Target Security Breach

[Rogar]

Since it has been featured in most of the recent news, it goes without repeating the details. I go into Target maybe once every year or two, but unfortunately was in twice during the period of the security problem and used a debit card. The local news feature I watched said that blocks of credit card information may show up for sale on Russian or other undercover web sources months or even years after this as people will be dropping their guard and less watchful. Tomorrow I plan to cancel the card and get a new one.

It has me rethinking how I make my purchases. There seems to be a race between programmers and hackers where the hackers appear to be getting the best of things lately. Debit cards are so easy it will be hard to break the habit, but I'm considering going cash with checks as a backup.

[kib]

I use a credit card for nearly everything, frankly because it returns close to $700 to my wallet every year. If not for that incentive, I'd be cash all the way, I think it's more secure, more private, easier to keep track of and harder to part with.

[gimmethesimplelife]

I used a debit card early this year at Food City here in Phoenix which is the Hispanic arm of the locally owned Bashas supermarket chain. Somehow somebody installed malware on their computer terminals and hundreds and hundreds of Arizonans all around the state found fraudulent charges going through on their credit and debit cards. My debit card was dinged for $142 with the charge originating in Guanajuato, Mexico - ironically, a place I very much want to visit. My credit union was cool about it and my money was returned to me and luckily I have money saved to fill in the cracks this caused to my finances - but now I rarely use the debit card and have reverted back to cash. As KIB said, it's more secure, more private, and for me, much harder to part with. Rob

[RosieTR]

A credit card breach happened to us a couple years ago-the cc company called to ask if we were in Spain spending $4K at a restaurant. Um, no. However, the cc company has also had random rejections for things like a gas station I regularly use in town, or (my favorite) a rejection in a nearby town after my prior purchases were an online charitable donation and gas to drive to said town. Yep, criminals regularly give to charity, then fill up at the same gas station I usually use, then buy something 30 miles away. I am not going to fret even though I don't remember if any Target visit of mine was during the bad time frame.

[SteveinMN]

Used to be for us that Target was a weekly run. Nowadays, not so much. In fact, I don't think I've walked into a Target since before Black Friday, paying for anything in any way. Not sure about DW, though. I'm really good about asking after unusual charges, though, so I think we'll be OK. This time. As in so many other cases, we get to balance convenience with security and peace of mind.

[ToomuchStuff]

I found out my credit card info had been breached, earlier this year. I tried to order something online for work (98+% of my use, neither boss is computer literate and I do a lot of the shopping) and it was rejected. They had spotted two fraudulent attempts at using the card, for a total under $50 and canceled the card. They wouldn't provide me with much information about it, but whoever had had it, had tried to change the billing address and was using a phone number on a LOT of cards.
Much later, I received a letter from a cc data processing company, explaining their systems had been compromised, in March (it was June when the attempts on the card were made).
I still use cash almost exclusively locally. Checks rarely (certain stores where I am unsure how much I will need), and my CC a total of less then 10 times locally since having it. Where I work, we don't take plastic (four signs, starting with a large one on the door where the accepted credit cards sign is supposed to go, and few pay attention). I get behind people who spend less then a dollar on a charge card (using a debit as a charge card, is a charge card. Different percentages), and it is annoying. Like we have said at work, if we were going to accept cc, then we would be charging a minimum of 10% more, due to them charging us a percentage, the equipment costs, and the extra (commercial) phone line costs. (cash back, means your paying more up front and getting a rebate after we earn interest on others money)
If it is an option, I click do not keep the CC info on file, or delete it from the accounts online (leaving it on, is a prime area for targeted hacking). The keystroke loggers/man in the middle attacks are harder to pull off (unless your sending the information, in the clear or weakly disguised across the network).
Friend in New York, was not surprised by the number of people who couldn't live during their storm damage/blackouts last year. They couldn't fathom why a cc wouldn't work without electricity.:confused:

But even checks can be an issue. I was at the post office, yesterday, and they were talking about a breech they had, where people had come in with sticky rat traps, and were putting them in the out box, trying to get cards with money. I send four checks out a month, typically for the utilities and the CC (more when insurance is due, etc). Cash really is safer for me.

[CathyA]

What's to keep this from happening everywhere, all the time??

[ToomuchStuff]

What's to keep this from happening everywhere, all the time??

Not a single thing, especially since it is reliant on technology and so many people only THINK they know how to use it. (example, if you had bob's widget shop, and there were others named that, in other states, you might get calls trying to order things you don't have or people who don't show up, because they are too dumb to realize, that isn't their area code (don't pay attention to that with cell phones, since no long distance), or even in their state. DAMHIKT)

[Spartana]

Another reason I am pretty much an all-cash person. I only use CC's when I travel for car rentals and hotels, otherwise I generally stick to cash. Besides feeling a bit safer regarding my personal financial info, it also lets me regulate exactly how much I spend.