{plugged in}
Shop the Web
Without the Worry
By Sharon Miller Cindrich

Q: I want to do some of my holiday shopping online this year, but I hate giving out my credit card number. Got any safety tips?

A: Shopping online is one of the quickest, easiest, most popular ways to get goods, and ‘tis the season. The average Internet consumer spends $1000 a year shopping online, and one of the busiest e-shopping days on the calendar is the Monday after Thanksgiving, a.k.a. Black Monday. If you want to join the virtual bargain hunt, but you’re concerned about putting your private info out there, try these tips:
  • Look for seals of approval. Many retailers post seals of approval from third party organizations like the Better Business Bureau Online or Truste, two groups that create standards for good business practices. If you don’t see these icons on the site, check the company’s privacy policy or Terms and Conditions, where they should be clearly posted. Click on the icons to make sure they are legitimately linked.
  • Look for secure technology. How do you know if your connection is secure? Most often, a padlock will appear in the bottom right hand corner of your computer screen, indicating the secure connection is working while your order is being processed.

Free Shipping Day:
Tuesday, December 17

Begun last year by the Knowles, a husband-and-wife team,
Free Shipping Day returns this year to FreeShipping.org.

It's the last possible 24-hour period when online shoppers can place their orders with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve, and over 500 retailers are expected to participate this year, including Toys R Us, Babies R Us, FAO Schwartz, eToys, Baby Universe and Crate & Barrel.
  • Consider PayPal. A third-party processing company specifically designed for Internet transactions, PayPal shields your credit card or bank information from view. It not only gives you an extra level of security, but it can save you time too, since you won’t have to enter your billing information at every site, every time you shop. Anyone with an email account can send or receive a payment through PayPal using a credit card or bank statement.

Sharon Miller Cindrich is a mother of two and the author of E-Parenting: Keeping Up with your Tech-Savvy Kids.