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Browser: Online shopping requires wariness
(Omaha World-Herald (NE) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 30--Don't put the plastic away quite yet -- tomorrow is Cyber Monday.
A follow-up to "Black Friday," Cyber Monday is touted by the National Retail Federation as the busiest online shopping day of the year. The organization says most shoppers will be filling in lists that weren't completed over the weekend.
But just as you'd guard your purse or wallet at the mall, keeping your online payment information secure is vital. AVG, an online security firm, has some advice for online shoppers.
--Don't get hooked by phishing. Phishing scams use fake Web sites to imitate legitimate businesses. Sometimes these scams take the form of e-mails that look legitimate. Remember, no legitimate business will ever send an e-mail asking for an update of personal information like your Social Security number.
--Don't type personal information in pop-up windows. Often, pop-ups don't have any address information on them, and phishers can use the windows to redirect traffic to their fake site. Disable pop-ups to help combat the problem.
--Check the Web site source. When providing personal information for purchases, make sure the site is secure. Look for a padlock icon on the browser, as well as a URL beginning with "https." The S stands for secure.
Like avoiding most scams, it comes down to common sense. If it doesn't seem like a good idea, don't do it. Trying to save a few bucks through an unknown retailer could cost much more down the road.
Demand for Storm remains solid
After a little more than a week of sales, demand for the new BlackBerry Storm touch-screen smartphone remains solid.
The Nov. 21 opening featured lines at most Verizon Wireless outlets and quick sellouts at the busiest stores.
"Storm sales exceeded our expectations," Verizon spokeswoman Erica Sevilla said.
Much like the Apple iPhone 3G launch, a number of bugs have hounded early Storm owners. To that end, a software update is promised within the next few weeks by BlackBerry maker Research In Motion.
Monitor your fuel efficiency
Honda, maker of the Insight, the first mainstream hybrid car, is bringing a new model to market in the spring.
The 2009 Insight will feature technology called the Ecological Drive Assist System. Designed to help monitor fuel-efficient driving habits, the system features background colors on the digital speedometer. Green means fuel-efficient driving, blue-green means relatively fuel-efficient and blue means extra fuel consumption.
The system monitors current practices as well as cumulative, long-term habits, and can display efficiency scores from the last three trips. Honda hasn't yet publicly made plans to add the system to any other models.
Sony offers deal on PlayStation
Eyeing a PlayStation 3 for the holidays? Sony wants to help you spend some money.
Through Dec. 31, those who are approved for Sony's new PlayStation Visa credit card will receive a $150 credit toward the purchase of a PlayStation 3, which retails for $399 and $499.
The credit can be applied instantly at the online Sony Style store or through a regular retail store. Purchases made at brick-and-mortar stores will be discounted on the next billing cycle.
--Contact the writer: 444-1387, bryan.redemske@owh.com
To see more of the Omaha World-Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.omaha.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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