Personal security with personal computers has always been a problem. From Code Red and Meliisa to today's constant barrage. We have learnt to live with it and implement countermeasures. However, the problems around security stretch beyond just computers. Here are other security issues:
- phones lines - not only is the copper stolen but people can patch a connection onto your line and run up your bill
- online banking fraud - your banking details are mined and used
- spam - people attempt to con you with elaborate stories on email
I was introduced to another personal security issue when I attended a bloggers' briefing from FNB on credit card security issues. It was part of their Card Security week and it is commendable how FNB uses social networks in their brand. Blogging is like the old letters to the editor but on steroids. Many opinions and breaking news stories now originate from blogs before going mainstream, e.g. the Caster debacle.
At this briefing, I was amazed at the level of sophistication used by belligerants to commit fraud using credit cards. My patterns of using a credit card at retailers and ATM will defintely change!
Some countermeasures to credit card fraud:
- Make sure you have a chip and pin card and avoid retails who don't support it
- Use the SMS notification feature such as InContact (I would love to have notification as a direct message on twitter as an alternative - maybe soon?)
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