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MCC Daily Tribune

Shopping Online Securely - Protecting Your Information

In addition to shopping at legitimate websites (see yesterday's article), you will want to ensure your computer or mobile device is secure. Cybercriminals will try to infect your devices so they can harvest your bank accounts, credit card information, and passwords. Take the following steps to keep your devices secured:

  • If you have children in your house, consider having two devices, one for your kids and one for the adults. Kids are curious and as a result, they are more likely to infect their own device. By using a separate computer or tablet just for online transactions, such as online banking and shopping, you reduce the chance of becoming infected.
  • Always install the latest updates and run up-to-date anti-virus software. This makes it much harder for a cybercriminal to infect your device.

Review your credit card statements to identify suspicious charges, especially after you used your cards to make many online purchases or used a new site.

  • Credit card providers give you the option of notifying you by email or text messages every time a charge is made to your card or when charges exceed a set amount.
  • Another option is to have one credit card just for online purchases. That way, if it is compromised, you can easily change the card without impacting any of your other payment activities.
  • Avoid using debit cards whenever possible. Debit cards take money directly from your bank account.

If you believe fraud has been committed, call your credit card company right away.

When possible use gift cards, or well-known payment services, such as PayPal, which do not require you to disclose your credit card number to the vendor.

For more cybersecurity awareness tips, please see the "Cybersecurity Awareness Training" located on the myMCC.monroecc.edu, TECH Tab under the Technology Links.

Donna Pogroszewski
Chief Information Security Officer
11/03/2017