Online shopping has dozens of benefits over hitting the high street. We can shop in our pyjamas, whilst comparing the best deals and tracking down that must have item without boring queues.
But how careful are you when you're online shopping? We might be aware when we're punching in our pins at the tills, but it seems UK women are less careful when it comes to buying online.
A recent survey by Onepoll suggests that of the 60% of us who shop online in the UK, 1 in 5 have experienced online card details theft. Despite this, two thirds of us fail to check the online store security logos, and 84% don't bother to check a website's security rating.
If you think your online shopping security could do with a bit of fine tuning, try some of the following steps, as suggested by F-Secure.
1) Always make sure your Internet security programme is as up-to-date as possible and covers you for online shopping. A high-quality Internet security package will block suspicious websites that may be there just to try and steal your details. You can check if you've got all the latest software and quality Internet security by running the free F-Secure Health Check scan at www.safeandsavvy.co.uk
2) Use secure online payment services like PayPal and only shop at reputable websites. Check a website's safety rating before accessing it.
3) Don't use the same passwords and PINs for every website log-in and don't use the "remember my username or password" functions.
4) If using a public computer, avoid entering sensitive data such as your credit card number.
5) Always check the privacy policy of any website which asks for any personal details. If the site is requesting such information and does not have a privacy policy, do not submit any information.
6) If you decide to make a purchase, spend a little time to learn more about the seller and read the return and exchange policy. Contact the seller to resolve any doubt or question you might have. Tell-tale signs of a suspicious site include poor spelling and grammar - trust your common-sense judgment if something seems amiss.
7) Before entering your credit cards details, pay attention to the security of the transaction. Ensure the security icon - a locked padlock or broken key symbol - is showing in the browser window of the site, where the web address is shown or on the bottom right hand corner of the website.
8) Never leave your computer unattended when logged into an online store, Internet banking site or even a social network site - especially if you are in a public place. Always remember to log out of these accounts when you've finished surfing and shopping.