Madeline Gearheart | November 21, 2017
Top 5 Safe Websites to Shop on This Holiday
The holidays are around the corner along with some of the best shopping deals of the year, as well as the biggest shopping crowds.
Snagging the bargains you want online is a great way to avoid the drama of your favorite stores (does anyone really want to stand in line for hours?), but it’s important to be careful about where you’re shopping to avoid scams.
Below, we’ve listed five of the safest websites to shop through this holiday season so you can actually enjoy browsing and purchasing this season.
1. Walmart
Home to some amazing deals on things such as electronics and homeware each Black Friday, Walmart earned an A grade from Security Scorecard when it comes to the safety of its website. Walmart’s enormous size likely means it invests heavily in cybersecurity, so you can shop through the website without worrying incessantly about falling prey to people wanting to steal your sensitive information.
2. Sears
Department store Sears also earned an A for cybersecurity from Security Scorecard, which is great news for shoppers. Save big on things like mattresses, appliances, and electronics for much less than you’d usually pay this holiday, knowing that you’ll be safe shopping online.
3. Saks Fifth Avenue
If you’re looking to buy clothing, shoes, jewelry, or other accessories for presents, Saks Fifth Avenue might be the store you’re looking for. Its website also scored top marks for security, making it a great choice for fashion-forward bargain hunters this year.
4. TJ Maxx
TJ Maxx is known for having great year-round deals, so you can expect good things from this retailer as you shop for gifts for your loved ones. Another high achiever when it comes to e-commerce safety, shop for products knowing the website’s security team has your back.
5. Amazon
One of the world’s most popular online shopping sites, Amazon offers both direct and third-party purchasing. Buying directly from Amazon is arguably safer than from third parties, but you don’t need to worry–you can always add money to your Amazon Payments account and use that to pay if you’re hesitant to give out your credit card information. It might be a little overcautious, but it’s worth doing if it’ll give you increased peace of mind.
When shopping online, always check that the website you’re using is legitimate and not a fake version of a real, safe one. You can do this on Google Chrome by ensuring the URL code is correct and looking for the lock symbol next to it.
It’s also a good idea not to shop using public Wi-Fi networks, as they can make you more vulnerable to attacks–use your phone’s cellular network instead if you’re browsing in a coffee shop or somewhere else public. And if you see offers that seem too good to be true (even for Black Friday and Cyber Monday), they just might be–always keep your wits about you and don’t make purchases if you’re suspicious.
