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Research shows consumers know credit card fraud is a reality in today’s economy. In 2013, 552 million consumer identities were stolen from retailer data breaches according to the 2013 Norton Report, and that number is projected to grow in 2014. Nearly 70 percent of Americans frequently or occasionally worry about identity theft, according to a recent Gallup Poll and 62 percent worry about having a computer or smartphone hacked. More than a quarter of Americans reported they, or someone in their household, had personal financial information stolen in the last year by computer hackers who targeted retailers.

Despite these fears, most consumers aren’t taking the necessary steps to protect their private information. Nearly half of smartphone and tablet users do not take even the basic precautions to protect their mobile devices, according to the 2013 Norton Report. This includes using passwords, installing security software or backing up files. Nevertheless, they’re sharing personal financial information more than ever.

As Cyber Monday draws near, industry analysts project many will flock to e-retailers to take advantage of the hot online deals. Last year, Cyber Monday sales reached a record $2.29 billion, with 17 percent of consumers purchasing via mobile devices, USA Today reported. This year, IBM predicts more than half of all online holiday purchases over Thanksgiving will come from mobile devices.

“With the added threat of retailer hacking, cyber crime is at an all-time high for today’s consumer,” says Dr. Rajin Koonjbearry, professor in the College of Engineering and Information Sciences at DeVry University. “An ill-informed consumer is a hacker’s primary target, so this holiday season consumers take responsibility for their own protection.”

Koonjbearry offers these tips for consumers to protect themselves against cyber hacks:

* Shop on secure websites: Avoid accidentally clicking on infected sites by looking for the SSL certificate and ensure the site starts with https:// and has a padlock icon.

* Keep your passwords secure: Use different passwords for each of your online accounts, and change each password every three months in case your data is hacked.

* Update anti-virus software regularly: Cyber criminals are always developing new viruses to hack into your devices. To ensure your computer is protected from the latest threats, install anti-virus software and configure it to update automatically.

* Delete apps you don’t use: Information stored in mobile applications, like passwords, is vulnerable to Internet hacking. Get rid of apps you no longer use.

* Swipe your own card: When you’re shopping in-store, always swipe your own card or ask the clerk to swipe the card in front of you to ensure they don’t copy any personal information.

“Cyber criminals will pounce on the opportunity to exploit a seemingly simple security mistake,” says Koonjbearry. “Savvy consumers need to mitigate the risks by staying wary of anything suspicious this holiday season.”

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With the shortest holiday shopping season ever approaching –  only 25 days in between Thanksgiving and Christmas – now is as good a time as any to start getting ahead on your holiday shopping list.

One of my favorite ways to get ahead is by taking advantage of Cyber Monday: the Monday following Thanksgiving where online retailers offer exceptional bargains to persuade customers to shop their sites. And it offers more than just sales! Cyber Monday lets you to beat the long lines, hectic parking lots, and holiday crowds by shopping from home, work, or my favorite – from bed!

As a mother of three and founder of the popular daily deal site, STEALS.com, I’ve dedicated my life to finding the best deals for both myself as well as my customers. Here are some of my favorite and most-useful Cyber Monday shopping tips I’ve collected from over the years, to help you save time and money this holiday season:

Make a List: Avoid approaching Cyber Monday like a shopping spree. Even with deep discounts, it’s likely that you’ll make purchases outside of your regular budget. In order to prevent this, I make a list of must-have purchases ahead of time to prevent over shopping. Knowing what’s on sale and what you need to purchase this holiday season, will help you stick to your budget and reduce impulse purchases on items you don’t need.

Pre-Shop: A lot of retailers are really good at making a full priced item look like a bargain. To ensure that this doesn’t happen to you, browse through online stores over the holiday weekend to learn more about all the sales promotions and prices available. My favorite tip for finding the best sale is to sign up for your favorite retailer’s newsletter or email list weeks before the sales begin.  It’s a good way to learn about special sales and to get the scoop on prices for Cyber Monday before everyone else!

Know The Rules: Each Cyber Monday offer has different guidelines about when it starts and how many items are available. Read the sale rules ahead of time to know when sales are running or if a better sale is scheduled for later or earlier in the day. Being aware of the fine details ensures that you’ll be prepared for when each sale is going to start – you wouldn’t want to sleep through the sale and miss out on a fabulous deal!

Prepare to Shop Quickly: Unlike in-store shopping, online shopping does not guarantee that the items in your cart will be there when you’re ready to check out. If you spend too much time at each site, your desired item may already be sold out. One thing I’ve noticed while shopping on Cyber Monday over the years, is that items heavily discounted will go fast! Once you see an item you want, it’s time to check-out to ensure it doesn’t sell out.

Keep an Eye on Shipping Times: When shopping online, one of your considerations will be how you will receive your order. Since many flash sale sites don’t have the items in stock, it may take longer for some sites to ship than others.  Always be sure to look into the ‘cut off days’ to see how long it will take for the item to ship. And even after you learn about your estimated delivery date, make sure you still have some leeway in between then and your family gathering – added time can still be tacked on due to the high volume of the holidays.

But don’t stop here. There’s plenty more ways to save on Cyber Monday this year and beyond – the more prepared you are for the holiday, the better chance you have of saving some serious money.

Jana Francis is the founder and president of Steals.com, a network of daily deal sites offering limited-time, hard-to-find discounts on the best brands for baby, kids, women, and more, with next-day shipping and fanatical customer service year-round. She lives in Salt Lake City with her husband and three children. www.steals.com

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