How safe is your credit card?

Re “Banks put cost ahead of card risk,” Column, Jan. 28

David Lazarus is correct that switching to chip-and-PIN cards would make for a much safer credit-card system. But his repeated mantra that lawmakers should impose heavy fines on companies whose customers’ personal data are compromised is rather naive.

Companies don’t have as much control over the more intelligent hackers as he might think.

Yes, I was one of those customers whose card was compromised when I used it at Target, but I feel sorry for the corporation, not bitter. My hunch is that Target and other major corporations do try hard to protect our data.

In an earlier article, Lazarus quoted a tech specialist who said that hacking will stop if corporations pay enough. Here’s my suggestion: Make the tech companies who make such claims agree to pay any fines Lazarus wants levied if the tech companies don’t live up to their half of the bargain.

Then see how much confidence they have and whether they will sign the contract.

Michael Guista Nipomo, Calif.

Lazarus is right on target, so to speak.

If many members of Congress were among those whose information was stolen through the Target breach or other recent ones, we might see some push for change. And what about Michelle Obama? She shops at Target sometimes.

Thanks to Lazarus for an on-point column and for advocating for us all.

Susan Pasternak North Hollywood

Lazarus points out many important issues regarding credit- and debit-card security. Another problem with magnetic stripe-only cards is the inability to use them in new machines outside the U.S.

In Tokyo last October, both of my ATM cards were refused at some new machines. One of them advised me to contact my bank. Those new ATMs showed how to insert the cards, and images showed cards with “smart chips” in the corner.

I contacted one bank in late October and was told it is slowly implementing changes. I’d be glad to pay for a chip-and-PIN card now.

Douglas Clark South San Francisco