Cyber Monday is the best thing to happen to holiday shopping since Black Friday — same deals, but you don't have to wear pants to get 'em. We call that a win.
That is, unless you're stuck at work. While more and more offices are becoming OK with Cyber Monday shopping, it's still a no-no for many jobs.
See also: 7 Deal Aggregators for Holiday Shoppers
If you're determined to get those deals without missing a day of work, we have some tips to keep your shopping on the DL. But remember, your company may legally peek at your Internet history on company computers, so shop at your own risk.
Image: TerryJohnston
The first and easiest way to hide your shopping from your boss is to use an incognito window. Perfect for going undetected, this type of browsing automatically deletes cookies, browsing history and any other data from your hard drive. This feature isn't available on many browsers, so use the following keyboard shortcuts to open a private browsing window on your favorite option:
Internet Explorer: CTRL+SHIFT+P
Firefox: CTRL+SHIFT+P for Windows; SHIFT+COMMAND+P for Mac
Chrome: CTRL+SHIFT+N; SHIFT+COMMAND+N for Mac
Safari: Go to the gear icon in the upper right hand corner, select Private Browsing
Opera: CTRL+SHIFT+N for Windows; SHIFT+COMMAND+N for Mac
Once you're incognito, make sure your togglin' fingers are quick. Cyber Monday isn't a day for headphones — you need to listen for the approaching footsteps of your superiors.
To toggle quickly between open browser tabs, use keyboard shortcut CTRL+TAB. If you need to toggle between windows — between a browser and another program, for example — use ALT+TAB.
We've all tried that desktop trick — when your work buddy leaves his desk, you take a screenshot of his desktop, then set it as the background and delete all the icons. Then you giggle at his frustration.
Well, you can apply the same trick to your online shopping at work. Take a screenshot of whatever you're supposed to be doing, and set it as your desktop. Then you don't have to worry about switching to the right window, you can just minimize your shopping to a camouflaged desktop that even the most suspicious boss will fall for.
Want an even faster way? Windows users can go directly to their desktops with the shortcut Windows Key+D.
Another way to hide what you're working on is by downloading a "Boss Button" extension, like this one for Chrome.
Image: Google
A Boss Button automatically hides certain websites at the programmed click of a button or swipe of the mouse, depending on which option you choose. Search your browser's app and extension options to find one you like.
The best way to ensure that you get everything on your list is to make a plan before Cyber Monday. Know what you're looking for, which sites you're going to search and when the best time is to snag the deals. Make your plan at home, and then set up Google Calendar events to keep yourself on schedule.
You may even want to use a program such as LogMeIn, which will allow you to sign into your home computer's desktop from work. This way, you can access all your Cyber Monday prep work without having to worry that you forgot something at home.
Consumers can find the best deals of the year on Cyber Monday, but if you're planning to shop at work, you need to be careful. Follow these tips and you'll get everything on your list without your boss catching onto your using company time to shop.
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Image: Flickr, Victor1558