|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Discover Card is committed
to making your experience on the Internet safe and enjoyable.
While we take every precaution to ensure your safety, there
are several steps you can take to minimize your risks. The
following are a few suggestions.
Create a strong password.
When logging onto a secure site, choose a password that others can’t
guess but is easy to remember. Use a combination of numbers and letters.
For example, select a word you can remember but replace some of the
letters with numbers, e.g., secret=s1cr1t. Avoid using family or pet
names, birth dates, anniversaries or social security numbers.
Do business only with companies you know and trust.
Just because a Web site exists doesn’t mean there’s a
legitimate company behind it. Research a company before
revealing personal or financial information.
Watch out for phony "look-alike" sites.
Some con artists disguise their Web site as a well-known
company’s site. Check your browser’s address bar
to make sure you’re always using the correct Web address. If
the Web site seems suspicious, leave it immediately and call
the company. (Learn about authentic Discover Card URLs in
Account Security Tips.)
Only submit personal information if you are on a secure Web site.
Once logged in to a site, make sure the Web address
starts with a "https" ("s" means it's a
secure area). For added safety, check for a site certificate
before submitting information on a secure page. Confirm the owner
of the certificate by clicking on the padlock icon at the bottom
of most browsers. You should see the owner listed as well as a
URL. This URL should match the URL at the top of the page; if
they do not match, you may be at a fraudulent Web site and
should not enter sensitive data.
Be wary if your Web browser notifies you of a suspicious certificate
or if the browser has a broken or open padlock; this could be a sign
of a fraudulent page. Refer to your browser's Help to see how to
check for more certificate information.
Use the most current antivirus software.
New viruses pop up all the time. Make sure your antivirus software
uses the latest antivirus signature files. Signature files make it
possible for the software to detect viruses. You should be able to
download and install updates through the software vendor’s Web
site. Most antivirus companies offer subscription services to ensure
you get the latest updates.
Keep your operating system up to date.
Operating system updates and upgrades are released often to repair
security flaws that are found after the operating system software
was first released. Make sure your operating system software (Microsoft®
Windows or Macintosh®, for example) is currently supported by its supplier
and has the latest security updates.
Since new vulnerabilities may be discovered at any time, we recommend
that you use an automatic update service.
Protect your computer from hackers.
Being connected to the Internet means information continually travels
freely to and from your computer. An easy-to-install personal firewall
helps you screen out unauthorized communications to your computer and
can prevent hackers from gaining access while you’re online. This
is especially important if you connect to the Internet via a cable
modem or a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem.
|
|
|
