Last year Cyber Monday was the single highest sales day, with over a billion dollars spent online.
Last year, online shoppers spent more than $1 billion on Cyber Monday, the first Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday, according to comScore, a company that measures digital media. It was the single biggest day in online sales history, and represented a 16 percent increase over Cyber Monday 2009, the company said.
Online shopping is popular for many reasons. You can find great deals online without the hassle of going to the mall or store during the busy holiday season. Plus, with more online retailers offering free shipping and gift-wrapping services, buying your holiday gifts online and having them shipped directly to the recipient is easier than mailing them yourself.
The holiday shopping season is also a busy time for criminals perpetrating identity theft. So before you whip out your credit card and go online on Nov. 28, here are some Cyber Monday safety tips you should keep in mind:
- Make sure your computer’s anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-malware software is up to date and set to protect you automatically.
- Restrict your online shopping to sites you know and trust.
- Read the site’s privacy policy before you plug in your information.
- If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
- Save those confirmation emails and order numbers.
- Keep an eye on your accounts after the holidays.