Even though most credit card fraud and identity theft takes place offline, many people are still concerned about using their cards online. At the same time, Internet card payments rose four-fold between 2002 and 2007. Even though card payments online have risks these can be avoided by using some very simple security measures. If these security measures are used then you reduce your vulnerability to Internet fraud substantially.
There are, however, three ways that you can make your Internet shopping even safer. The first is to ensure that whenever you enter your card details online you are doing so in a secured environment. Basically, the Internet has open access areas, that all people can see, and secured areas, that only one person can view. When you visit an online shop, be it a supermarket's web pages or a bookstore, it has secured and non-secured areas. The 'catalogue' will be open for all to read whereas the card detail areas will be protected. To tell if you are in a secured area make sure that the address changes from an 'http:/www.blardeeblar.com' to a 'https:/www.blardeeblar.com' site. If you look carefully you will notice an 's' after the 'http' meaning that it is secure. Alternatively a padlock or broken key icon will appear somewhere in the browser window.
The two types of software that can help protect a PC are anti-virus applications and firewalls. The firewall stops malicious software from accessing your computer, or your computer accessing the Internet without your permission, whereas the anti-virus software scans your hard-drive for viruses and removes them. Nowadays many computers have anti-virus and firewall software built into the operating systems. Whether this is the case or not largely depends on how new your computer is. Many computers also come with additional anti-virus software in order to add an even greater level of security. More often than not you will find that you have to pay a monthly subscription for this added software. If you are unsure as to your computer's level of protection, or if you are unwilling to pay for the additional software, you can always download free anti-virus and firewall software online.
The third thing that you need to do is to make sure that your computer is adequately protected against viruses and unofficial access. There are two pieces of software that can help do this. The first is anti-virus software. Anti-virus software often comes with your computer or can be downloaded from the Internet itself. Some anti-virus software is free, others you need to pay for. As the name suggests this software protects against harmful software that can damage or destroy your PC, or even acquire your card details.
The other piece of software is known as a firewall and this stops programs from accessing your computer without your knowledge; it also stops applications on your computer from accessing the Internet against your will. One way that a criminal could get access to your card details is through accessing your PC while you enter your details, or by placing certain software on your computer. This is extremely rare, highly unlikely, and a firewall negates this problem completely.
If you follow these three simple precautions then there is no reason why you should become the victim of Internet card fraud. It is still more risky to use you card in a shop than it is to use it online. The fact that Internet card use rose four-fold between 2002 and 2007 demonstrates how popular Internet card use has become and, to an extent, is a testament to its safety. - 15224
There are, however, three ways that you can make your Internet shopping even safer. The first is to ensure that whenever you enter your card details online you are doing so in a secured environment. Basically, the Internet has open access areas, that all people can see, and secured areas, that only one person can view. When you visit an online shop, be it a supermarket's web pages or a bookstore, it has secured and non-secured areas. The 'catalogue' will be open for all to read whereas the card detail areas will be protected. To tell if you are in a secured area make sure that the address changes from an 'http:/www.blardeeblar.com' to a 'https:/www.blardeeblar.com' site. If you look carefully you will notice an 's' after the 'http' meaning that it is secure. Alternatively a padlock or broken key icon will appear somewhere in the browser window.
The two types of software that can help protect a PC are anti-virus applications and firewalls. The firewall stops malicious software from accessing your computer, or your computer accessing the Internet without your permission, whereas the anti-virus software scans your hard-drive for viruses and removes them. Nowadays many computers have anti-virus and firewall software built into the operating systems. Whether this is the case or not largely depends on how new your computer is. Many computers also come with additional anti-virus software in order to add an even greater level of security. More often than not you will find that you have to pay a monthly subscription for this added software. If you are unsure as to your computer's level of protection, or if you are unwilling to pay for the additional software, you can always download free anti-virus and firewall software online.
The third thing that you need to do is to make sure that your computer is adequately protected against viruses and unofficial access. There are two pieces of software that can help do this. The first is anti-virus software. Anti-virus software often comes with your computer or can be downloaded from the Internet itself. Some anti-virus software is free, others you need to pay for. As the name suggests this software protects against harmful software that can damage or destroy your PC, or even acquire your card details.
The other piece of software is known as a firewall and this stops programs from accessing your computer without your knowledge; it also stops applications on your computer from accessing the Internet against your will. One way that a criminal could get access to your card details is through accessing your PC while you enter your details, or by placing certain software on your computer. This is extremely rare, highly unlikely, and a firewall negates this problem completely.
If you follow these three simple precautions then there is no reason why you should become the victim of Internet card fraud. It is still more risky to use you card in a shop than it is to use it online. The fact that Internet card use rose four-fold between 2002 and 2007 demonstrates how popular Internet card use has become and, to an extent, is a testament to its safety. - 15224
About the Author:
John Webb is an experienced author of financial articles and regularly posts on popular websites. Read about Credit cards online and Credit card offers here.
