Today people are doing more and more of their personal banking, bill paying, shopping and just surfing online. It is no longer limited to the business industry. Statistics show that more than 3 in 4 persons in the United States have access to the Internet. This was in 2006. With this in mind, it is more important than ever to see that we are safe when online. Here are a few tips:
1. Make sure that the date you are sending will be encrypted and transmitted over a secure connection. Check your browser's padlock icon. You can find this icon in the lower right corner of most browsers. The lock should be in the closed position when the connection is secure. Always check before you submit any private information.
2. Your privacy is not always guaranteed. Look for seals of approval from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and TRUSEe on sites that you are going to be shopping. This is a way to ensure that the company is legit and your personal information will be protected when you are shopping. If you are given the choice, opt out of having your personal information used for marketing purposes.
3. Protect your passwords and if you think your password has been compromised, change it immediately. It is always bet to use a unique combination of at least five letters, numbers or symbols
4. Always check, double check and triple check orders before you finalize them on a checkout page. It is so easy to keep your finger on a number too long and turn a 1 into 11. Always print your final order screen for your records and keep your conformation email.
5. If you do experience a problem with an online purchase, notify the company immediately. Check the site for a toll-free phone number, an email address, or links to customer service. If the company itself does not resolve the problem, contact the Better Business Bureau , the Federal Trade Commission or your state attorney general's office to lodge a formal complaint.
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Comments: 10
1. When possible use "https:\\" on urls this identifies it as a 32 bit encrypted site.
2. Most banks won't have a problem with you creating a new checking account to drop an old "infested" one.
3. If any of your accounts are compromised you can file paperwork that will dispute the transaction. If you never authorized the transaction, chances are very good that you will get the money back.
4. When you file the dispute also file a claim against the company for whatever illegal action they've performed, with your local police or sheriff's department. They will then in turn hand this claim over to the FBI.