Article by George Norman

On 19 May 2011

Shopping online is a convenient way to get your hands on the things you need or to get your hands on the things you crave. Security is an issue when we’re speaking about online shopping; security as a matter of fact is an issue when we talk about anything internet-related, for the simple fact that the web is full of security threats, scammers and spammers and other people with malicious intent.

If you want to be safe when shopping online, then McAfee, company that specializes in providing security software solutions for home and business users, has some tips for you. Actually, Identity Theft Expert with McAfee Robert Siciliano has some tips for you. Here they are:


1. Be suspicious of any offer that seems too good to be true especially when you found out about the offer via an unknown person, via tweets, or via social media.
2. Don’t click links included in emails as they may take you to phishing sites. Type in the address yourself in the browser’s address bar, or use the favorites menu.
3. Beware of cybersquatting and typosquatting which may look like the domain of the legitimate online retailer.
4. Use a secure, encrypted HTTPS connection.
5. There are plenty of eBay scammer out there, so watch out for eBay scams. Review eBayers’ history, view the feedback offered by other customers. Do not respond to eBay email offers.
6. Check your billing statements every couple of weeks and refute unauthorized charges within 2 billing cycles.
7. Credit cards offer more protection and less liability, so instead of using a debit card online, use a credit card instead.
8. The same goes for online checks and mail order. Pay with a credit card instead of paying by check online/mail-order.
9. Make purchases from retailers that you know and trust. If you want to purchase high ticket items, it’s best to make the purchase from a retailer that also has a brick and mortar location.
10. Keep your antivirus, operating system and applications patched and up to date.

Robert Siciliano advises online shoppers to check out the McAfee SECURE Shopping Portal which offers protection against identity theft and lets users shop on thousands of trusted McAfee SECURE sites – sites that passed McAfee SECURE service daily checks for identity theft, credit fraud, online scams, spam, and adware.

“Every merchant in the McAfee SECURE Shopping Portal undergoes daily security scans that address online safety concerns. Each site is tested for phishing and other online scams, as well as affiliations with risky sites, excessive pop-ups, and browser exploits. Only when the merchant’s site has passed each test can they display the 'live' McAfee SECURE trustmark,” said Siciliano.



Tags: McAfee, Security, Online Shopping

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