Shop safely this holiday season

Despite the fact that the Christmas shopping season seems to have started, at least in the hearts of the big retailers, before Halloween this year. You are just now giving thought to sitting down in front of your computer to begin the task of making a list, checking it twice and searching for and buying that “perfect” gift online.

Chances are you will be seeking bargains online. And the good news is that, according to the National Retailing Federation, you may find them. According to their study released this week, 9 in 10 retailers will have special promotions for Cyber Monday (the big online shopping day traditionally the Monday following Thanksgiving).

Make sure you start by preparing to shop online securely and being safe and secure while you shop. The NCSA recommends that Americans employ a small handful of simple behaviors to ensure the online holiday shopping season is safe and successful:
• Update Core Protections: Take a few minutes to update your core protections -- anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall -- before you get on the information superhighway. Also make certain they are set to automatically update against new threats.
• Shop Secure Sites: Is there a closed padlock on the browser's status bar? Does the Web site's address (URL) change to shttp or https when you are asked to provide payment information? If so, you know the vendor has secured their payment process.
• Check Sellers Out: Conduct independent research on a seller's reputation before you buy from a seller you have never done business with.
• Passwords Are Key: Create long unique passwords incorporating symbols and numbers to increase your security against hackers and others trying to access online accounts.
• Always Ask WWW: When providing personal information for any purchase, always ensure that you know who is asking for the information, what information they are asking for and why the need it.
• Not All Money is Created Equal: Credit cards are generally the safest option because shoppers can seek a credit from the issuer of the card if the item isn't delivered or not what was ordered.
• Don’t be afraid to vote with your mouse: According to a recent NCSA/Symantec poll, more than 63 percent of respondents reported that they did not complete a Web site purchase because of security concerns.  A little skepticism can add to your security.

Have fun, shop early and often (hey the economy needs your help) and enjoy the holidays.

SSO (stay safe online)

Michael