With online sales on the rise, protecting your info becoming more vital

WASHINGTON - Protecting your personal information is vital. As technology evolves, crooks attempting to steal your identity and money are evolving as well.

Just ask Darrell Darnell.

"Someone was able to get my credit card number and they used it to take several trips, but fortunately, I monitor it and I was able to catch it in time and it didn't cost me any money," he said. "So it's just a matter of being vigilant and monitoring your cards."

The National Retail Federation says more than 900 retailers are offering deals on CyberMonday.com all season long.

For "Kenny" from Canada, he's concerned about fit -- not fraud this Cyber Monday.

"The biggest concern is that it won't fit properly and then you have the hassle of sending it back and the time, that could be a pain," said the Canadian tourist.

Even so, more people are reportedly shopping online than in stores this holiday season, and with the holiday shopping season in full swing, security czar Terrance Gainer helped FOX debunk common cyber security myths.

"If it looks too good to be true, it probably is," said Gainer. "Please don't be gullible.

- Fact or fiction? When shopping online, it's okay to provide your social security number if prompted.

Answer: Fiction.

"It is not," said Gainer. "You should not use your social security number. You should not use your date of birth."

- Fact or fiction? Online criminals target senior citizens.

Answer: Fiction.

"I don't think so," Gainer said. "I think it's someone who's looking for a good deal."

- Fact or fiction? When shopping online, it's safe to include the three digit number on the back of your credit card.

Answer: Fact.

"It is as long as you check those other things," said Gainer.

Gainer says only use secure sites -- .com domain names and familiar vendors.

Using public Wi-Fi while using your credit card to shop online is very dangerous as well. Gainer said it's best to shop on secure sites and it's easy to spot them because they start with "https."

The National Retail Federation shows us just how much technology has evolved. See more here: nrf.com/news/the-evolution-of-online-holiday-shopping