Shopping has always been an interesting activity for people, especially for women. With new and attractive shopping malls coming up along with alluring offers on its product, shopping enthusiasts do not even mind flocking to different countries so as to gorge for their favorite products or necessities. Nevertheless, it is great visiting to different places, it may be for shopping only, but the added expenses and lack of sufficient time, at times avert many of us from doing so. Introduction of the Internet has thereby become a platform that has made available the shopping items from world over at your fingertips within seconds. This also helps shoppers to overcome the limitations of time and distance along with other hassles such as booking air tickets, parking problems at the shopping malls and many others.

Though online shopping has immense benefits for shopaholics, but security has always been an utmost consideration for many among them due to which they are reluctant about shopping online. No wonder with so many scams and malicious intruders always on a look out to deter shoppers from their hard earned earnings, their concern is a genuine one. Still, what they did not realize is that there is a solution to every problem and so is the security on the web space secured.

Following a few cautious and precautionary measures will surely help them strike the right deal over the Internet, without any threat of intruders or loss of personal information or money. Some of these precautions are listed below:

1. Analyze the information of the seller
Look for the complaint records with the local or state better business bureau and consumer protection agency. See for the offline phone number or physical address of the seller. If this isn't available, it probably is time to move on to the next seller.

2. Payments by credit cards
This is probably the safest method to make the payment online. This provides you with a legal right for an argument over the services or goods that have not been ordered for, misrepresented or not received.

3. 'Single use' or 'substitute' credit card numbers This is a new technology that can be asked for from the credit card provider. This technology permits you to make the purchase without providing your number of the real account online, which protects you from any misuse due to hackers or any other malicious intruders.

4. Security clues
As the payment is made, the 'http' displayed in the address bar, must change to 'https'. The browser may also demonstrate if your information has been encrypted, scrambled or has been sent. Have a look at the privacy policy of the website being dealt with and check their security measures that are being employed by them for storage and transmission of your information. Do not provide any sensitive information via email.

5. A handy proof
Take a print out of the deposit made and store it with you in order to deal with any hassles at a later stage.