Genealogy Chat

The GRO site is safe. I have used it innumerable times over the last few years to order certs with my card [debit and credt] It has the 'padlock' symbol and is safe. I don't personally use autofill but my husband does, and has never had a problem with it. The only info it has is that which you put in--it doesn't have it otherwise--it's just a shortcut to inputting your address etc. rather than typing it every time. [The reason I don't use it is because it has my husband's details and not mine!!!!]

Janet, Yes I saw that - same Bank, so it does make you think.

Peter it does sound likely. Did you see the programme a few weeks ago about bank call centre staff. A reporter went under cover and found plenty of staff who were in a position to steal details and pass them on. It was truly scary.

Loopyloo, Most sites are secure and reputable. This is not necessarily where the problem is. The villains are now becoming more devious, I had a card misused and it has never been out of my wallet other then when I use it at my bank. In all nearly £3000 was taken. It was the bank's anti-fraud software that spotted there had been unusual activity. I still wonder if it was an ''Inside Job''

Lin /loopyloo. Unfortunately cloning happens everywhere. Our SIL got welcome to Virgin Mobile lettters and apparently in a shop in the midlands(they live in Kent!!) someone had used SIL address with variations of his name to obtain two phones from a VIrgin Shop. Of course the bank details they used were made up & the D/D were rejected, Virgin ,understandably wrote to the address given altho wasnt the right name and DEMANDED payment. Despite daughter telling them was a fraud and getting a police crime no.Virgin refused to tell them that THEIR credit rating wouldnt be affected, Surely These shops should demand MORE ID BEFORE THEY LET PHONES GO. The buyers must have been Asian cos thre were many phone calls to India made in the first week before Virgin did block the phones. To date its still not resolved and daughter & SIL ,s good name cleared. Shirley

lm sorry to burst your bubble, but someone has used my dr card with security no,3 times, and it could have only come from the computer purchases b/cert w/certs ect.They purchased something from argos. tescos mobile phone topup,and a siteBlizard, the bank have now cancelled the card and going to refund the money, but it has un nerved me,l have even changed my site name.l have taken note of what Linda says above ,l thought l had all the security l needed ,but being a newcomer,perhaps l should look again.many thanks Lin. regard B.M now loopyloo.

I never usemy switch card on line and have a Card which is only used for purchases made on line, this has a very low credit limit so if someone manages to get my details they wont get very far as the limit is so small. Even though my security is upto date I still am very wary of using cards on lline

nudge Yvonne

One solution to internet payments that many companies are now taking is PayPal. Originally set for eBay, it is now being accepted by many companies including Friends Reunited and Boots! You create a PayPal account and fund it either from a card or your bank account. Make sure that you have a nice complicated password that you CAN remember (don't write it down). You then use PayPal as an electronic purse - PayPal knows your details, but the trader you buy from doesn't. Paypal is expanding hugely and reduces the risk of your details going to the wrong people.

I rarely use my 'plastic' and the only things I've ever bought on-line are BMD Certificates. A couple of years ago I had my purse 'lifted' from my handbag whilst shopping, fortunately my Card was kept elsewhere. I lost about £80.00 and admit that the incident bothered me more than I thought it would. If, though, they'd taken my Card as well I could have lost a lot more. So now I use a handbag with lots of compartments - purse in one, Card in another, some cash in another - yes, I could have my handbag stolen but my house and car keys are in my pocket and my Driving Licence stays at home. Such a shame! M. Steer

Putting my work hat on here: Always look for the padlock symbol to show that a web page is secure (it's at the bottom in Internet Explorer 6 and at the top if you have IE7) - no padlock - no use! Auto complete is a useful feature to help you filling in forms on websites. The autocomplete data is stored only on your PC and is not known to others on the internet. For this reason, NEVER use autocomplete unless you are using a PC for which only you have access. Many people advise that you do not use a WiFi connection payments, even for secure payments as there are risks. Make sure the PC you use for payments is connected by a wire. Finally, all of the above is worthless if you do not have adequate security protection on your PC. You must have the following: 1) A good firewall program (don't rely on the Windows XP firewall or your router) - ZoneAlarm has a free version which is very good. Do not be tempted to trun more than one at a time, they will conflict. Make sure that it is updated regularly (preferably automatically and never less frequently than weekly) and is switched on at all times. 2) A good anti-virus program. AVG Free is very good and costs nothing. Do not be tempted to trun more than one at a time, they will conflict. Make sure that it is updated regularly (preferably automatically and never less frequently than weekly) and is switched on at all times. 3) At least one anti-spyware program. I run three: A-squared free, AdAware SE Personal and SpyBot Search & Destroy. These are all free and do not conflict. the best anti-spyware programs will find about 60% of spyware at most and they all find different things. So it's a good idea to use more than one. Anti-spyware programs usually have to be updated and run manually. I update and run a scan for each in turn once a week. Delete EVERYTHING they find - be prepared to be frightened the first time you do it! SpyBot has an irritating habit of telling you that Notify has been switched off if you run Norton/McAfee, that's the only thing that you can ignore! Do help your scanners - empty the recyle bin regularly! If you find the spyware won't go away, switch system restore off, scan again and then switch system restore back on. If all else fails, boot your PC in Safe Mode and then run the anti-spyware programs. Lin

If you don't like the Google Toolbar you can usually uninstall it. Cheers, Horatia

Margaret If you had followed the autofill invitation through, it would have taken you to a page where you would have needed to fill in the details of your security number. No, I wouldn't do that either! The GRO site is as secure as any internet site can be. Personally, I have a credit card which I use only for on line transactions. It has a low limit, which I purposely keep low, so even if the worst happened, a thief wouldnt have much fun with it! OC

Hi Margaret, I know just how you feel, I will not use my card in shops or on line. I go to the bank every Wednesday and draw out the amount I think I will need for the following week. Shopping is paid for in cash, and should I buy anything big, for example, a new bed etc. I pay a deposit and COD. if they do not like that method, then I do not buy from them. Sorry, but I was always under the impression that the customer was the most important person, after all they will get their money when I get my goods. Kathlyn

Thanks Shirley, I feel a bit easier now. M. Steer

No google doesnt know any of your deatils . there is the facilty on the toolbar to put your details in ie Name address etc and this will then be availble to autofill any form etc without you having to type your addess etc every time. if you havent created the autofill link then its just not there . dont worry your details arent available for anyone to find. Shirley

Have just sent off for a Certificate from GRO - online. Whilst filling out 'payment details' I had to enter the Security Code for my Card - before I could enter the number a message came on screen informing me that the number could be entered from the Google Toolbar if I clicked on Autofill. I didn't even know my Security No., so how does Google know it? Seems to make a mockery of the word security. Has anyone else experienced this? M. Steer