The Month in IT
Your 'Mall of the Web' Shopping Guide
Column by Stacey Marriott
Online shopping: It's technology’s holiday gift to procrastinators, unique gift seekers and those of us with SMAC (shopping mall avoidance condition). Have you thought about what you give up to get that gift?
Make sure it is not your identity.
For better or worse, this is the shopping season. So here are a few tips—security and practical—for safe online shopping:
- Use sites with secure checkout only. As you progress through the checkout, the Web address of the pages should start with "https." The "S" means the page is secure.
- More stores offer payment through services like PayPal and Google Checkout. By using these services when offered, you may be reducing your risk for financial data theft.
- By extension of that last point, avoid storing your credit card data on a store site.
- Your computer security is your key to protecting your identity online. You can follow all the previous tips, but if your computer is not protected by a firewall, updated software and Internet security, an identity thief only needs to target your computer. That's far easier than hacking into a commercial site.
Now that you are thinking securely, it is time to shop. Use these practical tips to make the most of your online shopping experience:
- Keep an eye on the time. Do not get lost in the endless commerce available to you. The Internet has given birth to the largest mall anywhere; the Mall of America has nothing on the "Mall of the Web." You can easily waste hours of time looking for that perfect ______ online (fill in the blank). Set boundaries for yourself. Do not give up in time what you saved by not braving a trip to the mall.
- Be mindful of shipping and handling costs. Those fees can outweigh the price of the item or the convenience of ordering it online. Who wants to spend $5 on shipping and handling for a $6 item? Before shopping, set a limit for what you are willing to pay for shipping and handling. These costs can cut into your holiday spending budget, and obliterate your planned economizing of reducing car trips. Consider bundling your purchases, and look for free or low-cost shipping deals from major online retailers.
- You found the perfect gift for your iPhone-addicted friend: a stuffed iPhone for her to cuddle up with while she sleeps. Great, but who are you giving your credit card information to for this obscure item? Remember to shop only on legitimate sites that offer secure checkout. If you are unsure, find the store's phone number and call them. If it does not feel right, it is not worth risking your financial security for that gift.
- Do you want more e-mail after the holidays? Will it be nice to wake up on Jan. 4 to an inbox full of advertisements? Look out for the option to receive (or not) mailings when you're shopping online.
- Be aware of the fine print. Minimum limits on purchases in order to qualify for freebies may entice you to buy more than you intended.
It's debatable whether shopping online is the easiest way to shop. But whether you enjoy it or not, you can make the most out of your virtual trip to the Mall of the Web by shopping securely, shopping smart and sticking to your limits on both time and money.
Now, about that New Year's resolution to clean up your e-mail inbox....
Here are some more tips for online shopping:
Identity Theft Protection Page
Microsoft's Online Safety and Privacy Education Site
Office of Technology Services' Page on Cyber Security Identity Theft
Stacey Marriott is a technical writer for the Offices of Human Resources and Technology Services.