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address, but you're probably uncomfortabic if it's just anyone. Some of the data is defi- nitely private, and you trust that it wil] remain so. Bank account numbers should not fall into the wrong hands, but what about credit cards?

Let’s take a moment to exainine how this little card of convenience has changed our lives. ;

To begin, the issuing company provides you with yet another number to be known by. You give them some personal informa- tion and promise to pay what they tell you is owing. In return you are given a card that allows you to buy now and pay later.

Great, you say, and off you_go to get a few items that, at the time of purchase seem

to be free until the bill comes at the end of the month. You get what you want, when you want it, without having to run to the bank for more money. . The stores get to sell you more merchan- ’ dise and services since it is so easy to pur- chase. They now know who you are, what

you have bought and the time and day. The information is stored in a database.

Enter the big card companies. Their main business is to issue cards and keep track of everything. Their sole purpose, as they want you to understand, is to create more conve- nience by giving you one card and storing information, much more of it albeit, in one place while bringing more speed and effi- ciency to the scheme.

Here is one way in which the process has been sped up. Several years ago a magnetic strip was added to the cards. When you go to purchase things, all the cashier has ta do is run the card through a credit card swipe (pun intended?) and, presto, the transaction is recorded. The magnetic strip is said to speed things up and also allows for a check to see if the card is stolen by calling a main database of known stolen cards. So is it a safety measure?

Certainly safety is an important feature of the magnetic strip. But, why a magnetic strip? It could have been a bar code, lami- nated right into the card to protect it from physical wear. Magnetic strips are prone to

te

several forms of destruction. Heat, other magnetic fields and friction against various surfaces are three. Magnetic storage media is commonly used to read and write (record) information. Common examples we deal with are sound tapes and computer disks.

So, what.information is on the magnetic strip of a credit card? Is other information being exchanged without you knowing it? Let's leave these questions for another time.

You will even find magnetic strips on the back of parking lot tickets. The payment is recorded on the magnetic strip.

Let's go back to databases for a rnoment. With databases all over the world connected by networks of interconnected computers, it becomes obvious that security is a major issue. How can such information be protect- ed?

Passwords are one way to keep unautho- rized people out. Passwords should be com- plex so that they can’t be guessed even with a computer. Keep them short. In addition, the same password should not be used by more than one person to access information.

Do not write the password down.

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Someone might find it. Change it often just to make sure it remains effective.

Another way to protect information is to scramble it into code and descramble it once it reaches its destination. This is a fine pre- caution, but it is only a temporary obstacle for hackers and others who make it their goal to get information.

This column has presented some negative points of view, but these are serious issues to be considered. Most of us already know the features of technological changes. It seems reasonable and within the goals of this column to present critical points of view.

Bob Grahame is president of Edge Systems Inc., a company involved in pub- lishing, communications and information technologies. Contact Grahame at 985-2131 or by e-mail at Edgeways! Infolink, a FirstClass system at 984-2777, or on the Internet at Changes@ Edge Ways. Vancouver.be.ca

Contact North Shore News Editor Michael Becker at 985-2131, by fax at 985- 2104 or by e-mail at mbecker@wimsey.com

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