Online Shopping Safety

Shopping convenience used to mean a 3 story mall with all your favorite stores in one place. Now the easiest shopping happens in your bedroom at 3am when the world is asleep. A few clicks can buy you golf clubs or a golf vacation. You can buy groceries from your laptop.

Unfortunately, for some people online shopping has proven too good to be true. Meaning, some e-shoppers have fallen prey to identity theft. With online shopping ignorance is not bliss- make sure you know your seller, where your information is sent and the reputability of the site.

Regarding the seller, check up on the merchant. Does the site offer contact information and other clues to their validity?

Find out what information the seller obtains from you. Do they sell your email address or phone number? You can find this information in the privacy and security policies which are usually found at the bottom of the page.

The Tracks You Leave Online

• An email path is one of the traces your online activity creates.
• Cookies attach to your computer which allows websites to monitor your activity.
  How often you visit Search engines, toolbars and what exactly you are searching for is also stored.
• Clicking on ads reports to the parent site your web location, which in turn can be used for targeted marketing.Webmasters will know the address you originate from and which pages you visit on their website.
• Spyware, adware and viruses also monitor your footprints:
• Sending and receiving email generates a trail connecting you, through ISP to your recipient. Your actual email content is also copied!
• The content of instant messages is not private: it is possible for people monitoring network activity to view your messages and trace them to a source.

Protect Your Privacy Politely

Do you find it hard to say no? Well in the case of your personal privacy you need to learn how to use that word. Never provide sensitive information over the phone. This goes for social security number, home address, mother's maiden name or bank account number. These suggestions may seem like no-brainers, but in the heat of the moment you might feel the pressure to be polite and oblige. An easy phrase to refuse information disclosure is, "I'm concerned about my privacy and don't feel comfortable disclosing that information over the phone..." Be persistent- your information is your own and you have the right to keep it safe.

Maintain privacy when shopping online

With a click of the mouse shoppers can get their hands on groceries, books, cars and diamond rings. For the most part this availability is exciting and convenient. However, the downside to the online shopping industry is the potential for your private information to leak out into the wrong hands. Your credit card number, for example has the potential to reach the hand of an identity theft. So to be sure that you are protecting your privacy while still engaging in some leisurely afternoon shopping, here are some tips:

Shop at Secure Web Sites

• if you look at the address bar while shopping the address should start with https:// the "s" after http stands for secure.
• Also, look for the closed padlock displayed at the bottom of the screen. If the lock is opened, your site is not secure.
• An unbroken key is another indication of a secure website.

Research the Site Before You Order

• You may want to order an inexpensive item right away, if the site is unfamiliar to you.
• Look for a physical address on the site. Reputable sites will have a hub with a real city and a real zip code.
• The Better Business Bureau provides a list of trusted online vendors.

Don't Disclose your Social Security Number

• Enough said.

Shop with a Credit Card

• If something goes wrong, you are protected under the Credit Billing Act.
• E-checks and money orders don't give any protection if something goes wrong.