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Post by garbulky on Dec 30, 2015 17:39:27 GMT -5
Nonsensical responses - I resemble that remark!  Thanks for the update garbulky - Again - I'm behind the times... And worst of all they'll hijack your netflix queue. Those bastards. ! |
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KeithL
Administrator 
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Post by KeithL on Dec 30, 2015 18:03:16 GMT -5
You're absolutely right - the threat is quite real - EXCEPT that nobody is going to bother to hack your personal computer to get a few credit card numbers.... Stolen credit card numbers are only worth a few bucks each, so the watchword is volume.... Most serious data breaches involve someone hacking into a store's servers and getting ALL of the credit card information of ALL of their customers. (Of course, everyone from the major banks, to Visa themselves, has also been hacked. The most prolific hacker as of last year had stolen over 85 MILLION credit card numbers. If you Google on "data breaches 2015" you'll see that many major department store chains have been hit (including Target and TJMaxx), several health insurance providers, several government agencies, and a few banks and credit card companies. For example, someone hacked into their point of sale systems and compromised the information from EVERYONE who shopped at certain Target stores last year. Even the Department of Homeland Security and the IRS have been hacked. So, if you actually shop with your credit card, it's far more likely that your information will be stolen from somewhere that you used it than from your computer. And, since most stores keep that information on file, simply stopping today isn't going to protect you either - unless you also cancel all of your cards. The great thing about credit cards is NOT that they're secure - they're not; the great thing is that, WHEN yours gets stolen, you're not liable for the bogus charges. Entering your information into a bogus website, or in reply to a bogus e-mail is still a real risk - because those methods work in volume... but only an amateur would waste the time hacking an individual computer. Most people I know have had at least one credit card hacked at some point... and, in case you were wondering, there are actually ways where someone can guess a credit card number and come up with yours - by luck - even if they don't ever see it. The best "credit card security" is to simply read your bills.... and contest any charges that look bogus. (One funny charge may well be a clerical error, which also can happen; two or three bogus charges on the same card close together almost certainly mean it's been compromised.) Not at all. A regular person could easily have their credit cards and their identity stolen. I've known several people where this has happened and it happens from hacking. They figure out your email use your passwords to access your bank account. Use the credit cards to buy stuff. Etc etc. So it's a real thing. Happened to my MIL, my BIL and at least three of my friends. Hacking has come a long way since it was just bored people doing stuff just to do stuff. |
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Post by Axis on Dec 30, 2015 18:05:57 GMT -5
I created a folder named password and put pics of nude old people in it. |
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Post by copperpipe on Dec 30, 2015 18:34:06 GMT -5
I created a folder named password and put pics of nude old people in it. That sounds like an ... interesting ... way of trolling thieves; unfortunately, that still means YOU need to view those pics too while putting them on your machine. |
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hemster
Global Moderator
Particle Manufacturer
...still listening... still watching
Posts: 51,950
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Post by hemster on Dec 30, 2015 18:39:49 GMT -5
You're absolutely right - the threat is quite real - EXCEPT that nobody is going to bother to hack your personal computer to get a few credit card numbers.... Stolen credit card numbers are only worth a few bucks each, so the watchword is volume.... Most serious data breaches involve someone hacking into a store's servers and getting ALL of the credit card information of ALL of their customers. (Of course, everyone from the major banks, to Visa themselves, has also been hacked. The most prolific hacker as of last year had stolen over 85 MILLION credit card numbers. If you Google on "data breaches 2015" you'll see that many major department store chains have been hit (including Target and TJMaxx), several health insurance providers, several government agencies, and a few banks and credit card companies. For example, someone hacked into their point of sale systems and compromised the information from EVERYONE who shopped at certain Target stores last year. Even the Department of Homeland Security and the IRS have been hacked. So, if you actually shop with your credit card, it's far more likely that your information will be stolen from somewhere that you used it than from your computer. And, since most stores keep that information on file, simply stopping today isn't going to protect you either - unless you also cancel all of your cards. The great thing about credit cards is NOT that they're secure - they're not; the great thing is that, WHEN yours gets stolen, you're not liable for the bogus charges. Entering your information into a bogus website, or in reply to a bogus e-mail is still a real risk - because those methods work in volume... but only an amateur would waste the time hacking an individual computer. Most people I know have had at least one credit card hacked at some point... and, in case you were wondering, there are actually ways where someone can guess a credit card number and come up with yours - by luck - even if they don't ever see it. The best "credit card security" is to simply read your bills.... and contest any charges that look bogus. (One funny charge may well be a clerical error, which also can happen; two or three bogus charges on the same card close together almost certainly mean it's been compromised.) Not at all. A regular person could easily have their credit cards and their identity stolen. I've known several people where this has happened and it happens from hacking. They figure out your email use your passwords to access your bank account. Use the credit cards to buy stuff. Etc etc. So it's a real thing. Happened to my MIL, my BIL and at least three of my friends. Hacking has come a long way since it was just bored people doing stuff just to do stuff. +1 on checking your bills... meticulously. Nowadays hackers have taken to placing small charges on credit card bills and using generic or even trademark company names such as "BP" or "CVS" as the payee.  They also use "odd" amounts rather than say... $20.00 they use amounts like $16.38 making them look like "real" charges. |
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Post by knucklehead on Dec 30, 2015 19:19:24 GMT -5
+1 on checking your bills... meticulously. Nowadays hackers have taken to placing small charges on credit card bills and using generic or even trademark company names such as "BP" or "CVS" as the payee. They also use "odd" amounts rather than say... $20.00 they use amounts like $16.38 making them look like "real" charges. I had this happen to me with my debit card 7-8 years ago. Got two odd POS posts on my bank account (online) all within a day of each other. One was for some pimple removing creme - can't remember what the other one was for. I called my credit union and they immediately canceled my card and sent a new one within a few days. I actually got the pimple creme a few days later which I promptly returned - then called that company to explain what happened. I am very certain that I had used my card locally where someone had access to the data on a card reader - gas station or cafe I think. I haven't had any problems since. Right now I have LifeLock - a free account for three years due to a data breach by a company that I had bought from several years ago. I have two+ years left on that free account - I check my bank accounts online regularly for irregular charges. I shop mainly at online stores where I can use PayPal whenever possible. I also have an account with Amazon where they have my debit and credit card info. I try as best I can to limit my exposure wherever possible. So far so good these past 7 years. So far that data breach hasn't caught up with me. I'm hoping my info was ignored or somehow didn't get into the hands of a thief. |
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hemster
Global Moderator
Particle Manufacturer
...still listening... still watching
Posts: 51,950
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Post by hemster on Dec 30, 2015 21:31:27 GMT -5
+1 on checking your bills... meticulously. Nowadays hackers have taken to placing small charges on credit card bills and using generic or even trademark company names such as "BP" or "CVS" as the payee. They also use "odd" amounts rather than say... $20.00 they use amounts like $16.38 making them look like "real" charges. I had this happen to me with my debit card 7-8 years ago. Got two odd POS posts on my bank account (online) all within a day of each other. One was for some pimple removing creme - can't remember what the other one was for. I called my credit union and they immediately canceled my card and sent a new one within a few days. I actually got the pimple creme a few days later which I promptly returned - then called that company to explain what happened. I am very certain that I had used my card locally where someone had access to the data on a card reader - gas station or cafe I think. I haven't had any problems since. Right now I have LifeLock - a free account for three years due to a data breach by a company that I had bought from several years ago. I have two+ years left on that free account - I check my bank accounts online regularly for irregular charges. I shop mainly at online stores where I can use PayPal whenever possible. I also have an account with Amazon where they have my debit and credit card info. I try as best I can to limit my exposure wherever possible. So far so good these past 7 years. So far that data breach hasn't caught up with me. I'm hoping my info was ignored or somehow didn't get into the hands of a thief. Funny you mention that... because I had a similar experience with charges from Proactiv pimple cream! The amount was about $30 but not a round figure. I too disputed the charge and my bank canceled my card and sent a replacement with a different card number. This was ok but a pain as I had to change all my regular payments on that card (things like pest control and ADT alarm company charges - these are constant month-to-month and as such, easy to monitor). I returned the pimple cream too, and they sent it back!! With their compliments. Don't they know that chimps don't get pimples?   I was particularly watchful over the next few months (more than usual) because these schemes have automatic payment plans for pimple creams...  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2015 22:14:15 GMT -5
Don't they know that chimps don't get pimples? Hemster checking with a mirror for pimples. 
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Post by knucklehead on Dec 30, 2015 23:00:00 GMT -5
Funny you mention that... because I had a similar experience with charges from Proactiv pimple cream! The amount was about $30 but not a round figure. THAT is the same company that billed me! They charged me $16 and change. Maybe the fed government should investigate them? |
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hemster
Global Moderator
Particle Manufacturer
...still listening... still watching
Posts: 51,950
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Post by hemster on Dec 30, 2015 23:12:43 GMT -5
Funny you mention that... because I had a similar experience with charges from Proactiv pimple cream! The amount was about $30 but not a round figure. THAT is the same company that billed me! They charged me $16 and change. Maybe the fed government should investigate them? I reported them to the Better Business Bureau and guess what? I found several other people had reported similar issues!  |
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Post by knucklehead on Dec 30, 2015 23:18:18 GMT -5
Makes you wonder if they are a legit company. I've seen their ads from time to time.
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Post by yves on Dec 31, 2015 0:06:15 GMT -5
Don't they know that chimps don't get pimples? Maybe they were hoping you could get chimples ? |
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Post by novisnick on Jan 3, 2016 13:57:09 GMT -5
Self explanatory!  |
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Post by DavidR on Jan 3, 2016 21:42:29 GMT -5
I was questioning why they would be offering free upgrades; even for people with Win7. Wudda bet the Gov't is behind it. |
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Post by novisnick on Jan 3, 2016 22:00:46 GMT -5
I was questioning why they would be offering free upgrades; even for people with Win7. Wudda bet the Gov't is behind it. Hand in Hand!!! |
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