Cyber Monday is a great way for parents to shop online without the crazy crowds of Black Friday. So, how can you get the best deals on Cyber Monday, while making sure your identity is protected? With a bit of research and a few safeguards, parents can still get amazing deals online without having to stand in line for hours. Cyber Monday is a win-win for both retailers and consumers.

Cyber Monday refers to the Monday immediately following Black Friday, the ceremonial kick-off of the holiday online shopping season in the United States. Whereas Black Friday is associated with traditional brick-and-mortar stores, "Cyber Monday" symbolizes a busy day for online retailers. The premise was that consumers would return to their offices after the Black Friday weekend, making purchases online that they were not able to make in stores. Although that idea has not survived the test of time, Cyber Monday has evolved into a significant marketing event, sponsored by the National Retail Federation's Shop.org division, in which online retailers offer low prices and promotions.

Like Black Friday, there are many websites that help consumers find the best deals on Cyber Monday. Cyber Monday.com is one of the biggest, but there are other major players as well, including Cybermonday.net, Best Cyber Monday Sales, and Cyber Monday Online Deals.

According to Cybermonday.com, the best deals on November 30th’s Cyber Monday are as follows:

• Tons of one-day specials from Sears, including deep discounts on flat panel TV’s, like a Proscan 32” TV/DVD combo for $349.99 (save $100).
• $5 off a $50 purchase at Home Depot
• Free $10 online gift certificate at Barnes and Noble
• Free engraving and shipping on any iPod from the Apple Store
• Hoodies for $20 from American Eagles Outfitters
• Up to 50% off at eToys
• Up to 60% off at Toys R Us
• 60-90% off at Sierra Trading Post

Secure Shopping on Cyber Monday:

The online holiday shopping season kicks into gear on Cyber Monday, the season's busiest day for online retail purchases. The National Cyber Security Alliance recommends the following measures to ensure your online shopping is safe and successful:

• Update core protections: Take a few minutes to update your core protections -- anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall – before you go online. Make certain they are set to automatically update against new threats.
• Shop secure sites: Is there a closed padlock on the browser's status bar? Does the Web site's address (URL) change to s-http or https when you are asked to provide payment information? If so, you know the vendor has secured their payment process.
• Check sellers out: Conduct independent research on a seller's reputation before you buy from a seller you have never done business with.
• Passwords are key: Create long, unique passwords incorporating symbols and numbers to increase your security against hackers and others trying to access online accounts.
• Always ask WWW: When providing personal information for any purchase, always ensure that you know who is asking for the information, what information they are asking for and why they need it.
• Not all money is created equal: Credit cards are generally the safest option because shoppers can seek a credit from the issuer of the card if the item isn't delivered or not what was ordered.

Related articles you might find of interest:

• Zhu Zhu Pets: What are they and where can I find them?
• Top 20 hot toys for boys and girls
• Top 10 electronic gifts for busy moms
• Top 10 gift ideas for mom

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