Computer hackers have an ability to cause chaos by using personal data that they have stolen. But the theft can be prevented if people are careful with their information. Personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich shared advice during a talk on 'The Early Show on Saturday Morning' on how to protect personal information and what to do when hackers get their hands on it.
"The first line of defense is always your passwords, and the information on your computer," CBS News quoted Ulrich as telling co-anchor Betty Nguyen.
"Make sure you go right to your computer, change your log-in information and password information on everything from your credit card accounts to where you shop through retailers and your email, as well because, as we saw-Google and Yahoo - the hackers are coming in from everywhere," she said.
Ulrich, author of 'The Real Cost of Living', said almost three-quarters of us use the same password on several accounts.
"Please stop doing that! Protect the banking part as much as you can, because the hackers will come in from the company side. But they're coming in on your side, too," she implored.
"Also, use one computer, if you can, to do your banking. I know it's hard (with everyone using so many different devices). Try to do it all on one computer. That limits exposure.
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"And don't use your debit card online. This runs counter (to conventional wisdom), because credit cards, people say, are bad. But a credit card protects you and your cash.
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Source-ANI