As we quickly approach this holiday season I think it has become very clear that the majority of people these days will be using their Computers to take care of most if not all of their major gift purchases online. The fact is it’s just so much easier to shop, compare, and find the best deals by doing a little bit of research on some of the more popular online shopping web sites. However, online scamming is also quickly rising in frequency due to the increased volume of online purchases. Identity theft is also becoming a very large problem due to security breaches or the average computer user at home clicking on the wrong link by accident.

Protect Yourself!

Before you go out and register on multiple Shopping Sites there are some steps you need to take first to ensure those online shopping carts don’t end up costing you a whole lot more.

#1 – Use a Web Browser with good security. I highly recommend Mozilla Firefox since it comes with many great security features already installed and functioning.

#2 – Use Anti-Virus Software - Personally I use AVG Anti-Virus. Their latest free edition comes with some surprisingly great features that give added security for online browsing. Their paid version comes with added security for Identity theft and more complex online threat detection. Don’t forget to do a scan at least 2-3 times a month.

#3 – Use STRONG PASSWORDS! The worst thing you can do is register your username with an easy to guess password like your first name, favourite colour, or favourite number. These are all bad choices when deciding on the password you will use to make sure your account remains secure while your online purchase is submitted and processed. Microsoft has a great guide you can follow here to help you create a strong password that no one will be able to hack into.

Dare to Compare

There are literally hundreds of Shopping Sites you can use these days to buy the same product. Don’t be afraid to browse some of the lesser known ones to make sure you really are getting the best possible price. Yes it will probably take you longer to do all the research and collect all your data, but the money you save in the end will completely make up for it.

Have fun!

Shopping online is shopping without the stress. No lineups, no sick people coughing on you, and you get to do it all within the comfort of your own home. Use an instant messenger to connect with some friends at the same time and you can all work together to find all those incredible deals that some people might overlook.

I hope you enjoyed this guide. And remember…

Christmas is not about giving, it’s about a gift. May the gift of forgiveness through Jesus, our Lord, fill your heart this year.

Merry Christmas