Shopping online can be very convenient: no waiting for a turn, no need to drive or find parking; you can comparison shop for the best value, and many sites offer free shipping and free returns, and the stores are always open. Unfortunately, many people fail to recognize the need for safety and security when shopping online. There are two key factors that determine your level of safety when shopping or conducting any financial transaction online: the first is how well you secure your computing environment; the second is how savvy you are at identifying scams vs. legitimate offers. Crooks are counting on you to fail in one of these areas. Here are our 10 steps to keep safe when you shop online. - See more at: http://safeguardcentral.com/1/10-things-you-can-do-to-be-safer-when-shopping-online/#sthash.7LakF2Rw.dpuf

1. 10
STEPS TO
SHOP SAFER
ONLINE THIS
SEASON

2. 1.Secure your
computers and
mobile devices
Keeping your devices
protected with security
software is just like
locking your door when
you leave the house. If
your phone, tablet or
computer is unprotected,
your financial information,
passwords and identity can
be stolen. This concept is
so basic, yet only 20% of
the US population
adequately protects their
computers.

3. 2.Secure your
Internet
connection
Make sure you’re the
firewall on your computer
is on. If you are using a
wireless network, be sure
the network is encrypted
to prevent cyber thieves
from collecting your
information.

4. 3.Never use
public WiFi for
financial
transactions
Never log onto sensitive
sites (banking, shopping,
etc.) or access personal
information from an
unsecured connection. You
don’t know what malware
or cyber criminal may be
lurking on it.

5. 4.Be sure you
know the
merchant
If you don’t know the
store, you need to take a
few more precautions.
Conduct your own
background check by
looking at sites dedicated
to reviewing e-stores (i.e.
Epinions, BizRate, or the
Better Business Bureau).
Avoid any e-store that
promises too much at too
low a price.

6. 5.Don’t click on
ambiguous or
random links
It can be very difficult to
tell if a link will take you
to the site you intend to
visit, or a malicious site
designed to fool you into
giving away your
information. Find the
correct website yourself
using a search engine; the
extra 30 seconds of effort
will save you from
malware or identity theft.

7. 6.Use unique
passwords
Creating strong
memorable passwords is
easy and can actually be
fun. The payoff in
increased safety is big.
The key aspects of a
strong password are length
(the longer the better); a
mix of letters, numbers,
and symbols; and no tie to
your personal information.

8. 7.Don’t give
more info than
is necessary to
complete the
purchase.
You will need to provide
some method of payment,
your address, and a
telephone number or
email so the store can
contact you if there are
issues. If the merchant
requests your bank
account information,
social security
information, or driver’s
license number, NEVER
provide it.

9. 8.Make sure the
site is secure
Look to see if the web
address on the page begins
with “https”, not of
“http” You should also see
a small padlock symbol at
the bottom or top of your
screen. Never pay, or
share financial
information, through
email; only make
payments online though
secure sites.

10. 9.Use PayPal or
a credit card
Never use debit card,
check, cashier’s check,
Wire Transfer, or Money
order. Credit card
purchases limit your
liability to no more than
$50 of unauthorized
charges if your financial
information is stolen, and
the money in your bank
account is untouched.
Most debit cards do not
offer this protection – and
even when they do, you’re
the one out of funds in the
meantime.

11. 10.Check your
credit reports
Block ID thieves from
opening new accounts
under your name by
freezing or blocking access
to your credit files. Under
the Fair Credit Reporting
Act, you have the right to
one free credit disclosure
in every 12-month period
from each of the three
national credit reporting
companies. Or, you can
pay for credit monitoring
services that will
immediately alert you to
any suspicious activity or
changes in your credit
scores.

12. 888.620.3663
ftrsecure.com