How To Stay Safe When Shopping During Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday is just a few weeks away. Thousands of bargains of the holiday season will be made available online during that day, which makes it the most important online shopping day of the whole year. Though shopping on the internet definitely beats putting up with long lines and congested aisles during Black Friday, Cyber Monday is not free of threats, for instance, cyber criminals and malware developers may take advantage of you if you're not careful.

To be safe this e-holiday, listed below are several reminders.

Do not use debit card - Debit cards is linked to your bank account. Credit cards, in contrast, let you use borrowed money from the card provider. If your credit card is used for a purchase without your approval or if you're overcharged, you can contest this and you will likely get all of the money back. This is, sadly, difficult to do with debit cards.

Update your computer security - Prior to shopping on the web, be sure that your spam filters, anti-virus, and anti-spyware software are all current. You ought to run a full anti-virus scan before Cyber Monday to make sure your computer is clean and is not already affected with malware that may grab credit card information as it is entered. Make sure you check your firewall to see if it is secure.

Buy only from reputable web-based stores - Visiting sites that are unheard of or those you could not find plenty of information about is an invitation for trouble. Yes, you can find less familiar sites that offer great deals, but you have to be extra careful when buying from them. If you're uncertain about an online seller's reputation, there are also browser extensions or tools you can use that let you ascertain how reliable or safe a site is. Sites which have the best Cyber Monday sales this 2013 are encrypted. Websites that start with "https" rather than just "http" are encrypted, and this means the site allows for secure transactions.

Don't click unknown links in your email - Most phishing attacks will try to scam buyers using an email that presents an excellent bargain. If you're suspicious of an offer or email, don't click the link, but rather go right to the retailer's website to confirm the offer.

Don't use public computers and unsecured wireless connections - Shop at home. Public LAN and WI-Fib networks might be infected with malware. When hackers get access to those networks, they could also get your details if you're connected. Always conduct your internet shopping from a network that is secured with a EP or PA code.