Here's advice you can bank on
This week I wrote a story about how the impact of recent cybercrimes has not only caused people to reconsider doing online banking and e-commerce (buying via the Web) but some are actually reversing themselves and switching back to traditional billing. This should give pause to anyone trying to legitimately make money online or any company trying to save costs by moving to electronic formats. But it also isn't surprising. Online banking was promoted almost exclusively as a convenience, and securing those transactions has only recently ramped up.
Here are some things to consider when you bank or shop on the Internet:
**Never, ever provide financial information if you don't see a padlock icon in the bottom right corner of a Web page once you start a transaction. That stands for SSL encryption and is a means of letting you know the data you're about to send will be scrambled in transmission. Any business that doesn't employ it or something similar does not deserve your money.
**Never, ever provide financial information for a transaction you don't initiate. Those account warnings flooding your e-mail are scams known as "phishing" and "pharming." If you do suspect something's wrong, call the company -- using the phone book. The number listed in the message might be answered by conmen.
**When using a debit card, select a password that includes symbols and/or a combination of numbers and letters. Don't make it obvious. If you're in a crowded store, cover your hand as you punch in your code.
**For those of us who still pay their bills the old fashion way, never put your credit card number on the check. Just the last four digits will do.
**Finally, on the back of credit and debit cards, instead of writing your signature, write "Request ID." Sure, it forces you to cough up your driver's license or another photo ID each time you use your card, but it also limits damage if it's stolen.
Here are some things to consider when you bank or shop on the Internet:
**Never, ever provide financial information if you don't see a padlock icon in the bottom right corner of a Web page once you start a transaction. That stands for SSL encryption and is a means of letting you know the data you're about to send will be scrambled in transmission. Any business that doesn't employ it or something similar does not deserve your money.
**Never, ever provide financial information for a transaction you don't initiate. Those account warnings flooding your e-mail are scams known as "phishing" and "pharming." If you do suspect something's wrong, call the company -- using the phone book. The number listed in the message might be answered by conmen.
**When using a debit card, select a password that includes symbols and/or a combination of numbers and letters. Don't make it obvious. If you're in a crowded store, cover your hand as you punch in your code.
**For those of us who still pay their bills the old fashion way, never put your credit card number on the check. Just the last four digits will do.
**Finally, on the back of credit and debit cards, instead of writing your signature, write "Request ID." Sure, it forces you to cough up your driver's license or another photo ID each time you use your card, but it also limits damage if it's stolen.
