Tuesday, December 23, 2014
YOU ONLY GET TO KEEP WHAT YOU GIVE AWAY
It's a universal law: You have to give before you get.
You must plant your seeds before you reap the harvest. The more you sow, the more you will reap. In giving to others, you will find yourself blessed. The law works to give you back more then you have sown. Those that obtain have little. Those who scatter have much. The giver's harvest is always full. Nature does not give to those who will not spend. This is the time of year to show appreciation to those you love. Happy Holidays  |
Monday, December 22, 2014
11 Tips for Safe Online Shopping
Let's face it, there's every reason in the world to shop online. The bargains are there. The selection is mind-boggling. The shopping is secure. Shipping is fast. Even returns are pretty easy, with the right e-tailers. It's a golden age for not going to the store, yet buying more than ever.
But since the average person will spend almost $700 this season (according to the National Retail Federation, or NRF) and the number of phishing scam sites that resemble e-commerce companies has more than tripled from just July to September of 2010 according to IID's Third Quarter Phishing Trends Report, that means there's so many more chances you could accidentally hand over data to the wrong guy. A busy holiday season is only going to mean even more attempts at stealing your money and your identity.
You're already a step up in safety by shopping online—there's no way for you to leave behind a credit card or wallet that way—but you could still run into trouble. However, with some common sense and basic guidelines in place, your should never be troubling. Here are 11 tips for staying safe online while knocking out that holiday shopping list.
1. Use Familiar Web Sites
Start at a trusted site rather than shopping with a search engine. Search results can get rigged to lead you astray, especially when you drift past the first few pages of links. If you know the site, chances are it's less likely to be a rip off. We all know Amazon.com and that it carries everything under the sun; likewise, just about every major retail outlet has an online store, from Target to Best Buy to Home Depot. Beware misspellings or sites using a different top-level domain (a .net instead of a .com, for example)—those are the oldest tricks in the book. Yes, the sales on these sites might look enticing... that's how they get you into giving up your info.
Start at a trusted site rather than shopping with a search engine. Search results can get rigged to lead you astray, especially when you drift past the first few pages of links. If you know the site, chances are it's less likely to be a rip off. We all know Amazon.com and that it carries everything under the sun; likewise, just about every major retail outlet has an online store, from Target to Best Buy to Home Depot. Beware misspellings or sites using a different top-level domain (a .net instead of a .com, for example)—those are the oldest tricks in the book. Yes, the sales on these sites might look enticing... that's how they get you into giving up your info.
2. Look for the Lock
Never ever, ever buy anything online using your credit card from a site that doesn't have SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption installed—at the very least. You'll know if it has it because the URL for the site will start with HTTPS:// (instead of just HTTP://) and an icon of a locked padlock will appear, typically in the status bar at the bottom of your Web browser. Never give anyone your credit card over e-mail. PayPal, however, is still a good, safe way to make a payment.
Never ever, ever buy anything online using your credit card from a site that doesn't have SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption installed—at the very least. You'll know if it has it because the URL for the site will start with HTTPS:// (instead of just HTTP://) and an icon of a locked padlock will appear, typically in the status bar at the bottom of your Web browser. Never give anyone your credit card over e-mail. PayPal, however, is still a good, safe way to make a payment.
3. Don't Tell All
No online shopping store is going to need your social security number or your birthday to do business. But if a bad-guy gets them, combined with your credit card number for purchases, they can do a lot of damage. When you can, default to giving up the least amount of information.
No online shopping store is going to need your social security number or your birthday to do business. But if a bad-guy gets them, combined with your credit card number for purchases, they can do a lot of damage. When you can, default to giving up the least amount of information.
4. Check Statements
Don't wait for your bill to come at the end of the month. Go online regularly during the holiday season and look at electronic statements for your credit card, debit card, and checking accounts. Make sure you don't see any fraudulent charges, even originating from sites like PayPal (after all, there's more than one way to get to your money). If you do see something wrong, jump on the phone to address the matter quickly. In the case of credit cards, don't pay the bill until you know all your charges are accurate. You have 30 days to notify the bank or card issuer of problems, however; after that, you might be liable for the charges anyway!
Don't wait for your bill to come at the end of the month. Go online regularly during the holiday season and look at electronic statements for your credit card, debit card, and checking accounts. Make sure you don't see any fraudulent charges, even originating from sites like PayPal (after all, there's more than one way to get to your money). If you do see something wrong, jump on the phone to address the matter quickly. In the case of credit cards, don't pay the bill until you know all your charges are accurate. You have 30 days to notify the bank or card issuer of problems, however; after that, you might be liable for the charges anyway!
5. Inoculate Your PC
Bad-guys don't just sit around waiting for you to give them data; sometimes they give you a little something extra to help things along. You need to protect against such Trojan horse malware with regular updates to your anti-virus program—we recommend Norton Internet Security 2011 (4.5 stars, EC, $69.99 direct for three licenses), which has extras to help fight ID theft, or at the very least the the freePanda Cloud Antivirus 1.1 (4 stars, EC).
Bad-guys don't just sit around waiting for you to give them data; sometimes they give you a little something extra to help things along. You need to protect against such Trojan horse malware with regular updates to your anti-virus program—we recommend Norton Internet Security 2011 (4.5 stars, EC, $69.99 direct for three licenses), which has extras to help fight ID theft, or at the very least the the freePanda Cloud Antivirus 1.1 (4 stars, EC).
6. Use Strong Passwords
We like to beat this dead horse about making sure to utilize uncrackable passwords, but it's never more important than when banking and shopping. Ourtips for making a unique password for each site can come in handy during a time of year when shopping around probably means creating new accounts on all sorts of shopping sites.
We like to beat this dead horse about making sure to utilize uncrackable passwords, but it's never more important than when banking and shopping. Ourtips for making a unique password for each site can come in handy during a time of year when shopping around probably means creating new accounts on all sorts of shopping sites.
7. Think Mobile
The NRF did a survey that also predicts that 25 percent of adults will do their online shopping via their smartphones, but mostly as a way of find gifts, not purchase them. You can buck that trend, just follow the advice above. Better yet, download store specific apps like those for Amazon, Target, etc. and use them to find what you want and make the purchase without going to the store or the Web site.
The NRF did a survey that also predicts that 25 percent of adults will do their online shopping via their smartphones, but mostly as a way of find gifts, not purchase them. You can buck that trend, just follow the advice above. Better yet, download store specific apps like those for Amazon, Target, etc. and use them to find what you want and make the purchase without going to the store or the Web site.
8. Stay at Home
Do we really have to tell you it's a bad idea to use a public computer to make purchases? Hopefully not. If you do, just remember to log out every time you use a public terminal, even if you were just checking e-mail.. But what about using your own laptop to shop while you're out? It's one thing to hand over a credit card to get swiped at the checkout, but when you have to enter the number and expiration date on a Web site while sitting in a public cafe, you're giving an over-the-shoulder snooper plenty of time to see the goods. At the very least, think like a gangster: sit in the back, facing the door.
Do we really have to tell you it's a bad idea to use a public computer to make purchases? Hopefully not. If you do, just remember to log out every time you use a public terminal, even if you were just checking e-mail.. But what about using your own laptop to shop while you're out? It's one thing to hand over a credit card to get swiped at the checkout, but when you have to enter the number and expiration date on a Web site while sitting in a public cafe, you're giving an over-the-shoulder snooper plenty of time to see the goods. At the very least, think like a gangster: sit in the back, facing the door.
9. Privatize Your Wi-Fi
If you do decide to go out with the laptop to shop, you'll be on a Wi-Fi connection. Only use the wireless if you access the Web over a virtual private network (VPN) connection. If you don't get one from your employer, you can set up a free one with AnchorFree Hotspot Shield, if you're willing to put up with the ads. By the way, now is not a good time to try out a hotspot you're unfamiliar with. Stick to known networks, even if they're free, like those found at Starbucks.
If you do decide to go out with the laptop to shop, you'll be on a Wi-Fi connection. Only use the wireless if you access the Web over a virtual private network (VPN) connection. If you don't get one from your employer, you can set up a free one with AnchorFree Hotspot Shield, if you're willing to put up with the ads. By the way, now is not a good time to try out a hotspot you're unfamiliar with. Stick to known networks, even if they're free, like those found at Starbucks.
10. Count the Cards
Gift Cards are the most requested holiday gift every year, and this year will be no exception. Stick to the source when you buy one; scammers like to auction off gift cards on sites like eBay with little or no funds on them upon arrival.
Gift Cards are the most requested holiday gift every year, and this year will be no exception. Stick to the source when you buy one; scammers like to auction off gift cards on sites like eBay with little or no funds on them upon arrival.
11. Know What's Too Good to Be True
McAfee compiled a list of scams to look for and one of them is the offer of a free product with purchase, in particular the iPad (a very coveted gadget this holiday) or even holiday job offers. Many of these "offers" will come in via social media. Beware even of your friends, who might innocently forward such a thing. Skepticism in these cases can go a long way toward saving you from a stolen card number.
McAfee compiled a list of scams to look for and one of them is the offer of a free product with purchase, in particular the iPad (a very coveted gadget this holiday) or even holiday job offers. Many of these "offers" will come in via social media. Beware even of your friends, who might innocently forward such a thing. Skepticism in these cases can go a long way toward saving you from a stolen card number.
EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE FOR SUCCESS
People often handle life as they do bad weather. They while away the time waiting for it to stop. Yet the tide of opportunity comes to everyone.
Opportunity knocks all the time, but you've got to be ready for it. When your chance comes, you must have the equipment to take advantage of it. The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, for time and chance happen to everyone. Take a second look at what appears to be someone's "good luck." You'll find not luck but preparation, planning and success-producing thinking. When you're prepared for opportunity your chance for success is sure to come. The season of failure is the best time for sowing the seeds of success. Decide that this year will be your year for success and prepare for it to happen.  |
Sunday, December 21, 2014
MAKING A CHOICE IS YOUR GREATEST POWER
At any time you can decide to alter the course of your life. No one can ever take that away from you.
You can do what you want to do and be who you want to be. Nature is constantly at work around you. Character and destiny are her handiwork. She gives you love and hate, jealousy and reverence. You have the power to choose which impulse you follow. While your character is formed by your circumstances, your desires can shape those circumstances. The one thing over which you have absolute control are your own thoughts. It is this that puts you in a position to control your own destiny. Your greatest power is the power to choose.  |
Saturday, December 20, 2014
THE GLASS IS ALWAYS HALF FULL
There is a good side to every situation.
View your problems as opportunities. You cannot have the success without the failures. Any experience can be transformed into something of value. Everything depends on the way you look at things. What are stumbling blocks and defeat before you can be stepping stones to victory if you remain determined. In all of your adversities lies the seeds of equivalent advantages. In every defeat there is a lesson showing you how to win the next time. When it's dark enough you can see the stars.  |
Friday, December 19, 2014
Shopping on the wild, wild Web
NEW YORK (AP) – Online shopping has become as volatile as stock market trading. Wild, minute-by-minute price swings on everything from clothes to TVs have made it difficult for holiday shoppers to “buy low.”
A growing number of retailers are using software that changes online prices based on demand, competition, inventory and other factors. The main goal is to undercut rivals when necessary, and raise prices when demand is high and there’s no competitive pressure....
Thursday, December 18, 2014
YOUR CHOICES ARE UNLIMITED
You don't have to buy from anyone. You don't have to work at any particular job. You don't have to participate in any given relationship.
You can choose. You steer the course you choose in the direction of where you want to be today,tomorrow, or in a distant time to come. You hold the tiller. You can decide to alter the course of your life at any time. No one can ever take that away from you. You can decide what you want and go after it. It's always your next move.  |
Friday, December 12, 2014
YOU CAN DO SOMETHING
Your life will always be to a large extent what you make of it. The mold to your success and fortune are in your hands.
You cannot do everything, but you can do something.
You choose your thoughts and actions. Only you can find success.
Nobody can do it for you. Nobody will do it for you. You have to make it happen.
If you take responsibility for your actions,you can live your dreams.
You cannot do everything, but you can do something.
You choose your thoughts and actions. Only you can find success.
Nobody can do it for you. Nobody will do it for you. You have to make it happen.
If you take responsibility for your actions,you can live your dreams.
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