Tips for shopping online

Let's face it, we now live in an online world. When was the last time you went to the a travel agent to purchase a single plane ticket? Better yet, do you still make that early, Saturday morning dash to your local bank to handle all of your financial transactions? These are all rhetorical but nonetheless, we are in the golden age of online shopping so you better be ware of your surroundings... technically the same thing your parents told you as a kid instead of putting your money in your shoe, just realize who you are doing business with by certain things... 1. Use Familiar Web Sites Speaks for itself... shop online on well-known sites not the low-lit corner store.

2. Look for the Lock
When you are shopping, look for the lock. What lock? You'll know it immediately by observing your web page address which should start with HTTPS:// (instead of just HTTP://) and an icon of a locked padlock will appear, typically in the status bar at the bottom of your Web browser. Never ever, ever buy anything online using your credit card from a site that doesn't have SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption installed—at the very least. Plus, never give anyone your credit card over e-mail.

3. Don't Tell All
Important note... NO online shopping store is going to require you to enter your social security number, do don't volunteer it. By default, give the least amount of information as possible.

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4. Check Statements
Don't wait for your bill to come at the end of the month. Go online regularly and check your bank (credit card) statements.

5. Protect Your PC
You need to protect yourself (computer) against such viruses and Trojan horse malware with regular updates to your anti-virus program. There are a number of applications that will provide you with this layer of protection.

6. Use Strong Passwords
Our tips for making a unique password for each site can come in handy especially when shopping online... do NOT use your kids name, your middle name nor common things like your mother's maiden name... plus add some extra characters to any password, such as $$$ or %^&.

7. Think Mobile
The NRF did a survey that also predicts that 25 percent of adults will do their online shopping via their smartphones, but mostly as a way of find gifts, not purchase them. You can buck that trend, just follow the advice above. Better yet, download store specific apps like those for Amazon, Target, etc. and use them to find what you want and make the purchase without going to the store or the Web site.

8. Stay at Home
Do we really have to tell you it's a bad idea to use a public computer (or even your neighbors computer) to make purchases? Hopefully not. If you do, just remember to log out every time you use a public terminal, even if you were just checking e-mail.. But what about using your own laptop to shop while you're out? It's one thing to hand over a credit card to get swiped at the checkout, but when you have to enter the number and expiration date on a Web site while sitting in a public cafe, you're giving an over-the-shoulder snooper plenty of time to see the goods. At the very least, think like a gangster: sit in the back, facing the door.

9. Privatize Your Wi-Fi
If you do decide to go out with the laptop to shop, you'll be on a Wi-Fi connection. Only use the wireless if you access the Web over a virtual private network (VPN) connection. If you don't get one from your employer, you can set up a free one with AnchorFree Hotspot Shield, if you're willing to put up with the ads. By the way, now is not a good time to try out a hotspot you're unfamiliar with. Stick to known networks, even if they're free, like those found at Starbucks.

10. Count the Cards
Gift Cards are very popular these days. We would recommend one thing stick to the source when you buy one; scammers like to auction off gift cards on sites like eBay with little or no funds on them upon arrival.

11. Know What's Too Good to Be True
Beware even of your friends, who might innocently forward such a thing. Skepticism in these cases can go a long way toward saving you from a stolen card number. McAfee compiled a list of scams to look for and one of them is the offer of a free product with purchase, in particular the iPad (a very coveted gadget this holiday) or even holiday job offers. Many of these "offers" will come in via social media.

The bottom line, BE CAREFUL.... think things through first and if you get receive a pause in your thinking, then pause and don't execute the online transaction until you feel comfortable.

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