Shopping online for holiday gifts can be a great time saver, but it can also be an opportune time for identity thieves to take advantage of you. Computer expert Jim Dearman with the University of Phoenix offers some tips for shopping safely online.

1. Shop at reputable company web sites.  Look for a privacy statement and third-party seals of approval from organizations such as the Better Business Bureau.
2. Be skeptical of unsolicited e-mails.  Never provide your user name, password, account number or any other personal information via e-mail.
3. Don't use the link received in an unsolicited, which could send you to a fake web site that has been set up for phishing purposes.  Instead, type the web site address into the browser window.  Be sure also to enable the phishing protection provided by your browser.
4. When you provide any personal information at a web site, make sure encryption is ON.  Look for https: in the address bar or the lock/key on your browser.  If it is not ON, your information is sent in clear text which could be read by any person that captures it.
5. If you think your username and password information has been compromised, log into the company's site immediately to change them.
6. When you pay on-line by credit card, make sure the page has encryption ON.  BY doing this, your transaction is protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act, which gives consumers the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor investigates the case.
7. Check your bank and credit card statements often to make sure they are accurate.

Don’t let a security lapse spoil your holiday. Keep your identity secure when shopping online.