The Chronicles
September 2008
Salutations dear readers and fellow Laurentian neighbors,
Welcome back from vacation my Friends - I hope you enjoyed yourselves despite the rain! So, let's get started for another round of new computer tidbits.
As you probably know by now I give home-based, and therefore personalized, computer courses. A very popular subject is how to use the Internet efficiently. One of the things I have noticed however is that many of you are extremely nervous when it comes to the Internet and your money. So, let's talk about this ...
There are two main ways to mix the Internet and money. The first is to make use of On-line banking and Investment monitoring. The second is to purchase a good, or service, from a company or individual directly from a Web site. In both cases there are a couple of things you can do to ensure your security.
* I have mentioned the first point briefly in a previous article (go to http://www.monamilordi.com/english/intro.html and click on “chronicles” to read prior editorials). It is imperative whenever you are about to mix money and the Internet that you see an "s" next to the http in the address bar. For example as I arrive at the entry portal to my on-line bank account with the Caisse Populaire (AccèsD), the link appears as: https://accesd.desjardins.com/ . Take notice of the "s". This means that this site is SECURE. So, for ANY Web site that you visit, be it for banking or purchasing, if you do not see this "s", DO NOT give any personal information. For any of you who might remain dubious, just let me say that in my "previous life" I sold computer systems to Financial Institutions and I can guarantee that they all spend many millions of dollars a year making sure that your experience is danger-free.
* The next point refers to purchasing via the Internet. Of course, if you see an "s" next to the http, you can go ahead and give out your credit card number; however if this still makes you uneasy you can open a "PayPal" account: https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_home . It is considered by most as being "the safer, easier way to pay without exposing your credit card or bank account number". Not only can you securely send and receive online payments (free) but you can also:
- Pay for online purchases (free),
- Accept credit cards (free),
- Send and request money worldwide (some charges may apply),
- Track your online spending (free).
Hope that makes you feel better ...
Bye for now and look after yourselves!
questions.monamilordi@gmail.com
This article originally appeared in Main Street – The Laurentians' English Language Community Newspaper.
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