Should it be safe enough to use credit cards online?

[Mike]

I was just wondering as to how safe is it to use credit cards on the net. So many people say there are hackers who'll use programs to get my card information, but the bank who sent me the offer said I don't need to bother. As they said it's quite safe and secure enough to protect my card info. Is it risky going for such offers? Pls advise

[rachael24]

It is safer than ever to use your credit card online...pretty soon, most of the shopping will be done online. As long as it is a secure site (lock in the lower corner of your page)....you are fine.

[Zino]

I fully agree with Rachael,

As she mentioned, they use secure certificates (Lock in the bottom of the browser, and the address starts with https) which eliminates browser redirects and similar.

Further to this, for the server to be compliant it must run the latest version modules which aren't open to vulnerabilities. Also all the data is stored with 256 bit encryption or higher, and nothing is sent across the internet in plain text.

There's no way around this, that is why people resort to what's called "phishing" rather then trying to hack financial servers.

Phishing is basically trying to trick people in to entering their details on fake banking sites. Normally they will send you an Email pretending to be your bank, and saying they need to verify or update your bank details and to click the link. This will take you to a site that looks like your bank, and they take your details when you enter them.

Never, and i mean never ever click links in Emails from any Bank, Financial Institution or Company. They will never request you to click a link in an Email.

Always go to your Bank by typing the address directly, or through your bookmark if you get an Email appearing to be from your bank.

Also before you enter any passwords or account numbers for a financial site, check to make sure there's a lock in the bottom of your browser as Rachael said and that the address starts with https (s for secure) instead of a regular http address.

If you follow these steps, it's as safe as physically going to your bank to do the transaction.