| The PCI, or Payment Card Industry, Data Security | | | | - Some protective measures also include the |
| Standard was issued to help online merchants and | | | | architecture of the website as well as the design of |
| retailers to prevent credit card fraud. Many complied | | | | the software and the implementation. |
| with these rules, but lots of them did not. Many online | | | | - Passwords are to be changed regularly and default |
| merchants have no idea about the security that is | | | | passwords are not to be used. |
| required to protect live internet transactions, and many | | | | - The cardholder's data that is stored should be |
| do not realize that when they open up a wireless | | | | protected. |
| connection that they are opening a doorway for | | | | - Restrict the access to the cardholder data and |
| hundreds of potential credit card thieves. | | | | assign everyone with computer access a unique ID. |
| People try to shift the blame when credit card fraud | | | | - When data or the network is accessed it should be |
| occurs. The merchants, payment processors, online | | | | tracked and monitored vigilantly. |
| facilities, banks and others are blamed, when in actual | | | | - Regular testing of these systems and security |
| fact this is something that cannot be entirely blamed on | | | | measures is a must to maintain the best possible |
| anyone except the perpetrators. Here are the top | | | | protection. |
| credit card industry rules that were mentioned to help | | | | - You also need to have an information security policy |
| merchants and websites to lower their risk for credit | | | | that is maintained. These steps are there to protect |
| card fraud: | | | | the merchants as well as the customers. While the |
| - The first step is to install a firewall. This will block | | | | compliance to this system is being ignored by some |
| people who are trying to access the information. | | | | because of the costs involved and the lack of |
| - You will also then want to install various top antivirus | | | | enforcement, it is still better to have it if you want to |
| software programs that will prevent viruses, Trojan | | | | protect your business and your customers. |
| horses, malware and adware from entering the | | | | These comprehensive requirements are supported by |
| system. The antivirus should be updated on a regular | | | | all the major credit card companies including Visa, |
| basis and more than one can even be used for | | | | Master Card, American Express, and Discover |
| additional protection. | | | | Financial Services who all founded the PCI DSS to |
| - Another rule is to use various encryption codes to | | | | ensure that credit card payments could be processed |
| prevent hackers from being able to read card | | | | safely online. |
| numbers and the data on the credit card. | | | | |