Shopping online is still associated with certain risk and naturally it makes clients consider very carefully the purchase. Nevertheless, shopping via Internet is really comfortable and it definitely can be safe, as long as you follow several simple tips.

Secure your PC: The first thing you have to do before start shopping is to secure your computer. David Perry from Trend Micro, says that nowadays, people, who have malicious intentions, operate by planting a keylogger on your system. The keylogger secretly waits for you to use your credit card or your bank password so that the hackers can get access to your money. So, even if you're dealing with a legitimate trader, you're at risk if your computer is infected. The best actions you can take to protect from these attacks is to keep your operating system and browsers updated and use a good and reliable program.

Think about every click: With the beginning of the Christmas holidays, many traders start a more aggressive marketing strategy by sending offers to randomly chosen e-mail addresses. Although most of these offers are harmless and legitimate, there is the possibility of some ill-intended offers. They may be trying to trick you into giving your password to a false site or visiting a site that can put virus on your computer. Your best protection is to NOT click on any links – even if they looks legitimate. Do type the merchant's URL manually.

Know the trader: If you're not familiar with the merchant reputation do a little research by typing its name (you can also add the word "scam") into a search engine to see if there are any reports of scams. Look for user reviews on sites like Eopinions.com. Look for seller ratings in a shopping search engine like Google Shopping. Google doesn't guarantees the integrity of the sites that come up in its searches, but if you see lots of seller ratings that are mostly positive, you’ll have a pretty good sign. Generally you are safe with sellers that are affiliated with shopping aggregators like Amazon.com, Yahoo Shopping, Retrevo or BizRate. Microsoft's new Bing search engine offers a cash-back program with affiliated traders.

Look for trust seals, but verify they're legitimate. It's useful to search for seals of approval from Truste or Better Business Bureau Online, but remember that a seal is only a graphic that can be counterfeit. To be sure, visit the certifying agency's web site to look up the trader.

When you're about to enter your credit card, make sure you're on a "secure "site. The URL should have an https at the beginning (s for "security") and there should be a small gold lock in the lower right corner of the browser.

If you're still not sure, find the phone number and call the trader. Communicating with a human being can make you fell a bit more comfortable.

Pay by credit card: Credit cards offer you an extra level of protection including the right to "charge back" if you become a victim of fraud. Besides, some credit card companies offer extra protections including extended warranties and protection against loss or theft.  Unless you're completely sure about the trader, don't provide them with a checking account number and never share your social security number to online traders.

It's also a good idea to check your online credit card statement frequently. Most credit card companies will provide its clients with recent charges online within a few days of the actual transaction. While you're on your credit card company's site, check your interest rate.

Know the real price: Take care to understand the actual cost of the item, including shipping, handling, and sales tax. These details can have a great impact on the final price. Many merchants are offering free shipping during the holidays but in any case, the shipping should be clearly explained. In most states if you do business with a merchant that has a physical presence in your state, the merchant is required to collect state sales taxes. Don’t forget that these taxes are calculated and included in the final price.

Returns: Take care to get acquainted with the terms of returning a good. Check the deadline for returns and what documentation you'll need. In most cases, they won't refund the shipping charges and you'll have to pay to ship it back but returning an item is your customer right. And one more tip, keep your packing until you're sure you're not going to return it.

Read the privacy policy: This policy, should explain what information the seller is gathering about you, how the it will be used.

Enjoy the holidays: By paying attention to these tips, the chance of your being victimized by online fraud becomes pretty low which is another good reason to be cheerful during the holiday season.