There have been some recent reports about security of your personal information, bank account information and credit card information. More and more consumers are enthusiastically embracing the Internet and it’s everyday uses such as online banking and purchasing, emailing, participating in chat rooms and forums and submitting to community websites such as My Space and You Tube. By participating in these activities, our personal and financial information is also being stored online. To help protect your information online, here are a few steps you can take. (Please remember that this information is of a general nature only. Please seek further expert advice to suit your requirements.)
1. Always read the Privacy Policy of any business or institution operating online. Make sure that your details are used only for the purpose stated and most importantly, your details are not given to other third parties.
2. When accessing a secure area of a site where you are required to submit financial information, check that the address bar of the page begins with https://www. Also, some pages will have a padlock symbol on the bottom or top of the browser screen. Ensure that the credit card gateway is provided by a reputable organisation.
3. Ensure that the website uses industry standard security certificates and encryption techniques such 128 bit encryption and SSL technology. SSL certificates can encrypt transactions between the browser (customer) and the web server (website). This means the information you provide cannot be viewed by anyone else. Cryptographers consider 128 bit encryption to be impossible to break, as it would take millions of years with the fastest computers to try all the combinations.
4. Update your passwords regularly. For instance, you can receive a new password from Home Buddies by going to the Login page, entering your email address and then clicking on “Forgot Password”. A new password will then be emailed to you.
5. Update your computer security regularly. Any time you are advised about a new security feature to download for your particular browser, you should download it. Purchase up-to-date Internet Security software.
6. Other techniques to minimise your exposure to online fraud includes using a debit credit card for online purchases, where you ‘top up’ the card to the desired amount only. Or you can use the one credit card with a low limit for online purchases only.
By following these simple steps you will be able to continue to use the Internet and the amazing benefits it can offer with some peace of mind about your personal and financial details.
By: Kelly Honeybrook
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