Find out how to shop safely online using your MasterCard credit card, and avoid the hassle of your details being used fraudulently.

Many online transactions are made with credit cards these days, as this is quickest, most efficient, and safest way to perform such purchases, but to feel assured you are doing everything you can to ensure safe online shopping, here are some tips to help:

Use a credit card:

This is the best way to ensure you experience safe online shopping. MasterCard provides a zero-liability guarantee on fraudulent use of your credit card, so this is instant reassurance for you. In any case, by law, you are limited to $50. Despite this, you should notify your bank or financial institution immediately you become aware of an unauthorised transaction having been made, or if your card is lost or stolen. If you don’t receive the goods you ordered, or they are unacceptable in terms of quality, check with your card provider about what can be done. They may be able to cancel the transaction or undertake a chargeback, meaning the seller has the charged reversed back to them. Any such request should be made as soon as possible.

Check the buyer’s credentials:

Unless you are buying from a well-known and established company, you may well have no clue as to the seller’s credentials. Inputting the seller’s name in a search engine will bring up any relevant negative feedback. Forums are a very common means of conveying poor buying experiences, so if you see anything that gives you cause for concern, look elsewhere to make your MasterCard purchase. It is better to spend a few dollars more and be happy with your purchase than risk a bad transaction just to grab the cheapest price. Remember that anyone at all can set up a shop online. If you are buying via somewhere like Amazon, check the customer feedback. Also, check out the company’s refund and return policies before you place your order, although these may mean nothing if the seller is dodgy. Safe online shopping means you should do your homework first, although bear in mind that scams don’t just happen to stupid people.

Guard your privacy

Don’t let anyone know your personal information unless you are confident that the seller is genuine. Ask yourself why a company needs your information. Unless it is strictly necessary for the sale to take place, be wary. Some companies sell their customer information to third parties. Safe online shopping dictates that you should be allowed to choose whether or not your information is passed on to other parties by ticking or unticking a box. Read the website’s privacy policy, and if it doesn’t have one, be careful. Seals of privacy from organisations like TRUSTe or BBBOnLine should be visible on the site.

Details matter:

Don’t be so carried away with having discovered the cheapest price that that fail to note the important information. Check the expected delivery dates, shipping and handling fees, warranties, return policies, and any other important information. Make sure there are contact details, and perhaps make a call before buying to any phone number listed to make sure someone is there at the other end. A phone number that just rings out or that always goes to answerphone during normal business hours is not a good sign.

Use a secure browser:

The browser you use should be able to use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), because this scrambles or encrypts the purchase information you send over the Internet. Browsers supporting SSL include Internet Explorer, Netscape, AOL, Opera and Mozilla Firefox.

Keep passwords private:

Never share your passwords. Don’t use simple words, your date of birth, or anything else that could easily be guessed. Instead, use a combination of numbers and letters.

Keep records:

Make sure you keep emails and receipts from your online transactions. When your MasterCard statement arrives, you must be able to recognise exactly what has been charged and when, and by what company. You may have trouble achieving safe online shopping if you do not have the exact details to back up any claim you have to make.

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This article was written by Jeremy Cabral who is a regular writer and part of the team at Credit Card Finder, a 100% free Australian credit card comparison and application service. Visit the Credit Card Finder website for more information on the available MasterCard Credit Cards, or see the Balance Transfer Guide for more practical articles.

Quick preview of Google Wave and how to get an invitation

Google is stirring up a storm with their new weapon of mass destruction, Google Wave. Google Wave is the next evolution in real time communication, emailing, instant messaging, blogging and collaborating all bundled into an open source tool. In other words, Google Wave will be a social butterfly’s Swiss army knife, that comes complete with a grenade launcher and a drop of Chuck Norris’ sheer awesomeness essence sealed into it. Lars Rasmussen, one of the geniuses behind Google Maps is helping with Wave. With Google Wave you will email like you have never emailed before, you’ll be able to do everything you can currently do and more like dissecting the email apart and add notes wherever you want, use a playback feature to see the email’s history and more. You’ll be able to share photos, embed links and videos with such ease that you’d think it’s downright unfair for something to be this convenient. But it’s not just for personal use, Wave also works as a collaboration tool so you can share your business documents and make changes with your colleagues in real time.

As of September 30th 2009, Google has started sending out invitations to developers to play, test and break this new toy. One of the big movements for 2009 is putting the power into the hands of the user. Due to it’s open source nature Google encourages you to test to the limits the capabilities of Wave. 100,000 invitations have been sent out so far, how can you get one? You can find someone who has been given an invitation and plead on your knees to be nominated to “ride the wave” or you can try your luck and request for an invitation from Google directly.

Wave is still in development so it’ll be nothing short of a miracle for it to be released before Christmas. A release date first quarter of 2010 would be more realistic though. Regardless of the release date in 2010, whether you’re a Google fanboy, someone who likes to be the first to try things or just want to see what’s the fuss about; Google Wave is definitely worth trying out with your friends or colleagues and you will come to realize how you ever lived without it.

Watch this space getting, especially towards Christmas for further announcements regarding Google Wave. Who knows, Google might get into the holiday spirit and have little presents for their fans on Christmas Day.

For information, and if you have about a free hour or two, check out Google’s demo of Wave.

iiNet’s BoB – Product Review

iiNet’s latest product BoB (Broadband in a Box.. don’t ask) offers customers a device which combines your home network with your telephone.  The device itself looks like a phone Darth Vader would have at home.  BoB provides you with 4 Ethernet ports but also allows up to 16 wireless devices to connect to it.  BoB also acts as a phone which can support your standard PSTN phone line or a VoIP service.  You can also use the two USB 2.0 ports to charge your USB devices such as a mobile phone, Ipod or an external storage device.

Plans	24 Month Contract	No Contract
BoB 4-port wireless VOIP router with handset	$269	$369
BoB 4-port wireless VOIP router, without handset	$209	$309
additional BoB handset (supports up to 5 handsets)	$69	$69

What did I like about BoB?

It’s a very stylish looking device that’s for sure with its sleek and smooth design.  The ability to combine your router and phone is fantastic as it’ll mean less clutter.  The advantage of having a VoIP service is that you really cut down on your phone bill as you’re simply using your broadband connection to make your phone calls.  iiNet can bring over your existing number so people calling in won’t notice any difference, only you will… on your bill that is.  Bundle this with one of iiNet’s Naked DSL plans and you completely remove your dependency on a land line at all.

The connectivity on BoB is wonderful, you can connect up to 4 computers, laptops or gaming consoles using the ethernet ports at the back.  Alternatively you can connect up to 16 wireless devices utilising BoB’s 802.11g and speeds of up to 300Mbps.  There are two high speed USB 2.0 ports on the side of BoB allowing you to connect your Ipod or mobile phone to charge.  If you keep your BoB on your desk, say goodbye to the days you have to bend underneath your desk to connect the USB cable to the front or worse; back, of your computer tower (the back of my head will be thankful for that).  You can have up to 5 additional handsets; each with their own charging cradle, around the house. You can connect any DECT compatible handsets to BoB as well.

What did I didn’t like about BoB?

BoB is exclusive to iiNet, so in order to use this you must switch over or be an existing customer of iiNet.  The USB port includes 3g dongle support, just not right now.  You’ll have to wait for firmware upgrades in the future before you can connect your mobile broadband adapter.  There have been some initial reports of wireless connections dropping out and VoIP not working, however these issues have been resolved by updating the firmware.  If you plan on combining this with a Naked DSL plan, one thing you need to be aware of is that uploads do count towards your monthly quota.   Unless you’re planning on uploading massive amounts of data, this won’t be an issue.

Overall what are my thoughts on BoB?

Well if you’re thinking of churning to one of iiNet’s broadband plans or getting rid of your phone line (see iiNet’s Naked DSL plans) getting BoB would be a logical step.  If you want an iiNet Broadband plan or Naked DSL plan to go with your BoB but aren’t quite too sure what you need, check out iiNet’s Help Page.  From a cost saving point of view, using VoIP for your calls will definately save you money in the long run, if you opt to churn to Naked DSL you’ll also be saving yourself phone line rental as well.  From a practical point of view, having one device for all your connectivity needs is definate big plus! You can run your home network through BoB, share files by connecting an external storage device to BoB, charge your Ipod or mobile phone, use your Internet connection from anywhere in the house and make or receive calls.

So the next question is, how much.  iiNet offers BoB with or without the handset.  You can opt for a 24 month contract with with a handset for $269 or without one for $209.  Should you decide you don’t want to be locked in a contract, BoB with a handset will set you back $369 or $309 without a handset.  Additional handsets can be purchased for $69 each.

Made up your mind about BoB? Simply head over to iiNet’s website and sign up today!

Christmas is just around the corner. Shopping centres will start putting up decorations, 1990s’ family Christmas movies will be showing on TV and the next thing you know you’ll be rushing out on Christmas Eve to find a present!

Welcome to Christmasday.com.au. Here we will be posting up product reviews to the latest popular gift ideas for men, women and the kids. We’ll also post up nice little Christmas recipes and decorations ideas for the upcoming holiday season.  Stay tuned!