With Cyber Monday kicking off the official start of the 2010 holiday shopping season, comparison search engine SortPrice.com has released 10 things every online shopper should follow to ensure a safe, secure and, most of all, productive shopping experience as they comb the Internet for gifts this year.
- Update your home computer’s anti-virus software and security tools before you start shopping, and if using a wireless connection, make sure it’s encrypted with a password.
- Be thorough in your research: Use all the resources the Internet provides, compare prices and search for online-only bargains to guarantee that you’re saving money.
- Order in advance to ensure you don’t get hurt by holiday shipping delays, and check stock availability for a given product before you place an order.
- Use credit cards instead of debit cards — you’ll be better protected from fraud and face less liability in the event of your card number being stolen.
- Carefully review every online retailer’s terms and conditions as well as their return policies, as they vary industry-wide.
- Create or update new online passwords that are unique and difficult to steal. Avoid pet names, birthdays, etc. and incorporate numbers and characters.
- Shop only on certifiably secure websites: Look for “https://” URLs that indicate secure connections when placing orders and entering personal information.
- Be diligent about where you disclose personal information. including phone numbers, addresses and financial information, and avoid unverifiable entities.
- Look for delivery guarantees from online retailers and always keep hard copies of e-mail confirmations of orders and delivery status.
- Beware of certain promotional e-mails requesting personal information or promising a special deal as they could be part of a “phishing” scam.