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Amanda Butterfield ReportingThe start of the holiday shopping season continues with what's being called "Cyber Monday."
The Monday after Thanksgiving is expected to be one of the ten busiest days of the online shopping season. With millions of consumers back in their offices, which generally has faster Internet connections than at home, the online shopping is getting underway.
One company that tracks Internet spending predicts almost 600 million dollars in online sales today; an increase of 24% over last year's Cyber Monday.
Chances are, when you are waiting in line or fighting the crowds this holiday season, keeping a close eye on your wallet or purse is priority. The same thing should apply when you are shopping online as greater security risks are especially relevant.
"One percent of shopping online leads to identify theft," according to Brad Caldwell of SecurityMetrics Inc. That is certainly not a lot, but consumers should still be aware of the risks, especially today.
Brad Caldwell runs a company that looks for security gaps in websites where you may like to shop. "We find a lot of merchants have areas where they can improve security."
Secure websites should display a locked key icon and a logo that indicates the website is PCI compliant- which is what standard credit card companies have been pushing for. Brad continued to say, "The credit card companies have come up with programs trying to ensure all online sales are secure."
But there is another risk- that comes to you by email.
Look out for any notices from online stores warning about a problem with your account. This type of phishing scam may provide a link to where you would be directed to a look-alike web page that is set up to steal credit card information. Do not click on the link or enter any sensitive information in response to a phishing email.
The security risk is becoming more and more relevant as it is estimated that online shopping increases by 25% per year.
