Online shopping has grown at a massive rate over the last decade, to the extent where more money is now regularly spent on the internet than is spent on the high street. Unfortunately, internet shopping presents all sorts of dangers, and there are lots of people out there who are looking to take advantage of unwary customers.

If you have a credit card, however, you are protected to a certain extent. Every credit card on the market, from big ones like Santander credit cards all the way down to small, specialist providers are covered by the Consumer Credit Act, which essentially means that you are not liable for losses resulting from internet fraud, unless you have acted fraudulently or negligently yourself.

That said, sometimes it can be hard to define negligence, particularly if you haven’t taken steps to protect yourself. The first thing that you need to do is make sure that all your passwords are secure, don’t write them down, and try to use different passwords for different sites (although this can get hugely complicated).

Another important thing to do is only work with reputable companies and websites, if a deal looks too good to be true over something like Gumtree, then it probably is – and never, ever give out your details over the internet. Your bank will never ask you for PIN codes online, so watch out for phishing emails.

Another good idea is to get some really good, up-to-date antivirus and spyware software. There are some good free services out there, but don’t balk at paying a little bit of money for really good protection. The majority of internet fraud doesn’t actually occur with the selling company, instead people conduct transactions unaware that they have a virus on their computer already which may be scooping up your information.

Nonetheless, even the best anti-viral software is no 100% perfect, so you do need to make sure that you take other steps. One thing to look for is the secure symbol on your browser, or the web address starting with https rather than http. Secure websites are exactly that, and offer you an extra layer of protection.

Should the worse happen, your options become rather limited. You should report any suspected breaches of security immediately, and immediately freeze or close any accounts that might be affected. Notify your bank, and the credit rating companies to ensure that you don’t experience any negative repercussions in the future, and most importantly of all, be careful.

Image: Grant Cochrane / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As you probably already know, there are many credit cards out there.  The one you choose however, should reflect your lifestyle and your ideal spending amounts.  If you are looking for the best possible deal and the best company for your credit card, you’ll obviously need to look around at what you have to choose from and what works best for you.

The first thing you’ll need to decide when choosing your credit card, is why you need one in the first place.  Some people choose to get a credit card for cash flow purposes.  With a credit card, you can make purchases and buy things, leaving your paycheck or other source of income in your bank account to draw interest.  This way, your money will continue to grow while you continue to buy the things you need.  Then at the end of the month, simply pay your bill.

Others will choose to get a credit card and use it for instant cash purposes.  This way, they can use their credit card at an ATM and get instant cash, which is great for travel or going on a long and extended vacation.  If this is why you want a credit card, you should look for one that has the lowest rate possible for instant cash transactions.

With a credit card, you’ll also need to think about the payments.  You’ll need to decide if you want to pay the balance in full each month, or only the required amount.  When you select your credit card, you should look at the introductory rates, balance transfer rates, and other offers that may apply to new credit cards and new holders.  Some will offer you truly amazing deals, especially if you have good credit.

Another important area to look at when choosing your credit card is the incentives.  There are several cards out there that will give you incentives, such as reward points and even cash back with purchases that you can use towards paying back what you owe.  There are several incentives out there with credit cards, all you have to do is look around and compare.

The key area you’ll need to look at and compare is the APR (Annual Percentage Rate).  The APR is what you will pay on what you purchase when the incentive period runs out.  APR rates will vary among credit cards, so it is always in your best interest to compare and shop around.  The lower APR rate you get, the better off you’ll be.

Another concern with choosing your credit card is the minimum payment amount.  Most minimum payment balances will start around 3%, although some can be lower while others tend to be quite a bit higher.  The interest free period is a concern as well, as you will obviously want to choose the longest period that you can keep the payments down.

When you make that final decision and choose your credit card, you should always make sure that you know exactly what you are getting. Credit cards are great to have, although they can lead to a downfall if you don’t choose them carefully.  If you put some time and research into choosing your credit card, you’ll find the best one for you.  As long as you take care of your credit card and pay the bill on time, you’ll help raise your credit and eventually be able to purchase even bigger things – such as a car or even a house.