How to get the most out of Cyber Monday

The holiday shopping season kicks into overdrive this week as retailers go all out to lure shoppers with Cyber Monday specials.

The first day back at work after the Thanksgiving holiday has become a major event, with retailers offering a dizzying array of specials.

Last year, Cyber Monday sales rose 16 percent to a record $2.29 billion, according to Adobe Systems, which tracks activity on roughly 2,000 U.S. retail websites.

So how do you get the best deals without spending your entire day online? The first thing is making a plan.

“Aimless browsing and Google do not get you the most deals,” USA Today consumer expert Matt Granite tells KIRO Radio.

Granite advises signing up for email notifications from your favorite retailers, who will send word of specials and often include extra savings.

Specials can constantly change throughout the day – and in general. Granite recommends signing up for services that constantly track retail sites so you don’t have to stay glued to your screen all day.

Several track prices only on the countless number of retailers who sell on Amazon. Among them is one called ZingSale.com

“It specializes in stores where a price drop might not occur at the hours that you expect,” Granite says. “I found in most cases it was 70 percent useful and accurate. The problem is some stores launch lightning sales.”

That’s where a good browser extension comes in, like Price Blink or Invisible Hand. They alert you in real time, while you’re shopping, if there is a lower price on your item on another website.

Another way to find specials is through sites that offer coupon codes such as Retailmenot.com.

Along with all the savings come the scammers. Experts warn Cyber Monday and the entire holiday shopping season is prime time for online crime.

Phishing scams are a huge problem, especially this time of year. Be wary of emails asking for your information or trying to get you to click on a link. If you have any doubts, go directly to the merchant’s website so you know they are legit.

Speaking of websites, experts advise sticking to trusted and verified sites. Look for website addresses that start with ‘shttp’ or ‘https’, which means a website is secure and encrypts your data. And when you checkout, it’s advised you only share your basic data and don’t allow sites to store your credit card information.

Another important tip: be wary of public Wi-Fi. Experts caution while convenient, it’s easy for thieves to intercept your payment or personal information over an unsecured network.

Speaking of security, it’s always a good idea to to make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is up to date.