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As consumers, we really don't have many ways to make an impact, so I can understand why you would be so exacting. With that being said, a particularly skilled e

by Hytosys 12y ago

As consumers, we really don't have many ways to make an impact, so I can understand why you would be so exacting. With that being said, a particularly skilled engineer could find his or her way into just about any closed system. Check out CVE Details[1] to get an idea of how many security exploits are reported for software that surely you use daily. For most companies, the mess that Home Depot is facing never occurs. Not because they were so successful at anticipating security holes, but because they were never targeted by a successful attacker. Details have not been released (and may never be fully released) regarding the attack; but this is just food for thought. [1] http://www.cvedetails.com/ http://www.cvedetails.com/

wyager 12y ago
>As consumers, we really don't have many ways to make an impact Use bitcoin whenever feasible?
- eli 12y ago
  I never lose money when my credit card number is stolen
InclinedPlane 12y ago
Pay cash at retail establishments. Use paypal at as many online stores as possible. Use prepaid debit cards elsewhere, don't keep much money on them normally, drain them and switch to another card every month.
- tdfx 12y ago
  > Pay cash at retail establishments. Your cash can be stolen, lost, misplaced. No recourse. If you lose a credit card, you just call and get a new one mailed to you. > Use paypal at as many online stores as possible. I can't believe someone just recommended using PayPal on HN. > Use prepaid debit cards elsewhere, don't keep much money on them normally, drain them and switch to another card every month. Don't use debit cards to pay for things. Ever. Credit cards give you substantial consumer protections that you don't get from debit cards. Bottom line: use credit cards everywhere you can. Find the best rewards program for you and rack up points. Check your account activity once a week. Report anything you don't recognize. If you're part of the social class to which credit cards are actually available, it's quite foolish not to use them.
  - InclinedPlane 12y ago
    > Don't use debit cards to pay for things. Ever. Credit cards give you substantial consumer protections that you don't get from debit cards. A: This is simply not true any more. Most banks offer essentially the same level of protection for debit cards as for credit cards, the only issue with debit cards is that potentially you could have a period of time while still missing funds, but I've never seen that be an issue with any reputable bank within the last several years. B: You must have missed the part where I talked about using "prepaid debit cards". If you are extremely paranoid you can only add money to them just prior to use, leaving them with a low balance most of the time. C: The problem isn't just fraud and potentially having a period of time without funds available to you that should otherwise be there, it's also the enormous hassle of replacing a card (and updating everywhere you use that as a payment instrument such as amazon, your bills, etc.) That problem isn't improved at all by using a credit card vs a debit card.

by Hytosys 12y ago

wyager 12y ago

>As consumers, we really don't have many ways to make an impact Use bitcoin whenever feasible?

eli 12y ago
I never lose money when my credit card number is stolen

InclinedPlane 12y ago

Pay cash at retail establishments. Use paypal at as many online stores as possible. Use prepaid debit cards elsewhere, don't keep much money on them normally, drain them and switch to another card every month.

tdfx 12y ago
> Pay cash at retail establishments. Your cash can be stolen, lost, misplaced. No recourse. If you lose a credit card, you just call and get a new one mailed to you. > Use paypal at as many online stores as possible. I can't believe someone just recommended using PayPal on HN. > Use prepaid debit cards elsewhere, don't keep much money on them normally, drain them and switch to another card every month. Don't use debit cards to pay for things. Ever. Credit cards give you substantial consumer protections that you don't get from debit cards. Bottom line: use credit cards everywhere you can. Find the best rewards program for you and rack up points. Check your account activity once a week. Report anything you don't recognize. If you're part of the social class to which credit cards are actually available, it's quite foolish not to use them.
- InclinedPlane 12y ago
  > Don't use debit cards to pay for things. Ever. Credit cards give you substantial consumer protections that you don't get from debit cards. A: This is simply not true any more. Most banks offer essentially the same level of protection for debit cards as for credit cards, the only issue with debit cards is that potentially you could have a period of time while still missing funds, but I've never seen that be an issue with any reputable bank within the last several years. B: You must have missed the part where I talked about using "prepaid debit cards". If you are extremely paranoid you can only add money to them just prior to use, leaving them with a low balance most of the time. C: The problem isn't just fraud and potentially having a period of time without funds available to you that should otherwise be there, it's also the enormous hassle of replacing a card (and updating everywhere you use that as a payment instrument such as amazon, your bills, etc.) That problem isn't improved at all by using a credit card vs a debit card.