Tips: Shopping Safely Online

You can buy almost anything online. But not every Web site is a safe place to shop. Protect your credit card and identity by shopping on secure sites. Thebeehive.org offers tips for shopping safely.

Here’s how to tell if a site is secure:

  • Look for the lock symbol next to the url or in the lower-right corner.
  • Make sure the Web address begins with “https” rather than just “http.” The “s” stands for secure.
  • Do a background check. Look for a physical address (not a P.O. box), request a catalog by mail, or call and talk to a company representative.
  • Look for third party seal of approval. Look for either the Better Business Bureau Online logo or the Trust-e logo. Web sites can only use these seals on their site if they follow the standards set by these companies. If you do see these seals, click on them to be sure they go to that Web site.
  • Read the privacy policy and “terms and conditions.” Make sure the site has a policy that says they do not disclose your personal information to third parties.
  • Find out what other users have to say. If there are no user comments on the site, check Epinions or Bizrate.
  • Review the site’s shipping methods and policies. Be sure the site uses safe carriers with fair shipping rates. You may want to avoid sites that ship from international locations.
  • Trust your instincts. If you get a bad vibe about the site, shop at another one.

Featured

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New Products

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    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

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  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.