MSFN Forum: Be Prepared for Cyber Monday…

The weekend after Thanksgiving marks the massive start of the holiday shopping season. However, it has also become the time when hackers come out to play, creating mischief and mayhem for unsuspecting computer users and online shoppers. The term “Cyber Monday” refers to the Monday immediately following Black Friday, the ceremonial kick-off of the holiday online shopping season in the United States between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. Whereas Black Friday is associated with traditional brick-and-mortar stores, “Cyber Monday” symbolizes a busy day for online retailers.

The premise was that consumers would return to their offices after the Black Friday weekend, making purchases online that they were not able to make in stores. Although that idea has not survived the test of time, Cyber Monday has evolved into a significant marketing event, sponsored by the National Retail Federation’s Shop.org division, in which online retailers offer low prices and promotions.

This year “Cyber Monday” will fall on November 29, 2010 and here are 3 safety tips to help you stay safe:

1. Know the website you are purchasing from. Many users will conduct a search for a product, and may end up on shady looking sites. Try to stick with the notable names. A good way to check up on a merchant is to get information through the Better Business Bureau or through comparison shopping sites such as buysafeshopping.com.

2. Make sure your system is online ready by having the latest updated anti-virus, anti-malware installed on your PC. In addition, make sure your firewall is on too.

3. Try to shop at home on your personal computer. Shopping on computers shared by other or a public system may have malicious software to monitor your input.

Source: examiner.com