Caution about credit card use online

[MaxSpeer]

I am not blaming any one company. I had my credit card info stolen and pretty much traced it to online clip purchases. Again, I don't know which company or site it was and I really doubt that any company would be at fault.

What I speculate is that it could happen when servers are down for one reason or another, and there might be a possibility that the encryption is weaker. This is purely a guess because I know d*ck about these things.

The reality is that I had money taken from me in the 4 digit range. It is now cleared up and my credit card has been cancelled.

I don't want to put a damper on any of the vid companies who do lots of online clip business. I think the clips are the best thing that has happened for us in recent years. I only want to warn people to keep close tabs on their bills, bank accounts, and for the video companies that use certain services to be aware when they have certain issues with these clips companies. I believe that if there is a temporary 'hole' in the system due to some kind of downage, then the hackers are in there like flys on excrement.

Max

 

[Soda83pop]

Some questions

What kind of browser are you using? Are you using a secure connection? IE has anough holes for anyone to get your info, to be honest with you. Also, are you on a wireless network? If it isnt protected and the data isnt encrypted, that would be another way it could happen.

I dont purchase clips online, but I do shop online, and these are some of the things that have to be taken into account when you use your credit card online. I dont know how computer savvy you are; I know you have been online foreve, but even users experienced with forums and web pages arent as into the "behind-the-scenes" of the Internet sometimes. Im not trying to blame you, or even suggest that you arent aware of these things. I just know that many of us on the Internet arent aware; and I am just trying to be helpful. Good luck friend.

 

[MaxSpeer]

I use Netscape most of the time and I have a Mac that is pretty safe. The problem might be that I stored info on the computer. The other problem is that I stored info on Netscape rather than type it in each time.

I know how to find my way around the Net and to use my computer pretty well but as far as code and all that tech stuff, I am worthless.

Thanks for the advice.

Max

 

[tickledorange]

From Identity Knight:

Most Internet Explorer users enjoy the convenient autocomplete feature (IE 5.0 and higher). It remembers data, including credit card, SSN, address, phone, email, and other information you used to fill in Web forms and saves it in a "safe" place (Windows Protected Storage). The next time you are required to fill out a similar form, it completes it for you automatically. The problem - it is possible to capture and read the contents of "Protected Storage". If someone accesses your computer (directly or remotely) your identity information can be stolen

Also, Autocomplete can also be a bad thing to use if people other than you are on the same computer or server. Do you have a firewall too?

 

[TKpervert]

Don't forget that consumer data (socials, name and address, credit card numbers) is getting stolen all over the place. ChoicePoint and Lexis-Nexis come to mind.
And Bank of America lost some computer tapes with consumer data on them. And these are just the ones we know about so far. So it wasn't necessarily clip purchases that got you in trouble, though it sure could have been.
I have to want something pretty bad to throw my credit card number out there on the net.

 

[TKpervert]

This is a good time and place for clip vendors to tell us how safe our credit card numbers are when we buy from them, and tell us in detail how they're safeguarded.

Any vendors care to speak up ?