out of your account completely. Then empty your browser's cache and close the browser window. This will get you out of the account completely, without leaving it open and vulnerable to the unscrupulous.
- Don't follow links sent in your email: In some cases, you might receive a realistic-looking email from a store, or even a financial institution or third-party payment processor. It may tell you to go to a special site to put in information, or to log into your account. Even if you think you are on the mailing list, don't follow these links. Phishing scams are increasingly sophisticated and you may find that you just gave away valuable login and password information. Instead, directly type in the mainpage of the site and go to your account from there.
- Don't provide personal or payment information via email: Reputable financial institutions and retailers do not ask you to email them personal information or payment information. If you get an email asking you to send your account number for "verification" be suspicious. That is information you enter at login (see above).
There is no way to totally guarantee that you will not be a victim of identity theft. However, if you are careful with your online shopping, you can significantly reduce the risks.
-- Miranda
Image source: sxc.hu