| Many computer users are concerned about personal | | | | would be affected. On top of that, most of those |
| security and identity theft. With regular news of theft | | | | break-ins are dealt with so quickly that you might be |
| and fraud it certainly makes sense to be cautious | | | | affected only to the extent that your account is |
| about the security of your information online. | | | | disabled and quickly replaced. |
| However online is not the only place to exercise | | | | Individual theft occurs most often off-line. A clerk might |
| caution. The fact is that identity theft and fraud are just | | | | make a copy of your credit card and signature, your |
| as rampant off-line as in cyberspace - perhaps even | | | | bank statements might get stolen out of your trash, or |
| more so. You should perhaps be more concerned | | | | your new credit card might disappear out of your mail |
| about the security of your information in the "real | | | | box before you even know it. Those are all much |
| world". | | | | more common than online scenarios. Even so they're |
| Online shopping is something most take for granted | | | | still fairly rare occurrences across millions of card |
| these days. In fact many would scoff at the very | | | | holders and daily transactions. |
| question "Is online shopping safe?" Yet there are still | | | | As briefly mentioned above, the caution needed for an |
| many people who are afraid to shop online. They're | | | | online scenario is simple: make sure you're doing |
| certain that the internet is full of hackers waiting to | | | | business with reputable merchants. Make sure that the |
| steal their sensitive personal information as it goes by. | | | | business you're about to buy from is real, and one |
| The irony, though, is that these same people are willing | | | | you've heard of. By now I'm certain that there are big |
| to give that information - along with an image of their | | | | names you've already heard of that you can trust. In |
| signature - to a complete stranger at a restaurant, or | | | | addition, most all of your off-line sources have online |
| to a minimum wage retail clerk. | | | | presences. And of course you'll also hear by word of |
| Many people have an over-inflated sense of risk when | | | | mouth what online businesses have treated others |
| it comes to threats that they don't understand, and let's | | | | well. |
| face it, who really understands the internet? What you | | | | When it comes time to enter in your personal |
| do need to understand is where the risks really are, | | | | information, make sure that the connection to their site |
| and how likely each is to actually happen. | | | | is httpS secure - that's a great way to ensure that |
| Credit card theft does happen online. But as long as | | | | you're dealing with who you think you are, as well as |
| you deal with reputable retailers and avoid scams, it's | | | | keeping your information from other prying eyes. |
| incredibly rare that it would happen as you make a | | | | Finally, don't fall for scams and phishing attempts. That |
| simple purchase, or because someone is somehow | | | | rule of thumb is also very simple and completely in |
| monitoring your transaction. | | | | your control: if you didn't initiate the transaction, it's time |
| What's more common, though still surprisingly | | | | to be very skeptical. |
| infrequent, are major break-ins at banks or retailers | | | | So go ahead - shop online. |
| where the information for many people is stolen all at | | | | Don't let unfounded fear of a theft that's unlikely to |
| once. In a case like this, it doesn't matter if you used | | | | happen stop you from enjoying the convenience. |
| your card online or off - both types of customers | | | | I know I won't. |