Safe Internet Shopping

Shopping on the Internet has become a convenient way to quickly find that needed item or holiday gift.  Price comparison shopping these days is much simpler than it was before retail businesses had websites to advertise their products.  Trusting a retail website can be difficult – how do you determine if the site is legitimate and not full of dangerous links that could cause harm to your computer via malware?  I found another free tool that helps you identify safe sites from an Internet search.  AVG LinkScanner aids in identifying potential threats before clicking on a search result.  You do not need to risk clicking on a site that has already been classified as unsafe.

Regardless of the tools you use on your computer, do not forget to check your credit card statements closely every month for unauthorized purchases.  Hackers are constantly attempting to break into databases that hold credit card information so that it can be sold.  When you have the option, do not allow your credit card information to be saved on a website for future purchases.  The time it takes to re-enter the card number is minimal compared to the time it takes to dispute unauthorized purchases with your credit card company.  Another layer of protection for your credit card is to only allow the shipping address to match the billing address, or to only allow designated shipping addresses for purchases.  Check with your credit card company to set those options.  In the unfortunate event that your credit card number and billing address information were ever stolen from a hacked database, purchases with shipping to an address not on the account would not be allowed.

Be safe and secure when shopping on the Internet!