Forum Moderators: buckworks
Computer users, beware. The head of the world's largest software company worries that consumers who make Internet purchases have become too complacent about the risks of financial fraud and stolen identity.
[biz.yahoo.com...]
Thought this might be of interest to the group that Mr. Ballmer is trying to strike fear back into internet shoppers as we've made shopping just too easy. Like we don't have enough problems with conversions already without the head of Microsoft [MSN was hacked, did he mention that?] trying to panic the herd.
Hasn't he read the stats that claim a significant portion of internet fraud originated from information stolen from point of purchase sales in brick and mortar stores?
Microsoft has always been the king of F.U.D. [Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt] which is why I always think Microsoft has something up their sleeves when someone at the top starts making powerful statements like this to scare people as you can almost always expect an accompanying new platform launch, in this case perhaps about a new secure ecommerce platform.
A minute percentage of the fraud occurs because of outside security breaches on a legimate e-commerce site. There are easier ways (Phishing, scumware downloads, etc.) to get the information that does not involve a mass retailer gunning for you from a legal standpoint.
Therefore check with a merchant to see if they have been online a while and what their feedback is via Bizrate, reseller ratings, etc. if you have any doubt.
I for one have been shopping online for nearly 10 years and have never encountered a problem. Of course I have not been using Micro$oft's site...;-)
Cheers!
