Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Encourages Californians to Protect their Identities from Theft this Holiday Season
SAN FRANCISCO -- Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today issued a consumer alert with tips on how Californians can protect their personal information from identity theft when shopping online during this holiday season. 1. Consider investing in antivirus and anti-spyware software. If you already have antivirus software, be sure to download the latest security updates, as there are new viruses and malicious programs every day. 2. Use a credit card instead of a debit card. A stolen debit card gives an identity thief a direct line to your bank account, whereas credit cards offer added protection from fraudulent transactions. To be safe, don't store your credit card numbers online, and review your credit card bills monthly for unauthorized charges. 3. Make purchases through websites that offer secure connections. When shopping online, choose websites or e-merchants that offer heightened SSL (Secure Socket Layer) security to protect your personal information. Before input...