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For many years, the Internet has been used for many reasons, such as for research and communication purposes. But, nowadays, one of the most common uses for the Internet is to shop. Whether you have already begun to shop online or you are interested in doing so, the following tips will be of help.

Be certain you have good anti-virus and anti-malware software installed on your computer before you begin online shopping. A lot of sites that allow you to shop are the target of people hacking or even people looking for identities to steal. If your antivirus software issues a warning or report about the shopping site you use, do not purchase any products from the site, and report this issue to the shopping site's webmaster.

When you're shopping online you have to be sure that you know who you're buying from. If you're buying on an online auction site, only buy from people that have positive feedback. On other sites look to see if they are a reputable company by looking for reviews on them online.

To protect yourself use a credit card when shopping online. The federal government has passed laws to protect consumers in the event of fraud. The amount the consumer is responsible for is a mere $50.00 as compared to debit cards where the entire balance can be withdrawn by internet hackers.

You need to make sure the Internet connection you use is secure. Your home connection usually is if you are connected directly to your cable modem. Hackers target public wireless connections when they want to hack someone, so do not shop through a public connection.

Before buying online, look for any reviews you can find on the items. The good news is that many stores have customer reviews front and center these days. Amazon, for instance, has sometimes hundreds of reviews for their most popular products. If you have concerns before buying, these are an excellent place to begin.

Make sure you read the return policy before buying online. Some online purchases can have different return policies than you normally see. This is especially true if you are buying from an online auction store like eBay. Take the additional time to look into what your return rights are so that you aren't surprised later.

If an online vendor asks for your social security number, do not make any purchases for them. While your credit card information is needed, there is no need for a company to ask for your credit card information if you are shopping from them. In fact, you should report any business that asks for this information to the Better Business Bureau.

In conclusion, people have always used the Internet to look things up or to speak with friends. Shopping has become a more popular reason to go online. By using the tips above, you will get the most out of online shopping , whether it's something you have done many times before or something you are going to do for the first time.