Tips for Protecting Your Information from Credit Card Hackers

Tips for Protecting Your Information from Credit Card Hackers

Hackers are lurking everywhere trying to get their hands on your credit card and personal information. What can you do to prevent yourself from becoming a victim?

We all have the fear of putting our credit card information online when we want to buy something. Whether we fear it enough to never purchase things online or if it just simply runs through our mind as we type in the number on the secure website, we all think about hackers getting our information. While nothing is 100 percent foolproof, there are some things you can do to help keep your information secure even when buying online.

Use Secure Websites
This might seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many people will just enter their private information on any website they visit. You can tell if the website is a secure website if it has an encryption sign, which is usually an icon of a padlock on the bottom right corner of the browser window. If the padlock is “opened,” the website you are on is not secure. However, a closed padlock will encrypt your information as you enter it so hackers will have a more difficult time trying to read it. You should also look for the “s” at the end of the “http” in the website’s address. That extra letter means that the website is secure so you can feel safe entering your information.

Use Zero Liability Cards
Since hackers can sometimes get even encrypted information, using a zero liability credit card is a good idea. With these types of credit cards, you are protected even if you’re the credit card numbers are hacked and used for unauthorized purchases. Most credit cards offer some type of protection like this but some will not hold you liable at all for any unauthorized purchases. Be sure to keep track of your statements so you can look for unauthorized charges and report them as soon as possible.

Never Let Your Credit Card Out of Your Sight
Credit card hacking can take place even when you are buying things at a brick and mortar store. One way hackers get your information is by holding onto your credit card when you make a purchase. The clerk may “forget” to hand you your card back and you may forget about it until after you leave the store. Many of them also have machines near the cash register where they can scan your card and get all the information. If something seems fishy during your transaction, ask to see a manager.

Shred the Paperwork
If you have anything that has your personal information on it, it is best to shred it before throwing it away. Hackers can dig through your trash and find papers with account numbers and other private information. Invest in a cross-shredding machine which will shred the papers both horizontally and vertically. This will make it more difficult for hackers to assemble the “puzzle” that your personal records have become.

Identity theft is running rampant in our society today and credit card hacking is part of that. You could go through years of battles trying to clear your name following an ID theft and still end up with ruined credit. Protect yourself as much as you can so you never have to go through all that trouble.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

User Generated Content Disclosure: Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.


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