Safe online shopping sites

Online security and safe online shopping is a hot topic.

There are a couple of basic things to look out for when making a purchase on unfamiliar shopping web sites in order to minimize your risk.

Avoid online shopping sites that seem unprofessional and improve your online security by following these tips for online safety.

Good web site design and usability with few ads.
A vast product, merchant and service range.
Detailed product info - often with user reviews.
Frequently updated content.
Several contact options - most importantly a telephone contact.
A detailed company information page.
Detailed 'Terms & Conditions' and 'Privacy & Security' statements.
Quality assurance seals and awards.
Industry standard and recognized credit card online security. All payments should be made via secure web pages.
Secure web pages have a URL that starts with https:// and most browsers display a lock symbol.