Safe Cyber Shopping

by Breanna Fuss, Reporter
November 26, 2012 4:32 PM


Chances are you knew it was Cyber Monday, and nearly every large retailer had plenty of good deals on their websites.

But as the number of people shopping online climbs, your personal information could become quite the deal for computer hackers.  

If you’re not one for crowds and craziness, Cyber Monday is the ideal shopping day for you. And the latest trends show more people are taking advantage of those online deals.
 
 “We are projecting $1.5 billion in Monday's sales, which is up 20 percent,” said Eric Ellefson, Vice President of Operations at Click Rain.

Eric Ellefson is the Vice President of Operations at Click Rain, an online marketing firm. He said consumers are getting more comfortable with technology. And in turn, retailers are amping up the ads, and starting deals before Cyber Monday.

"We're seeing a trend where retailers are offering more and more earlier and earlier for the holiday shopping season,” said Ellefson.

And all these deals have basically turned Cyber Monday into a cyber month.      

“(People) are planning their Black Friday shopping experience. They are going online, and like I said, retailers are looking to capture that audience while they are there in that shopping mode,” said Ellefson.

And while shopping online for those cyber deals, the last thing you may be thinking about is protecting yourself, and your accounts.

“Make sure your always looking for the SSL,” said Ellefson.

When you are checking out, the SSL is a little green bar in the URL. Ellefson said it ensures the website is protected and your information will be as well.

He also said to be sure your browser is up to date, and it will help your computer protect itself.
     
Finally he said don’t use debit cards, but to instead use a credit card.

"You have an extra layer of protection with your credit card company that you wouldn’t have with your bank account,” said Ellefson.

It’s all about protecting your finances so you can have peace of mind while scoping out the best buys this holiday season.

It's also recommended you use a different password for each of your online shopping accounts. That makes it harder for hackers log into your information.