What's next?
- TAGS:Albert Gonzalez, NetSpend, sentence
- IT TOPICS:E-Business, Internet, Security
So, the sentence has been laid down and hacker Albert Gonzalez gets to spend two decades in prison for the Heartland break-in. One might think the sentence is harsh but when you realize the depth and breadth of what happened, you can see why the judge imposed it.
I know how mad I was when my credit cards were “compromised” shortly after I’d placed an online order. I often wonder what kind of security measures online retailers are taking to protect my privacy. Is there any real privacy these days? Is anybody really safe? Stiffer sentences may act as a deterrent to future would-be hackers but others will continue to devise new and unique ways to steal our hard earned funds and then abscond into the digital divide.
Having researched extensively on this subject, I’ve come to the conclusion that cybercrime will continue for the foreseeable future and we can't always rely on someone else to protect our data. My advice is to never use a standard debit card for online transactions. If you feel the need to limit your spending you can always use a NetSpend debit card to make online purchases or get a Visa gift-card but keep in mind you will need to register the card before you can use it online. Either way, even if you do find yourself compromised, the amount of funds vulnerable will be capped at whatever amount you’ve determined.
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