Hello, and welcome…
Rick’s Daily Tech Tips Update for Monday, February 28, 2022
Topics covered in this issue…
• Why online retailers require you to enter your card’s CVV number
• How to make sure a downloaded file is safe before opening it
• Scam alert: Beware the many ‘Ellen DeGeneres’ scams on Facebook
• Video: Amazing images and facts about the planet Saturn
• Info about my photo / file recovery service
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Today’s Quick Tip….
Why online retailers require you to enter your card’s CVV number
If you shop online you’ve surely noticed how most online retailers ask you to enter your credit/debit card’s three digit “security code” or CVV number along with the regular 16 digit card number and expiration date.
Have you ever wondered what the purpose of that CVV number is?
CVV stands for “Card Verification Value”, and like the card’s 16 digit card number itself, the CVV number helps identify your card as belonging to you and the specific account that it is linked to.
Retailers are prevented by law from storing CVV numbers. They can only use the CVV number to help authenticate your card for that one transaction, after which they must immediately discard it.
That makes your card information a lot less likely to be used fraudulently online by any crook who manages to steal it because without the CVV number any retailer that requires it will refuse to accept the card.
While it does add a beneficial extra layer of security to any transaction that requires it, a card’s CVV number isn’t fool-proof as a security measure, for the following reasons:
1 – A crook could always use the rest of the card info to create a fake physical “clone” card and use it in a local brick and mortar store where CVV numbers are ignored.
2 – A small percentage of online retailers either make entering the CVV number optional or simply don’t ask for it at all.
Bottom line: While your card’s CVV number can’t guarantee that your card info will never be used in a fraudulent manner, it greatly reduces the risk that it will be used by a crook to make fraudulent purchases from an online retailer.
The latest from Rick’s Daily Tips Tech Blog…
• How to make sure a downloaded file is safe before opening it
When you download a file there’s always a chance that it could be infected with malware. This post explains how to make sure your downloads are safe before you open them.
• Scam alert: Beware the many ‘Ellen DeGeneres’ scams on Facebook
This post explains how to avoid getting taken by one of the many ‘Ellen DeGeneres’ Facebook scams.
• Click here to see today’s ‘Picture of the Day’.
Every morning I post a new photo that I find inspiring, intriguing, or just plain beautiful to look at. Jumpstart your day by checking it out.
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Rick’s Daily Pick…
Amazon Basics High-Speed HDMI Cable (#ad)
I’ve written several posts explaining why you don’t need to spend a small fortune on an expensive HDMI cable.
Truth be told, most any well-constructed cable will work just fine, regardless of the cost.
A perfect example is this best-selling HDMI cable from Amazon. It’s about as cheap as they come, but it’s reliable and works very well. There really is no need to spend more.
Today’s post from ‘My Daily Smile’…
Video: Amazing images and facts about the planet Saturn
Saturn has long been recognized as one of the most beautiful planets in our solar system. The video featured in this post showcases Saturn’s beauty and shares some rather interesting facts about the incredibly photogenic gas giant.
Tech news that caught my eye…
• AT&T begins testing and deployment of discreet 5G radios on city street lamp posts
• Elon Musk activates Starlink in Ukraine amid Internet disruption
• Samsung’s new Galaxy Book laptops get better webcams and brighter screens
• Apple is reportedly working on a device with a 20-inch folding display
• SSDs could squeeze hard drives out the data center sooner than you think
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Thanks so much, and have an amazing day.
Your tech buddy,
Rick Rouse
https://www.RicksDailyTips.com