The same technology has been in use in Europe, specifically France, for nearly two decades, further encouraging Canada to follow suit.

For the last several years, credit cards have only required you to swipe, show identification, and sign in order to purchase something, and most places don’t even check for ID.

“I work in retail, and when I ask to see ID with the card, [people] thank me,” said Jenna Turner, a nursing student at Lethbridge College.

The new cards eliminate the need to swipe, and for a signature, replacing it with a computer chip that communicates securely with credit card company servers. The process verifies the card belongs to you, all you have to do is enter a PIN.

“You swipe it first, then you place the card in the [slot] under the keypad, it reads the [computer] chip at that point,” said Tyson Wiebe, a general studies student who has noticed people using them for the past six months or so.

The cards are not in wide circulation yet, as none of the 20 or so random students asked had one, but nearly everyone has heard of them, and are happy about the improved security.

“It’s a little harder to find out someone’s PIN then to sign [for them],” said Katelyn Perry, a General Studies student at the college.

Some of the newer cards still have the magnetic strip, though they will be phased out. According to an article on the on the website for the Vancouver Times-Colonist, the new cards act in much the same way debit cards do, at least for the PIN.

Not everyone sees the benefit, and some are quite happy with the way things work right now.

“Anyone can see that PIN. I’d prefer to keep the signature,” said Catherine Dessert, a student at Lethbridge College.

The entire reason for the change in how the cards work is to help reduce the $300 million incurred annually in fraud across Canada.

All merchant terminals must be upgraded by 2015, making it a multi-year rollout, which should give customers ample time to get the new cards.

Originally posted 2008-11-07 01:16:24. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“I had a virus because I was using an open network [at home],” said Jenna Davis, an interior design student. “After a while, I started to notice glitches, and it wouldn’t work properly.”

If the home network has a wireless router, basic protection against Internet threats exists automatically. But following the manual to set up a username and password on the router will protect the network from advanced intruders.

“A lot of people don’t want to go to through the hassle of figuring it out,” says Dwayne Harapnuik, manager of educational technology at Lethbridge College. “Turn wireless security on and use the highest level of encryption [WPA].”

Protection comes from having the username and password set up on the computers. It won’t stop a determined hacker, but it can act as a deterrent.

“In an unsecured network, if they find a computer that hasn’t been secured, files on your system can be accessed,” says Harapnuik. “But they have to know what they’re doing. Have a username and password, it’s like locking your doors.”

Lethbridge College uses two wireless networks, LC Guest, which is open to everyone, and network for staff, which isn’t open to everyone because of a username and password and encryption.

Anyone with issues regarding the LC Guest network is encouraged to visit the Library Commons with their questions. Employees won’t be aware of a problem with the network unless students bring it to their attention.

Originally posted 2008-11-27 14:12:56. Republished by Blog Post Promoter