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In an effort to thwart what is know as CNP or Card Not Present transactions, Visa has come up with a nifty new card that features input buttons and a display screen.  All web transactions are performed in this manner, possibly allowing anyone who lifted your card from making purchases without your consent.

The new card aims to stop that by creating a one time code on the card to be filled in like we do for the CCV now.  The code is generated by the user entering their pin in and the card creating the one time only code.  The idea is only the owner of the card with card in hand can make purchases.  While not foolproof, the card goes a long way from just “dumb” plastic cards of today.

Find out where you can get a hold of one of these.  Hit more to follow.

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Law enforcement officials in the UK have shut down an underground website that specialized in helping cybercriminals commit their crimes.  The site, called DarkMarket, was kept secret and access was granted by invitation only.  Its forum allowed cyberthieves to buy and sell stolen banking details and credit card numbers obtained via phishing scams and website hacks.  It also served as a learning tool, providing information on how to commit various online crimes.

The bust is the result of an undercover operation by the FBI. 60 arrests have been made (11 of them in the UK) as a result.  Authorities said the site had over 2,000 members.  These criminals made huge profits from the stolen credit and banking info.  Authorities said one man could have made over 10 million pounds (roughly $17 million US) with the info he bought.

“The people involved in this kind of activity have a certain arrogance—they think they are untouchable,“ said Sharon Lemon, SOCA(the UK’s Serious Organized Crime Agency)‘s Deputy Director of E-Crime. “The message today is that no one should feel confident that these forums are a secure place to operate.“

It’s very likely that after a period of lying low, the site will rise again in another form.  However thanks to operations like this one, the criminals that use it will be constantly looking over their shoulders, knowing that it may only be a matter of time before the authorities come knocking again.

Read[Reuters]

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Well, they may be a little late to gifting HD DVD purchasers something to help cover the blow, but better late than never. For those who purchased an HD DVD player before February 23, 2008, Amazon is giving $50 Amazon credit to anything, to which there are, of course, some restrictions. The biggest restriction being the items have to be sold by Amazon and not a third-party merchant. You can also only get up to $500 back (which means you can redeem up to 10 HD DVD players), so that eleventh box, you’re just going to have to hang on to. Check out the letter from Amazon below:

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