5 ways to protect yourself from data breaches

Pioneer Press ^ | 9-20-14 | Joseph Pisani

[TurboZamboni]

NEW YORK (AP) — Data breaches at retailers aren't going away but there are ways consumers can protect themselves from future heists of their payment card information.

Home Depot said Thursday that malicious software lurking in its check-out terminals between April and September affected 56 million debit and credit cards that customers swiped at its stores. Target, Michaels and Neiman Marcus have also been attacked by hackers in the past year.

[Wolfie]

As much as I hate too, I think I’m just going back to cash.

[TurboZamboni]

Downside is muggers know people are ,too.

And lawyer fees (even for justified self defense) are really expensive.

[George from New England]

Website is down for me ... can you post the text ?

[George from New England]

“Connection refused”

[pajama pundit]

Here is the summary:

1. CONSIDER ANOTHER WAY TO PAY
Try newer ways to pay, such as PayPal or Apple Pay.
2. SIGN IT, DON’T PIN IT
If you’re planning on paying with a debit card, sign for your purchase instead of typing in your personal identification number at the cash register.
3. BEWARE OF EMAIL SCAMMERS
4. KEEP UP WITH STATEMENTS (look for unauthorized charges)
5. GO OLD SCHOOL (Use cash)

[BobL]

Could care less about credit card breeches...just means that I have to replace my cards (at no cost). Illegal charges, if any, are easily reversed. As long as the store doesn’t have more data on me, taking my credit card number is virtually painless.

What I worry a LOT MORE about is my Social Security Number...that is something I am careful with, to the point of putting down phony ones for doctors and not giving it to other outfits (like cell phones).

[VanShuyten]

Yup. Just got my new, unsolicited, card from B of A yesterday. They didn’t mention Home Depot by name, but I’m sure that was the reason.

[eyeamok]

Abstinence from Electronic Payments of any kind(cash) works 100% of the time and should have been listed first instead of last on the list.

[grania]

I use cash or check locally. In the major stores, the check is used for an electronic transfer from a checking account. I use it from a checking account with a local bank where I'm a familiar face and with an account that has a small balance. Because my pension check is automatically deposited, it's no fee however low the balance.

The other possibility is using a pre-paid credit card without much extra money deposited on it. The fees have gone way up on them, though.

When I shop with cash, I don't dress like someone anyone would bother stealing from. I keep money in a front pocket that would be really hard to pickpocket from, and I don't carry a purse. <^..^>

Online, I order everything I can through the Amazon site with their card. I figure that if they're ever hacked, it'll be much easier on me if it's their card.