 TITLE: Safe Online Shopping for the Holidays and Beyond CONTENT: Protect Your Information\n------------------------\nIdentity theft happens when thieves steal your personal information, which could include your Social Security number; information associated with your credit card, online accounts or bank account information; and passwords or PINs.\nOften, con artists get hold of someone's personal information by posing as a legitimate merchant, intercepting a legitimate transaction in progress or pilfering data long after you've made your purchase. The less information you give up when completing a transaction, the less vulnerable you are if a retailer or online seller is hacked. Consider doing the following to reduce your exposure:\n*   **Use Apple Pay, Google Pay or another digital wallet instead of your card.** Digital wallets use an encryption system that replaces your card information with a one-time digital \"token\" when you make a transaction. You don't have to fully understand the technology—just know that the merchant never sees your card number and, if your payment data were ever breached, it would be useless.\n*   **Use a virtual private network (VPN).** These work on your mobile phone and home computer to encrypt your online activity and ensure your information and transactions stay private.\n*   **Don't shop on public Wi-Fi.** Although a VPN can help obscure your information, it's a good year-round practice to avoid any type of transaction that could disclose your personal information while using public Wi-Fi.\n*   **Don't store your card information online.** Fraudsters will have less key information to access in the event of a data breach. When a merchant asks if you'd like to save your payment information for future purchases, think about saying know.\n*   **Be careful at points of sale.** Thieves can attach skimming devices to card readers to capture your card information. Be especially careful when you're at a gas pump or outdoor ATM. Also be on guard against shoulder surfing: Thieves may be watching you enter your PIN at the ATM or sales counter. END