The convenience of a debit card is unmatched. However, because these cards give instant access to your money, they can also be susceptible to abuse or theft. Here are some best practices for protecting your debit card from attackers.

• Make it a habit to review your bank account online at least once a week, or even daily.
• Protect your personal identification number (PIN). Don’t give your PIN to anyone and don’t keep it written down anywhere in your purse or wallet.
• Don’t use your PIN at the gas pump; use your card in the credit purchase function to avoid someone seeing it.
• Some consumers choose to use only credit cards online, because a fraudulent credit card transaction takes more time to process and can become an item of dispute rather than an instant removal of cash from your account.
• Check for a security symbol such as an unbroken key or a padlock on each website before you order anything online. These symbols indicate that your information will be encrypted and is therefore safer. Also, make sure the website address begins with https://. Do not make a financial transaction on a site that doesn’t have the “s” following http, an indication of a higher level of security.
• Only use ATMs at a bank. ATMs located in convenience stores, subway stations, airports, and other places have a greater risk of having a “skimming” device, which thieves use to intercept and store your debit card data.
• Don’t use public wireless access for financial transactions. Always use a password-protected wireless signal to check your bank account balance, pay bills, or shop so that hackers have less chance to capture your password and account information.
• Report unauthorized transactions immediately.