Shop Safely Online this Christmas [A Guide to Being Security Savvy]

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With the holiday season only a few weeks away you may be considering buying your Christmas presents online. Shopping online is easy and you can often find good bargains especially for hi-tech gadgets. But you need to be aware of a few things before your buy to ensure your online safety. Before you start your online shopping spree, make sure you are using the latest version of your browser and if possible use Firefox 3 or IE 7 as they contain anti-phishing technologies.

Check the Seller.

The first and most important thing to know is who are you buying from. If you are using a big well known online retailer then your don’t have much to worry about. But if you are using a smaller shop who also has an e-commerce solution you need to be sure they are reputable. A couple of ways to verify the seller’s reputation is to Google their name and see if you find any horror stories about them. Also you can try calling them and ask some pertinent questions about their returns policy and and delivery. If you are using eBay then make sure you check the seller’s feedback.

Web Site Security.

At some point in the transaction you will need to enter some personal information and pay for the items you have purchased. This information will be sent over the Internet and you need to be sure that the seller’s web site is secure and that the information is sent over an encrypted connection.

When the time comes to enter your personal information or payment details,  make sure that the Web address begins with https and check to see if a tiny locked padlock appears at the bottom right of the web browser window. Also if you are using Firefox 3 then you can click on the web site’s icon at the left side of the address bar and you will get a small report about the site’s security.

Some websites offer to store much of your personal information for you to make it easier to buy from them the next time you use their site. Therefore make sure you use a strong password (preferably mixed case and with some numbers or symbols) and don’t reveal your password to anyone, including their customer support people.

Payment

The safest way to pay for your gifts is by credit card. Most companies offer insurance and indemnities against Internet fraud. But you need to check with your credit card company first.

Never use cash or a money-transfer service because you’ll have no way to get your money back if something goes wrong.

Only ever enter the details that can be found on your credit card. Don’t enter any PIN numbers or bank account numbers. Don’t give extra details like your mother’s maiden name.

Keep a Record

Once you have purchased your gifts make sure you keep a record of what you have bought and where. Most online stores will email you a receipt of your purchase. Don’t delete it. Check your monthly statements to make sure that the right amount was charged to your account.

If the item doesn’t arrive, is damaged or isn’t as specified call the seller immediately. You don’t need to go straight to your credit card company and lodge a complaint, most problems can be solved with the seller simply enough.

Log off!

Once you have finished buying make sure you log off from the site and don’t make purchases from Internet cafes or from public Wi-Fi hotspots.

Conclusion

If you follow these tips online shopping can be a rewarding and money saving experience.