FACEBOOK TWITTER
SHARE

receive privacy industry news

Email:

questions + feedback

Have a question or a privacy issue that you'd like us to investigate ? Send an to our editors with your comments.

debit cards


From Black Friday to Cyber Monday: 5 Tips to Avoid Online Credit Fraud

Posted on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 by

Want to score some hot deals this Black Friday? Sure you do, but what steps are you taking to make sure you don’t also score the attention of hackers and other cyber-thieves? Implement these five tips to ensure smooth and safe online shopping:

  1. Use a personal VPN. Having your transactions encrypted with a personal VPN like PRIVATE WiFi is the most recommended way to surf online in wireless hotspots. So if you plan to score deals while in a public wifi environment — say, while waiting for your flight at the airport or just hanging out at your favorite coffee shop — use a personal VPN to prevent hackers from sniffing your sensitive financial data.

Read More

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

  • TweetTWEET
  • PrintPrint
  • emailemail
    • SHARE

Hotel Wifi: Is It Worth the Risk?

Posted on Thursday, June 2nd, 2011 by

There can be significant data-security risks for those who take advantage of using the Internet in hotels and resorts around the world. Most large hotels use a third-party provider to deliver WiFi to hotel guests, which means the hotel may not have double-checked that it is using a network that meets current standards for online security and privacy. Read More

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

  • TweetTWEET
  • PrintPrint
  • emailemail
    • SHARE

Credit Fraud: Computer Database Hacked At California Resort

Posted on Wednesday, June 1st, 2011

The Sacramento Bee reports that the computer network at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa in California was invaded by hackers, exposing hotel guests’ credit or debit card numbers, expiration dates, and card verification codes. The hotel has said other personal information, such as names, addresses, or Social Security numbers, was not obtained by the hacker. While the hotel works with law enforcement to investigate the crime, it recommends that past guests check their card statements and other account information carefully.

Read More

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

  • TweetTWEET
  • PrintPrint
  • emailemail
    • SHARE

Magnetic Strips Leaving Consumers Exposed As Debit Card Hacking Grows Fivefold In Five Years

Posted on Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

Criminals are becoming more attracted to hacking consumer debit cards, as reports of fraud involving debit cards, PIN numbers, and card processing equipment has increased fivefold over the past five years. This Wall Street Journal article cautions that similar scams previously targeted bank ATMs but now include card processors at gasoline pumps and retail chains. Unlike Europeans — who are given debit cards with more secure (yet more costly) microchips — Americans use debit cards with less-secure, cheaper magnetic strips. Thieves use a variety of methods to capture the data, including replacing the stores’ card processing machines with ones already embedded with skimmers; placing ultra-tiny cameras on the processors; or installing a membrane over key pads that can record keystrokes.

Read More

Tags: , , ,

  • TweetTWEET
  • PrintPrint
  • emailemail
    • SHARE