Holiday shopping online: How to avoid the '12 cyber scams of Christmas'

With more Americans turning to the Internet for more of their holiday shopping needs, good cybersecurity is vital to avoid a raft of scams – from promises of "free iPads" to "holidays screensavers" that install malware on your computer. Here are the "12 cyber scams of Christmas." 

6. Credit card or debit card?

Jochen Krause/AP/File
For some shoppers, using a credit card might be safer.

Credit cards are the best way to pay online, rather than a debit card, since credit cards are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act, according to the Stop. Think. Connect. Campaign, coordinated by the Department of Homeland Security. There are laws to limit your liability for fraudulent credit-card charges. But you may not have the same level of protection when using your debit card. 

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