Cyber Monday is the online retail industry's name for the Monday immediately following Thanksgiving, during which stores and retailers offer sales online. In an effort to drive sales traffic to online retailers, companies have hyped this day as the Internet's answer to Black Friday, which is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year in physical stores.http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=Search&zoom_query=cyber+monday&zoom_sort=0&zoom_and=0&image.x=0&image.y=0

Retailers participate in Cyber Monday by promoting special prices and offers for online purchases which are available only on this one special day. While some retailers announce discounts up to a week before the sale event, others prefer to preserve the element of surprise and wait until the morning of Cyber Monday to announce savings.http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=News&op=viewlive&sp_id=842

Shopping online relieves some of the time and pressures of going to a store to buy gifts, but it poses some inconveniences as well. While discounts may appear to be significant, shipping costs, especially for heavy or oddly shaped merchandise may be steep.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703300504574567883001657224.html There are also deadlines associated with shopping online. By ordering and shipping late, shoppers are at the risk of gifts not arriving in time for Christmas or Hanukkah.http://www.coloradowebsolutions.com/blog/yahoo-store-tips/cyber-monday-tip-11-your-holiday-shipping-deadlines/

The use of a computer is necessary in order to take advantage of Cyber Monday deals. However by submitting personal information along with a credit card number over the Internet always poses an identity theft threat. Recent updates and spam filters along with anti-virus software help minimize the risk of fraud stemming from Internet shopping.http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/11/16/top-10-cyber-monday-tips-for-safe-online-shopping/

Several retailers are prominently offering deep discounts online and in retail stores for Cyber Monday.

• Target is offering visitors the opportunity to sign up for their email list in order to receive Cyber Monday offers and announcements two days early.http://mytargetweekly.target.com/2daysignup

• In addition to Cyber Monday, Walmart will host Cyber Week during which time special savings on apparel & jewelry, baby gear, electronics, items for the home, furniture, health & beauty, movies, music & books, outdoor living items, sports & fitness equipment, toys and video games will be announced.http://www.walmart.com/cp/cyber-monday/546840

• Best Buy is hosting a two day Cyber Monday event during which time free shipping will be applied to eligible orders of $25 or more.http://www.bestbuy.com/site/null/null/pcmcat197800050000.c?id=pcmcat197800050000

• Amazon is featuring a sleuth of Cyber Monday savings available before the date. Certain items qualify for free or discounted shipping.http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=cyber+monday&x=0&y=0#/ref=sr_kk_1?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Acyber+monday+2010&keywords=cyber+monday+2010&ie=UTF8&qid=1290291126?ref>.