How to protect yourself while shopping online for the holidays

With many retailers offering deals only on their online store, more and more consumers seem to be choosing to stay home to take advantage of the best deals of the season.

But it's important for shoppers to take their online security seriously, more than ever. Especially since "25 percent of all security breaches occur in the retail sector," says Gene Richardson, COO of Experts Exchange.

Some safety tips you may find useful:

1. Make sure the website is secure and has a valid encryption certificate. This will usually show a “locked, green” indicator in front of the website name. If it doesn’t show this, it doesn’t have a high level of security guaranteed by agencies like Verisign or Symantec.
2. Make sure your system has the latest recommended system and security patches.
3. Always use a credit card that is not directly linked to your personal bank account, even if you use PayPal, Bitcoin, or another payment method.
4. Never give out anything other than your name, address, and phone number. You should not answer security or privacy questions when purchasing. If asked, see if you can complete the order as a “guest.”.
5. Check your credit from another system for any identity theft and set SMS and email alerts to be sent to you immediately.
6. Enable notifications with your credit card company that send both SMS and email when any purchases are made and the credit card has not been scanned.
7. Make sure you have a reliable Antivirus program running on your computer and that your browser has an ad blocker.
8. Make sure your computer/device's network is turned on, secure , and you know who has access to your network. This is usually done with your router. You should lock down your router so that traffic flows from the inside out and not the other way around.
9. The passwords you use should be strong and difficult for someone to guess.
10. Do not click on unknown links on advertising, coupon sites, etc.
11. Use two-factor authentication/verification, if offered.

But we don't just use our computers for our online shopping. To stay safe while shopping from your phone or tablet, be sure to follow these tips, according to RiskIQ:

1. Download apps from official app stores like Google Play or Apple's App Store.
2. Be wary of apps that request suspicious permissions, such as access to contacts, messages, administrative functions, saved passwords, or credit card information.
3. Check the app before downloading. Check its creator and learn the spelling of brand names.
4. Additionally, be sure to carefully choose which apps you download to make your purchases.