Security tips for online credit cards users

Our generation will forever be known as the pioneers of e-commerce. Millions of people around the world log on to the Internet every day, and together with their faithful credit cards, contribute vast sums of money to the online economy. But, users wanting to spend online, security fears often weigh on their minds.

Stories of credit card details being stolen by fake web sites and unauthorised use of cards by criminals are rife in the media. In fact, so worrying are these stories of online credit cards fraud that some 85% of all online transactions are now aborted at the credit card payment pages.

Shopping online need not be a date with fear. By following these security tips, credit cards users can enjoy secure shopping online without worrying about whether their information is safe.

Credit cards security tip #1 - Browser Encryption on payment pages
Before entering your credit card details into a s payment page be sure to check that the payment page is secure. Genuine web sites who accept credit cards normally provide browser encryption software on their payment pages. This is denoted by a yellow padlock symbol that appears in the bottom right corner of the browser on the page.

The most common type of browser encryption software used on payment pages is 128-bit SSL technology. The level of security provided by this technology on payment pages makes it very difficult for hackers to steal information from you.

Credit cards security tip #2 - Account Passwords on account pages
Often, websites will request that you create a credit cards account before making purchases. This further protects users as thieves would first have to know the login and password details to access the information in the account area.

Choosing an alphanumeric login & password combination is key to the protection of account areas. Hackers use common word lists or dictionary programs to search for login & password combinations on account pages. If you have an uncommon (but memorable) alphanumeric code for both login & password, the chances of your information on an account page being illegally accessed is greatly reduced.

Credit cards security tip #3 - Is the web site genuine?
Fake web sites can fool users into divulging their details to thieves. Before entering your details into a website, check the site's copy to make sure it is up to date and looks genuine. If in doubt, phone up the company and check to see if the web address of the web site you are on is really their web address.

Credit cards security tip #4 - Use cards that have online fraud protection
Many card companies now provide credit cards that protect users from online fraud. If you intend to use credit cards to pay for online goods and services regularly then it is worth using cards that offer this protection.