Protect yourself when buying online

With the holidays upon us, it’s good to take extra precautions if you shop online. Here are a few tips to follow:

>> Look for the “lock” icon on your browser’s status bar and be sure “https” appears in the website address before making an online purchase.

>> Don’t use public computers for your online shopping. They could have malware that steals your credit card information when you place your order.

>> Never e-mail credit card information, as there is potential for other people to access it.

In addition, you’ll want to make sure that your computer has the latest security updates installed, that your anti-malware software is running, that you’re using the most recent version available of your Internet browser, and that you’ve checked your browser’s security settings.

For more information, check out the Federal Trade Commission’s new publication about shopping online at http://onguardonline.gov/sites/default/files/0041-full.png.