Tips To Stay Safe Shopping Online This Holiday Season

If you're planning to shop online, there are some things you can do to safeguard your personal information from identity thieves.

The Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accounts says five simple things can make your online shopping safer:

First, only use websites with addresses that begin with "HTTPS." The "S" stands for secure.

Avoid using public Wi-Fi; instead, use a password-protected network.

And, only pay with credit cards. If your debit card is compromised, hackers have access to your checking account.

Ignore pop-ups and spam. Remember, if the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

And, finally, make sure your computer, tablet and phone are updated with the most current operating system and anti-virus software.