The holiday hype has arrived, with an upcoming parade of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals in late November. As an online shopping promotion, Cyber Monday was created in 2005 by Shop.org, a division of National Retail Federation. Nearly 85 million online shoppers hit virtual checkout lines on Cyber Monday in 2008.

But not every deal is a good bargain, say government and industry experts. Here are shopping and security guidelines for Cyber Monday or any day.

• Be a deal hunter: Reduce checkout costs by using promotional codes and online coupons. PromotionalCodes.com, CouponWinner.com and other Web sites offer thousands of free online coupons and promotional codes that can be used at online and traditional stores. CyberMonday.com, a Web site affiliated with the National Retail Federation, features a rundown of online deals for the holiday season. “Stack” or combine coupons, promotions and free shipping offers, said Andrea Woroch, a spokeswoman for PromotionalCodes.com.

• Check out the store: Research a vendor’s reputation, return policy and privacy statement before making a purchase.

“If a 5 percent discount costs you your identity, your cash or hours of phone calls with your credit card company, then you’ve been fleeced,” said Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). “It’s important to know who you’re doing business with online. Type the business name and the word ‘review’ into your favorite search engine. If unfavorable or no reviews pop-up, buyer beware.”

• Update your security: Defensive shopping requires up-to-date firewall, anti-spyware and anti-virus software, according to the NCSA. Review security settings, which should be set to medium security levels at minimum. Don’t send financial information — Social Security numbers, bank account information or credit card details — by e-mail.

• Watch for look-alikes: Bogus or malicious companies operate sites with names or logos that resemble popular or reputable names. Independently verify the identity and Web address of online vendors, security experts recommend.

The FTC provides additional information about cyber security: www.staysafeonline.org, www.uscert.gov and www.onguardonline.gov.

Sharon Harvey Rosenberg is the author of the “Frugal Duchess: How to Live Well and Save Money” — a coming-of-age memoir about money — and a contributing writer in Wise Bread’s “10,0001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget,” both available on Amazon.com.