Security
CTB uses all of the industry standard practices to assure the security of its clients' websites. This includes SSL (Secure Socket Layer) technology to encrypt data being transmitted between customers and servers and hardware and software firewalls, which are installed to secure the servers as a standard protection technique.
Because many CTB clients sell products online, CTB is in compliance with Visa's Cardholder Information Security Program (CISP) and MasterCard's Site Data Production (SDP) standards, which were implemented to ensure that card members, merchants and service providers maintain the highest information security standard. Information that is collected in order to process a transaction is encrypted and transferred securely without being stored on CTB's servers or in databases.
Additionally, CTB contracts with an outside security consultant to complete security audits.
Consumer Protection
As a consumer, there are several things you can to do help increase your security and decrease the risk associated with identity theft and Internet fraud.
- Know your charges. Review your credit card and bank statements to ensure that all information is correct. Question any transactions you are unsure of.
- Use a browser to navigate directly to bank/credit card member sites. When you receive email messages that appear to come from your bank or credit card company, do not navigate directly from the email message. There have been scammers trying to retrieve information from phony "bank" email messages.
- Protect your computer from viruses. Use antivirus software to identify, neutralize or eliminate malicious software from your computer. Antivirus software should be updated frequently to ensure that it covers the new viruses that are being generated daily. These are a couple products that CTB would recommend:
- Protect yourself against malware and spyware. Malware and spyware are collective terms used to describe non-viral malicious code that can gain access and hide in computer systems, bypassing security measures. This code can allow unauthorized users to breach the firewalls and security systems that are in place by posing as authorized users. Two products that CTB has used and would recommend are:
- Use a personal firewall product. A firewall can help protect any information stored on your computer: bank account information, credit card data, passwords, photos and other documents that you don't want available to anyone else. Without a firewall, hackers can get in, take what they want, and leave your computer open for anyone else with malicious intent. Your computer is at risk anytime you are connected to the Internet. CTB might recommend:
- Install Windows updates. Windows issues updates that are designed to improve your personal security. You should check for updates and support for your system: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com.
Make sure that after installing security products, you continue to update them. This increases your protection against new viruses, malware and hacking techniques and will help protect your personal information. Without critical updates, the security may not function at its current capacity to protect you.