Watercooler: Protect your financial data wh..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Internet security should be a top concern for anyone who shops online, particularly during the holiday season.

A simple mistake or assumption about a retail goods site's security can increase the possibility of having a credit card number stolen - or even your identity.

Several websites offer solid information about online shopping security. Here are some locales worth a visit:

Bankrate.com • Discusses credit card protections, fraud shield and security issues, at http://bit.ly/11ykmI

Better Business Bureau • Offers 10 online shopping safety tips for the holiday season, at http://bit.ly/u413JC

Federal Trade Commission • Provides consumer's guide and tips to using e-payments for online shopping, at http://1.usa.gov/bhdSng

OnGuardOnline • Presents basic, yet key safety tips for online shopping, at http://1.usa.gov/Ubujxg

Visa • Covers reducing your risk when online shopping and watching for spyware, at http://bit.ly/T6XcPw

Watercooler: Protect your financial data while shopping online