TIPS FOR SAFE ONLINE SHOPPING

One of the busiest times of the year for shoppers is the holiday season. Before you duke it out in jam-packed department stores and wade your way through line after line at the checkout, consider online shopping as a more convenient and sanity-saving option. If you’re considering purchasing all of your gifts online this year, keep the following tips in mind:

• Anytime you purchase something online, print out a receipt of the transaction or product ordered. This way, should you fail to receive what you ordered, you have proof.

• If you order from a site and are emailed for passwords or personal information, don’t give it out. If it’s legitimate, you’ll receive a call to confirm information.

• If you’re concerned about a site’s validity, look for the browser ‘lock icon’ or an order URL beginning with ‘https’ where the ‘s’ means secure.

• If you’re shopping on an online auction or the sort, keep references to ‘refurbished’ or ‘close-out’ products in mind. Don’t expect a new product to come in the mail, they’re letting you know. If a product is advertised as new, keep a print-out of the description in case you receive a used item.

• Make note of a company’s return policies. Read the fine print for procedures on exchanges or full refunds so you know what to expect before you click ‘order.’

• Sign up to receive a website’s newsletter, so you’ll be notified of any three-day weekend or one-day sales.

• Never click ‘order’ or ‘buy’ twice. There are plenty of instances where your credit card is charged double, which could take some time to fix.

• Make sure you have a comprehensive Internet security software product installed on your PC to prevent any password-stealing pop-up’s or phishing attempts.

Even if you have internet security software installed on your computer, StarReviews.com notes that it also makes the perfect present for a friend or family member. Most everyone has a PC and Internet security protection is a great way to safeguard their files and information.

Security Shield 2008 for example, provides anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-spam protection, as well as a firewall, parental controls and rootkit prevention tools. On top of these features, you also receive free technical support, which isn’t easy to find anymore! Before you make your holiday shopping lists and browse the Web, keep the above safety tips and advice in mind to make this season hassle-free.