Stop trusting companies with your credit cards people!...because some ppl can quickly get into that without a problem...so I've heard.
Answered By: Louisiana! - 3/13/2007 |
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I just dont give it out, or open any spam e-mails or ones from e-mails i dont know. I also use norton 2007. It checks if the website is a fraud via toolbar so yea, im safe.
Answered By: death_taru1 - 3/13/2007 |
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Personally, I try to do business thru paypal and no problems the last 9 years or so.
But if you have to give a company your credit card number, make a note of it and check your account for the next couple of days for any unauthorized purchases. I like to use Master Card for example as I can always reverse charges and if someone were to steal the number, I do not have to pay nothing, but ony thru my credit union. All banks are different on this.
Do not be stupid and fall for the online scams. They may ask for money to may YOUR big winnings. Or they may ask for your bank account number and home address so they can deposit the money. What it says in the fine print, is that they will deposit YOUR money in THEIR bank account. Besides, tell them to mail you your check. You can wait.
And there is never an excuse for giving out your social security number too. Giving that out along with your home address to anyone is a recipe for disaster.
Did you know you can google credit report and get a FREE once a year credit report to check on your credit rating. So be like me and find out with a big surprise someone was using your name. Three years later, still trying to clear it up. I am too cheap to get a lawyer. Besides, I do not need it but those credit card companies really do not want to work with you I find out so check your credit rating. Who knows. You might need to buy a house or something and then find out too late.
Answered By: Big C - 3/13/2007 |
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I only use trusted online companies to shop with.
Answered By: James Dean - 3/13/2007 |
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Make sure that the website you are using beings with https instead of http. This means that the website is secure and your information will not be intercepted by a third party.
Answered By: Jason B - 3/13/2007 |
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There are insurance plans to help your if your identity is stolen. What I do is constantly monitor my bank statements. I have to remember what I spend my money on and make sure my bank statements say the same.
On another note, your identity can be stolen even if you have never used the internet. So checking to make sure all your sites are secure won't always help. Your data is stored electronically through other companies and government agencies.
Answered By: Fara - 3/13/2007 |
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Get norton 360 or something like that free ones never work propley
Answered By: bibby7@btinternet.com - 3/13/2007 |
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Go to smartcomputing.com
for your answer
Answered By: TomTom - 3/13/2007 |
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Answered By: c_plus_plus_genius - 3/13/2007 |
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I use F-secure Antivirus to protect my computer from viruses sent by e-mail. I also don't answer any e-mails from people I don't know.
Answered By: jracer524 - 3/13/2007 |
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I use firefox as opposed to internet explorer, It typically runs more website, more smoothly, and it is also a lot more secure than internet explorer.
Answered By: timthesharpshoter - 3/13/2007 |
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The only way I can think of is to buy a Internet Security system. I had one a couple of years ago and it told me whenever a person was trying to access my internet, and it suggested if i should block it or not. this would definately help a lot. You should go to any good electronic type store and ask one of the workers there to help you. they probably know more than anyone else about internet security. To help with interent credit card use, if you are using a credit card with any big company, i dont think it would be a problem. maybe you should check your credit card holder's website, maybe that would help. I hope this helps! If you need more help, just ask anyone you know: I'm sure they would be able to help you out and they could tell you what they do to secure themselves from the internet.
Answered By: freakychad - 3/13/2007 |
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To protect myself from online fraud or identity theft is make sure to never ever give out any information that i would mind freely yelling out to the entire world. If i do need to give info, i typically will make up names and other things to give out instead of any personal info. You should always remember that no matter how safe the site is, there is some genious nerd out there just waiting to hack into it and get your info!!!
Answered By: silversparkle_13 - 3/13/2007 |
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Do not open email attachment from unknown contact.
Do not fill any form from the link provided in email rather go to the site by typing the url yourself.
when filling online form, make sure you are not filling it to any phishing website.
Answered By: mehul_trivedi - 3/13/2007 |
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Apparently not enough. The ID and Password for a Yahoo account no longer work even though I've been using it for about 7 years! And since I didn't use my actual private information when I registered -and have since forgot - I cannot get a new password and Yahoo refuses to help. Which seems to mean Yahoo doesn't take kindly to people trying to protect themselves.
Answered By: othnielia_rex - 3/13/2007 |
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I don't give out personal information unless I am the one who has chosen to contact a site initially. I don't ever give out enough information for someone to open an account in my name - especially not my Social Security number. I always give out the minimum amount of information necessary to do whatever it is that I'm trying to accomplish online; I keep a close eye on my debit/credit/bank accounts, so that I know very quickly if something is awry. In addition, I use a couple of different services that will alert me if unusual numbers of transactions occur, or if unusually large amounts of money are being charged to my account. More than anything, I simply use common sense - if something seems "fishy," there's a good chance that it is!
Answered By: dances_with_unicorns1955 - 3/13/2007 |
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First of all I notice the asker of this question is brand new to Yahoo Answers. I would first off not give information to new members of yahoo answers about what I do to avoid or protect personal and confidential data or information. Yahoo Answers should not be posting posers who like to pretend they are like the ordinary person...
Answered By: lag_time2 - 3/13/2007 |
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I am careful about online transactions and only use secure sites.
We tear up any checks from the bank where they try to get us to write ourselves loans and we have contacted the bank and told them we don't want these checks sent to us.
We never open attatchments from strangers and we trash all email from strangers.
Answered By: redunicorn - 3/13/2007 |
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My personal methods are very low tech. Tho I am admin of a net bd and spend at least 4-6 hrs a day on line I simply do not put personal info on line or store it in my computer in any form. If it is not there it can not be stolen from there.
I also do not leave computer on line or if in a wireless or DSL location even turned on if I am not using it. I use the full Nortom protections plus some others and have these things set to scan and update daily. Because of the work I do on net I have free contact w/ consultants who are up on the latest scams and protections and also see Infoworld's data on them but the methods I have the greatest confidence in are the low tech ones. That is policy in our office as well. Turning computers on takes less than 60 seconds. It is well worth that to be sure we do not have mice.
Answered By: A F - 3/13/2007 |
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I never use my own name for email addresses. Basically most identity theft does not come from transactions you do on the internet. It is very secure. Big dont's: Never give personal account information to any source that solicits it from you, like Emails that say, We belive your account has been compromised, please login and verify your account information. May frauds come looking like the real sites, AE Paypal ect. If such information is requested then contact the company directly and verify the request? Most will say that is a fake scam. Dont worry so much, it really is pretty safe to do online business. Just make sure it is something you requested and no a solititation asking for information.
Answered By: a2z_4me - 3/13/2007 |
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Use as many passwords as you possibly can- make sure your passwords are of good quality (mix of letters, cases, numbers, symbols) - make sure you have at least a software firewall and a virus scanner - don't give out any personal information over an unencrypted connection - use security software to scan outgoing data to see if any personal information is being sent out without your permission - give as little personal info. as possible especially when signing up to services that technically don't require that info. - use paypal instead of paying with your credit card when possible - always check your statements, bank records, credit records etc. regularly - be wary of suspicious looking sites with funky urls - never give out personal info./password info. via email or phone - lol that's all I can think of..
Answered By: Basil - 3/13/2007 |
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I don't open any emails from anyone I don't know and I change my passwords alot. After I have made a purchase and received my purchase I erase any private info whatever company I am doing business with has. Incase any one h***s into the businesses I do business with.
Answered By: Faith In God - 3/13/2007 |
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Shred anything with sensitive numbers on it.
Password protect your computer.
Set browsers to higher level of security.
Don't even open phishing emails.
Don't keep credit card data on your computer.
For starters....
Answered By: DLeibowitz - 3/13/2007 |
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Well if your young you shouldn't do this enless u act secret like a agent lol.You have 2 meet the person (enless your young)b4 you talk 2 them if YOU think the intrnets not safe 4 YOU.Keep all bog info private.And teenagers,stop giving info on your games.AND DON"T ASK 4 PERSONAL INFO IN HTE FIRST PLACE!
Answered By: David M B Callahan the 2nd - 3/13/2007 |
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I do not give my social security to anyone, anyone, online.
I make no online purchases--I do pay my utility bills, but on secure sites.
No one online has my correct name or address (other than the utility companies--and those bills are in someone else's name).
Answered By: mamabear - 3/13/2007 |
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I never give my card number on line if I want to order something i order it then call the company and give them the card number. And I don't give my real info on line.
Answered By: michelle - 3/13/2007 |
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I don't give any info on the computer. i will call and have info sent to my home. fill it out and mail it back or tell it over the phone.
Answered By: loretta - 3/13/2007 |
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Well: according to safety I do not give information also kept
private at all times
Answered By: toddk57@sbcglobal.net - 3/13/2007 |
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I don't bank online--that's probably the biggie. I don't check credit card balances online--I do it the old fashioned way--I pick up the phone and call the 800 number on the back of my card. What shopping I do online I only do with companies that I'm familiar with. I change my passwords regularly.
Answered By: basketcase88 - 3/13/2007 |
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Hey I know the best way to protect yourself! Use one of those "giftcard" credit cards! The ones were you put however much money you want on it and buy what you need! If they try to swipe the numbers or info of the mag strip your just going to have watever was left on your card after you bought watever u were buying! Just put like 20 bucks more than what you need on it and voila! No big loss and the credit card cmpny will reimburse u!
Answered By: tenowest - 3/13/2007 |
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Watch for phishing, and variants of the Nigerian money scam; these are often nowadays in the form of "You have won a lottery!" Report all attempts at phishing to the appropriate financial institution.
Deal with only trusted merchants online, verifying that the web site is secure.
Monitor credit card and other accounts closely.
Burn all documents containing identifying information. Shredding is not good enough.
Answered By: rhsaunders - 3/13/2007 |
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I dont shop online nor even talk to strangers on the net. ( chat ) . and the websites that i visit are totally free from viruses. so you know it now. i am totally safe.
Answered By: stupid - 3/13/2007 |
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- Don't give out your real name and other particulars unless absolutely necessary. Use fake information instead.
- Register up to 5 or more different email addresses. Try to rotate your forum/website registration between these email addresses.
- Avoid registering to too many newsletters. Though they're fun to read, often the company also keeps your email addresses for certain purposes, some more sinister than others. And the user has no control and no say should said company decide to sell off your information to another company.
- Use Anti-spyware programs like Adaware, Spybot Search and Destroy, AVG Anti-spyware, CWShredder, Bazooka, SpywareBlaster, etc,
- Make sure you have a good anti-virus program or if you can't afford a commercial one, at least get a free program like AVG. And make sure your anti-virus program is up-to-date and scan your computer constantly.
- Get a hardware firewall. Software firewalls like Zone Alarm are so-so and not always the best.
- Stay away from many pornography and illegal sites. Often, such sites require you to download a dialer or some other form of executable program(a ".exe") which often installs a trojan or some other virus that gathers your confidential information and delivers it back to the hacker/company.
- Exercise caution in trusting your friends, your employee/co-workers with all your personal details. It is all too easy for someone to masquerade as another employee and "convince" them to divulge their and everyone elses' personal information. Play it safe and don't trust them with every detail, instead!
- Use multiple passwords instead of relying on one password for all sites and forums!
- Use a screensaver and find out how to enable the password protect feature, so your coworker or some other person can't snoop in on your personal information.
But of course, there's way more like keyloggers(which record your typing strokes from the keyboard) and many other various illegal programs which can steal your information and even compromise part of your life!
Answered By: Who, me? - 3/13/2007 |
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I follow the basic security rules and software listed at:
http://www.download.com
I never ever reply to emails that ask for my ID, password or any sensitive personal data, whoever it is from. I also use a sign-in seal to protect me from Phishing. It's Yahoo!'s idea actually. I also use a lot of free but effective software to protect myself from spyware, hackers and keyloggers. I don't have any security suite though, as I feel that basic safety is enough. I don't walk into the lion's mouth, and I use the minimum accessories needed for protection from the lion. I keep as little sensitive data on the system as possible. I change my password for every site I'm a part of every month.
I use 4 antispyware apps, an antivirus, CCleaner, and Firefox. I update every day. I also use McAfee SiteAdvisor for Firefox to tell me which sites are bad before I enter them. I get a detailed report on each website. I always check up a site's report before I enter it.
I always stay safe simply by staying alert and running frequent scans and updates.
I forgot to mention earlier that my PC has user accounts for each family member. Each of us keep our passwords discreet. That way, no naughty, nasty, reckless downloading relative can ever load the PC with malware. I use System Restore and frequently keep creating new Restore points (at least once a fortnight). That was another lesson I learnt from Download.com. I'm sure you (the asker) know them well.
Answered By: Undertaker crush Batista! - 3/13/2007 |
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First of all you just can't avoid falling pray for determined Hacker/Phisher but one can be more careful
One of the most important thing to do is *NEVER* trust email communication.
There are chances that you have actually received the mail from legit source ( Paypal, Bank, Online trading sites etc) which require action then make sure that you don't follow URL from email but directly go to the concerned site and try to navigate to required section.
Ex. If you receive mail from Paypal that your account has been blocked for some reason and you can re-enable it by filing a form from given URL then contact Paypal ask if this is true and ask them how can you navigate to it from actual site.
2. Never use same account name/ password for multiple sites and it's good idea to use industrial strength password generators (PIN's is one such product)
3. Never do sensitive transactions from public computers or from computers with access for multiple users (to avoid key loggers)
One can write thousands of documents on how to transact online safely but most important part is to be extra vigilant when it comes to doing secure transaction.
Source(s):
My self :) .. Its all I have learned from my experiance !
Answered By: svtmangalore - 3/13/2007 |
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I only shop at trusted online companies and never at any website that makes me feel unsafe.
Answered By: xSilverStarx - 3/13/2007 |
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I have such a low income that they would have to pay me to take my ID. If they try to use my account for something they won't get beans. That and rotating passwords are my protection.
Answered By: For_Gondor! - 3/13/2007 |
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Online scam has been prevalent now and each person should know how to protect themselves from this.
1. Never give personal information through email and to telemarketers.
2. Be wary of people asking for the your credit card identification number which is located on the back of your card when you do phone transactions
3. Be careful of shoulder surfing. When doing your bank transactions using your laptop, let's say, in a cafe, look around you and make sure nobody is watching you when you type in your personal information
4. Store credit cards would need your SSN. if you're applying for a store card over the phone, make sure you know who you're dealing with before you hand that person all your information
5. Phishing is online fraud. When you are sent an email supposedly from your bank asking you to update your information, do not click the link right away. Use the email address you've used in the past. Sometimes, the email link is fake and your info is recorded. All scammers need is your username and password and they can clean out your bank account and ruin your credit rating.
6. When surfing, make sure the lock icon is closed. The lock icon is located on the status bar. When you go a site, check is the website is https://, instead of http:// That means the site is secure
7. Change passwords regularly and make your password complicated, you need to have capital letters, lowercase letters, special characters and numbers
Hope this helps!!!!
Answered By: Thespiangirl - 3/13/2007 |
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Common sense is the best protection. That and learning about computers and the internet and how they work.
No firewall, no antivirus and online for 18 years now , continuously for the last 8 years. Never lost any valuable data.
In the increasingly complex world of the internet, you will have to know about how computers and the internet works, or you will have to pay someone who does.
I really suggest people get educated.
Answered By: sociald - 3/13/2007 |
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I take a number of steps to protect myself. Years ago, I was a victim of identity theft. There are a number of steps I have taken to prevent this:
-I added a note to my credit file stating that I was to be personally contacted whenever I attempted to open any type of credit.
-I regard any unsolicited offer with a suspicious eye. I NEVER give out any information over the phone to anyone who calls me, even if they say they are from my bank. Recently, I had someone respond to my resume on a job board, and they asked me for my full social security number. At that point I quickly ended the conversation.
-Also, I am very wary of phishing schemes via email. I have received a number of official looking emails that seem to be from Paypal, but are actually clever fakes.
-I cover the keypad with my free hand whenever I type my pin for a debit transaction.
-Be careful out there!
Answered By: Obviousman - 3/13/2007 |
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If u r using a public PC in net cafe or in office, then never type ur passwords, cc no. and other confidential nos in full at a time. i.e type few characters in p/w field, click on address tab type some other characters, then continue with ur p/w field, etc. Usually the password hacking program reads the characters typed in the screen continuously so ur p/w may be gold and if u follow the above method, then it will read as "g&owrm90olsrerd"
Never keep ur p/w in ur wallet / purse and don't keep it somewhere accessable. keep ur p/w un guessable, don't keep ur parents name, pets name, etc., give some combinations such as first letter of ur name, urs fathers name, urs friends name, ur home town, etc. Make it unguesssable. or if u give no's don't make it to ur b'day,house no, etc.,
Answered By: tdrajagopal - 3/13/2007 |
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I use a number of methods. As explain below
1) Firstly I have a good anti-virus software that is updated daily, it is the first thing I do in the morning.
2) I also have a firewall program and a anti-crime ware program that blocks hacking attempts and informs me if a website is untrustworthy.
3) I Also have anti-spy ware and anti ad-ware programs that run in the background.
4) You can also use firefox, as most of the virus are written for I.E internet expolerer the changes of coming across for one for firefox are lesser.
5) Update windows then the updates come out (Every second tuesday of the month.
6) Surf the internet from an limited account, hackers have to try harder as you need adm rights to install programs in a limited account.
7) Run virus checks, anti-spy/ad/crime ware checks one a week if you use your cards often
8) This is something I do then typing in a credit card number or a important password do not type it in sequence, as any keyloggers that get pass your anti-virus etc will read your keystokes.
For example of my card number was like 694864839485930
I would type in 66 and then use the mouse to move my cusoer this takes longer but it makes keyloggers less usefull. hers how I would type in the above using this method (using mouse and not cusoer keys) patterm as shown below
66
69699
69464949
69486489489
6948648394893
69486483948593
694864839485930
9) Check your bank statements for unauthorised use.
10) Clever your browser history and never save your details on your computer either by using windows passwords or any other programm. These are hackable
11) Lastly, reminder if you don't know the site don't use it, and banks will never email or phone you asking for your detials. If in doult look up the phone number of your local bank and then phone them.
Answered By: drutazo - 3/13/2007 |
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First thing you do: Go to a place That deals with online fraud or identity theft
two thing you do:ask them How to save your self From it I know this is Not Good idea But it might work
third thing you do:check and see if anyones useing your ID or credit card from any bank or shop That you got it from if some ones stealing TVs and computer games etc. you could end up in jail for it WHEN YOU DID NOTHING!!!
Answered By: bar27262 - 3/13/2007 |
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I would reccommend not buying from online companies. And if you are signing up for credit score reports, You are required to cancel within a certain time limit or you will be charged. also some sign you up for unwanted hidden services that also cost you. Over all be picky on the places you choose to purchase items. Although e-bay seems to be the best place to buy items now adays, it isnt, there are many of scammers on there that can easily steal your info, even with paypal. Identities are bought and sold for $5 - $10 and that includes all the info needed for signing up for credit cards and stealing you identity. (Full name, mothers maden name, Social Security number, address, family members, etc.)
Source(s):
Dateline, and many online fraud-prevention sites.
Answered By: Jacoby - 3/13/2007 |
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Simply dont buy anything on line.
Answered By: starrwoode - 3/13/2007 |
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I will only give a fake data in the internet
Answered By: Friendly - 3/13/2007 |
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I have protection in my credit cards for identity theft or online fraud...regular monitoring of my credit report to know whats goin on...i am updated and secured...so, i dont have to worry bout it...
but at the same time, eve if you know u r secured, still you have to protect your own identity by being responsible and smart...
Answered By: Phoebe - 3/13/2007 |
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I have two PCs, or more, one thing I do NOT do is put my data or others data on a computer that is connected to the internet.
You want my name, fine, you can use it, you want my SS# that has allready been passed around and lost by so many Financial Hogs that I rekon it is Public Domain now.
This is THE INTERNET. It is or was designed to Share Data and Ideas. Well the shareing part got iced, the Ideas are now Property, when I make a program work better, I have broken some new law.
Is a HAM radio secure. No, is a Cell Phone Secure, no. Is a Bank Secure, no.
To Activate a Windows OS I am asked to give name,DoB,Mailing Address, Users of Computer, then I can buy Privacy and Security for $99 a year.
Passwords are a joke. Any crack program can run 5,67.899.988,455 sequences in a matter of moments.
As long as Information and Data is transmitted to and from Sattelites, it is vunerable to be picked up and recoreded by any $15 scanner from radio shack.Then any IT or hobbyist can translate or break the cipher that is used. See Enigma.
Stop calling Hackers Criminals, Bill Gates and Steve Jobbs are some of the richest hackers in the world.
Media says this 14 year old hacker broke into Chase Manhatten Bank and diverted 8,8 billion to an offshore account, well Microsoft is in Peurto Rico now, so that could be true.
If Homeland Security can legaly look at my Bank Transactions, then who is the terrorist and who funds them.
Passwords, hah!
People look at the yellow padlock, send data, if someone can make a financial gain from that transaction, they will.
WWW of Information, but that information now has a price, want to learn how to spell. pay $15 a month, want to learn how to spell in saftey, x-tra $15 a month.
People will either bleed every penny legally or they will bleed every penny with a rootkit.
It is good that some are trying to help, but Open Source free software is the way to learning, allow people to learn and they will learn.
Keep them ignorant of the facts, and no body wins.
Answered By: SåndyMån - 3/13/2007 |
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First: Remember to *only enter information such as your social security number on *secure web pages!
Example: https://www.yourbank.com/login_id?example&done.go=secure.cgi
Notice the letter "s" in the link/url (https) before entering information. If the website is not secure, 9 times out of 10 it's not legitament. That's just one tip I can give, hope it can help.
Answered By: Brian Matthews - 3/13/2007 |
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I recently had a credit card number stolen, and I don't know how they got it. Something I learned is that you can place a fraud alert with all three of the credit agencies so that if anyone tries to open a new credit line with your name, they have to contact you first. If you need a new credit card in a hurry, this may cause some hassle, but if you know you don't need a credit card anytime soon, you may want to consider putting a fraud alert on your account.
Answered By: lala11 - 3/13/2007 |
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