KANSAS CITY, Mo. - If the crowds and chaos of Black Friday just gave you a headache, Cyber Monday may be your day. Millions will head back to work after the Thanksgiving break and get on their computers for what’s become the kickoff of the online holiday shopping season.
Cyber Monday is also prime time for identity theft and other online scams. Security company McAffe Labs and Capitol One Bank offer some advice for Cyber Monday shopping:
- Make sure your anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software are up-to-date before you begin shopping
- Look for a padlock or key symbol at the bottom of your web browser before using any online shopping site
- Don’t open attachments or click on e-mail links from unfamiliar sources.
- Never give out your bank account or Social Security number.
- Be careful about downloading holiday wallpaper, screensavers, or other applications. Some are designed just to infect computers.
A Capitol One spokesman says it's generally safer to pay online with a credit card than a debit card because you're more likely to be able to get credit from the credit card issuer if something goes wrong.
