When Making a Purchase:

1. Don't shop at a site if you're not comfortable—If you feel that the site may not be secure, you're probably right. Little things such as misspellings, requests for excessive personal information, and low-resolution logos and photos may be warning signs.
2. Never click on links from spam emails to make purchases—It's always a bad idea to click on a link in an email from someone you don’t know, but it's particularly dangerous if you buy on a site advertised in a spam email. Always try to use a search engine to locate legitimate e-tailer sites.
3. Check the web address to make sure you are on the correct site—Once you arrive at a site, you need to make sure that it is legitimate and not a fake or spoofed version.
4. Check that the site is secure—Look for a security seal, such as the McAfee SECUREtrustmark, indicating that the site has been scanned and verified as secure by a trusted third party. This security seal indicates that the site will protect you from identity theft, credit card fraud, spam and other malicious threats.
   
   In addition, check to see if the site uses encryption—or scrambling—when transmitting information over the Internet by looking for a lock symbol on the page and checking to make sure that the web address starts with "https://”, rather than “http://” which indicates that encryption is being used.
5. Use a credit card or an online payment service—If the site turns out to be fraudulent, your credit card company will usually reimburse you for the purchase; and in the case of credit card fraud, the law should protect you. Some credit card companies even offer extended warranties on purchases. With debit cards, it can be more difficult to get your money back and you don’t want your account to be drained while you’re sorting things out with your bank.
   
   Another option savvy shoppers sometimes use is a one-time-use credit card, which includes a randomly generated number that can be used for one transaction only. If the number is stolen it cannot be used again. Using this type of credit card also ensures that a thief does not have access to your real credit card number.
   
   Online payment services, like PayPal also offer another way for you to pay for your online purchases. These services let you pay with an account from the online payment service, without having to share your bank or credit card information with e-tailers.
6. Do not use a public computer to shop online—Computers save or “cache” information to speed up your Internet experience. And, if you are using a public computer, information such as your browsing history and even your login information may be accessible to strangers who use the computer after you. If you leave the computer without logging out of certain sites, others might be able to access your accounts. To protect yourself, do all of your online shopping from your secure home computer.
7. Only use a secure connection when you place your order—Never shop using an unsecured wireless network because hackers can access your payment information if the network is not protected.
   
   You also want to make sure that your computer is protected with comprehensive and up-to-date security software such as McAfee Total Protection, which helps safeguard you fromviruses, spyware, and other emerging threats. Additionally, it protects against "keylogger"malware on your machine, which is malicious software that records your keystrokes, including when you type in your credit card numbers and other personal details that you type on your keyboard.
8. Use strong passwords—Choose passwords that are difficult to guess and are at least 10 characters long consisting of a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols. Remember to keep your passwords private and don't set your computer to remember your credit card number or password when you create an account on an online shopping site.
   
   Also, don’t enter your personal information into popups or at any web page that asks for personal details above and beyond standard requests. For example, you should never have to reveal your Social Security number to an online shopping site.

By following these tips, and doing a little homework ahead of time, you can expect a safer shopping experience. For more information on safe online shopping, read oure-guide “Shop Online with Confidence.”

CREDIT TO: http://home.mcafee.com/advicecenter/?id=ad_sos_wmap

Before You Buy

1. Comparison shop—Use comparison sites or a search engine to look for the best deals, but be wary of deals that sound too good to be true. If an online merchant’s prices seem unusually low compared to others, look for tell tale signs that you could be on a fraudulent site. Are there any typos on the site? Does the company ask for unnecessary information such as your Social Security number or date of birth? If so, consider looking around for a different merchant to buy from.
2. Do background checks on the e-tailer—Make sure that the e-tailer has a physical address and phone number listed. If you are suspicious about the site, call the company's phone number to see if a representative is available. Also, look for information such as how long the company has been in business, customer service policies, and whether they offer warranties, repairs, or returns.
3. Read customer reviews—Another important step in investigating an online merchant is to do a search for customer reviews. If there are multiple complaints about the company, proceed with caution.
4. Understand the shipping policies and delivery times—Look into shipping and handling fees and make sure they seem reasonable to you. You want to make sure that you understand all your shipping options and how they will affect your total cost.

1. Know your options when it comes to returns and exchanges—Since it is difficult to determine things like quality and fit when shopping online, it is important to check out the merchant’s return and exchange policies. Is there a time limit or other restrictions on returns? You should also see if there is a restocking charge in case you need to return an order. 
   
   
   If the merchant does accept returns, you should find out if they will fully refund the charges or if you will get store credit. If the merchant only offers store credits, see if there are any time restrictions on using the credit.
2. Review the company's privacy policy—Look to see how the merchant uses your personal information and check to make sure that it will not be shared with third parties. You should only disclose facts necessary to complete your purchase and not any additional information about yourself.

By following these tips, and doing a little homework ahead of time, you can expect a safer shopping experience. For more information on safe online shopping, read oure-guide “Shop Online with Confidence.”

CREDIT TO:
http://home.mcafee.com/advicecenter/?id=ad_sos_byb