Microsoft Security Essentials last in banking trojan detection test

[groze]

I'm reluctant to use ANY software that requires me to cough up a credit card number for renewal purposes.

That's one of the reasons why you should use "ShopSafe", or similar programs from credit card companies. The basic principal of ShopSafe is to generate a credit card number at the bank's website, with limited amount/funds and expiration date. I am probably dating myself, but seems to recall a JAVA applet at the beginning of the online stores that could generate a valid credit card number for a bank of your specification. Mind you, at the beginning there had been no "instant" verification of the credit card number.

ShopSafe is pretty much the same nowadays within the controlled confinement of the bank, that issued you a credit card. I've been using it for long time and never worry about data breaches, even when they'd notify me. The Shopsafe credit card number is probably expired long time ego, nor does it have funding available....

Note every credit card/debit card companies does that. Some companies in the U.S. did that but most have stopped.