There are just days to go until Santa Claus sets off on his annual journey.

If you haven’t started shopping yet, now’s the time.

But try not to panic, and don’t click before you think.

“Then it’s late November and you’ve only just started your holiday shopping so panic sets in.

They got a good start over the holiday weekend.

“The platforms have come a long way in the last couple of months.”

That may seem daunting.

But a few basic precautions will help keep you safe from the Krampuses of the online world.

Here are a few expert recommendations on how to shop safely for the holidays.

It’s good not only for security but also for keeping track of your spending.

Don’t hit links in emails.

Don’t pay for your purchase withcryptocurrency.

By design, crypto is intended to be anonymous and extremely hard to track.

If someone steals it, it’s probably gone.

Requests for payment with retailgift cardsshould also be looked at with suspicion.

They also can’t be tracked and can be easily converted into cash or merchandise by cybercriminals.

They might look like a fraud alert from your bank or a great deal on that must-have item.

And it can’t do much to stop people from clicking on things they’re convinced are legitimate.

Read more:Best Identity Theft Protection Services for 2024

Is that Santa?

Or just the Grinch in disguise?

Be especially skeptical of ads that pop up in your social media feeds touting amazing, limited-time offers.

When in doubt about the authenticity of any offer, message or retailer, the advice is the same.

“Customers need to be suspicious,” Knapp said.

Walk away from it.”

Look for reviews online and check for complaints with groups like the Better Business Bureau, Price said.

If you’re not OK with that, you’re probably better off paying a little more somewhere else.

There’s no guarantee that they’ll actually arrive.

tune up your operating systems,antivirussoftware and all of your apps.

All of your online accounts needstrong, unique passwords.

You also can just use the cellular connection on your smartphone.

It’s a lot more secure than just about any Wi-Fi connection out there.