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Shopping online is a great way to save time and money. As we head into the Christmas shopping season we are all looking for great deals on that must-have gift. We all need to be careful when shopping online to avoid being the victim of scams and identity theft. Today I attended a press conference about online shopping safety sponsored by AVG and Shop.org. I learned some great tips for staying safe while shopping online.

  1. Look for the “S” in security
    Make sure the sites you are shopping from are secure and have “https:” in the URL.  The “s” ensures security.
  2. Stay current on security software
    One option is AVG free.
  3. Think before you link. Use a link scanner tool to make sure you aren’t linking to infected websites. There is one included in AVG free or you can add the free AVG link scanner to your computer.
  4. Keep your private information private. Use a separate e-mail account just for shopping. Keep the e-mail box cleaned out, print your confirmation e-mails.
  5. Mix up your passwords Every account should have its own password. I know this is a hassle but it is for your own protection. Write them down and keep them in a secure location.

Some other online shopping safety tips:

  • Don’t shop from your cellphone, the transactions aren’t as secure as your home computer. Use the phone for research but not purchasing.
  • Help elderly family members keep their computers safe. Take a few minutes and make sure they have the latest anti-virus, link scanner and firewall on their computer. This age group are often targets for online scam artists, phishing schemes and identity theft.
  • Credit cards are much more secure than debit cards when used online. (I don’t use credit cards, I shop with my Paypal debit card as it is easy to manage my account and my spending.)

Take action today to make sure your computer’s security software is up-to-date. Tomorrow I will be sharing where to find great deals online this holiday season.

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