Online Identity Theft

Nothing beats the convenience of being able to access your email, bank accounts, sports scores or important business documents right from the palm of your hand. With the advent of cell phones that also operate like personal computers, our culture was infused with a capacity to multitask in ways previous generations could have only dreamed of. But, with that ability comes increased risks that few are aware of. With all of this new technology people are finding themselves more and more susceptible to computer viruses—and therefore new forms of identity theft—that they didn’t even know existed. Who knew you could get a computer virus that would allow your identity to be stolen on your cell phone? Not many of us, that’s for sure.

Just because advanced technology puts you at increased risk for becoming a victim of identity theft doesn’t mean you have to abandon the conveniences of cell phones or laptop computers that allow you to access your information on the run. Instead, by focusing on ten simple safety checks you can learn to master both multi-tasking and online safety.

Ten Safety Checks that May Save Your Identity  

1. Install a firewall. Do you lock the door of your home before leaving? What about your car doors before you run into a store to do some shopping? Chances are you believe in locking your personal property when you think you might be vulnerable to theft of some kind. Make sure you take the appropriate measures to lock your personal information up too. By installing a firewall on your computer you can limit the number of potential intruders who might be able to hack into your personal information and thus steal your identity. Your passwords are the gateway to your bank accounts, credit information and in some cases even your social security number. A firewall filters all information trying to access your personal network and blocks anything that may be flagged, thus helping prevent online identity thieves from committing credit card fraud, identity fraud and other similar crimes by accessing your personal information.

2. Monitor network security closely. Believe it or not, even offices with the most secure systems can be targets for identity thieves. High tech systems with elaborate security features can fool users into believing that they are more secure than they actually are. Identity thieves are trained to watch for moments when people let their guards down for even a minute, as a minute is all it usually takes to steal someone’s identity. If you use a wireless network make sure that all users have a private key so that hackers cannot get into the system. It is also a good idea to logoff—or completely turn off—networks when they are not in use.

3. Do not save passwords or bank account information on your computer. This should be an obvious one, but an alarming large amount of people create Word (or other) documents on their computers where they store all of their password and username information so they do not lose or forget it. Having information like this stored on your computer leaves you vulnerable to becoming a victim of identity theft if that information falls into the wrong hands. If you must write your passwords and usernames down try not to write the information all on one sheet, and keep a single (non digital) copy locked away in a safe and secure location.

4. Be careful when making online purchases. Some identity thieves have been known to set up false websites that closely resemble big name merchants. An undiscerning consumer may fall victim to credit card fraud without even realizing it. Other thieves create fictitious businesses and establish websites trying to sell false goods without trying to mimic big name merchants. This can make it even more difficult to determine whether a merchant is legitimate or not. So, before imputing your personal information and making any online purchases, make sure you examine the site thoroughly. Look for the Better Business Bureau logo on the site, and check to make sure that the url begins with the letters https. And never order by clicking on a link from an email. Always type in a website url yourself.

5. Regularly scan your computer for any spyware programs running in the background. Antivirus software works by checking software, files, emails and disks for any known viruses that may cause harm to your computer or allow your information to be stolen by an identity thief. Because viruses are really codes or programs that attach themselves to existing programs on your computer they are almost impossible to detect without antivirus software that can quickly scan the contents of your computer and compare everything it finds with a list of known viruses and agents. Any computer that has internet access needs to have antivirus software of some kind installed and updated regularly. Once you have your new antivirus software installed, it’s important that you regularly employ the features that have been put in place to benefit you. Run (and schedule) consistent scans and checks on your computer to make sure than everything is running properly and that identity thieves haven’t piggybacked a virus onto any of your programs. 

6. Always scan email attachments before downloading. Email viruses are a surprisingly easy way for your information to be compromised by identity thieves. Since email viruses typically attack people’s address books and send out fraudulent emails to everyone in a person’s contacts, even emails from trusted friends, colleagues and family members cannot be trusted. Never open an email attachment without running it through your anti-virus software first. And never, under any circumstances, open spam or junk email if you can help it. Some viruses can infect your computer just by previewing an email in the view pane of your email program.  

7. Disable “Hide extension for known files” function in Windows. This setting is enabled by default, and you need to disable it so that you can see the entire file extension of an attachment or file before you download or execute it. By viewing the entire extension, you may be alerted or tipped off to anything suspicious. Paying close attention to details like this may save you from becoming a victim of identity theft.

 8. Completely destroy any memory hardware before throwing it away. When disposing of computers, hard drives, cell phones or any other electronic device that may have any personal information stored on it (even if you never realized it was storing the personal information you were imputing) make sure that the memory components are either destroyed or wiped clean with a computer wiping software that removes all traces of data. Simply deleting files is not sufficient, as deleted information may still be stored somewhere on the hard drive.    

9. Do not give other users full administrator rights for your computer. Even if you trust your employees, co-workers or family members, no one should have full access to everything on your computer but you. Make sure that the most secure parts of your computer (where your most valuable information is stored) are accessible only to you. It is also recommended that you change your passwords often, and that they aren’t a word, phrase or date that could be easily guessed by someone who knows you well.

10. If you run a business, always perform network security testing. Many companies have data breach because of employees who grow comfortable with security systems and then begin to simply change settings and steal information when nobody is looking. In some cases, identity thieves may approach some of your employees and offer them large sums of money for information they have access to and can steal. So, regularly check your security systems so you can be alerted to any breaches or suspicious activity.

In a world dependent on such advanced technology, it may be overwhelming to think about all of the ways your personal information can be compromised and your identity can be stolen. But, we here at IdentityTheft.com are here to help you protect yourself—and the ones you love. There are many ways you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft, and we hope to keep you informed of new ways as they are developed. So, peruse all of our articles at your leisure and bookmark our site and check back with us often. Also, make sure you print out this checklist and run through it on your own computer. Today your identity is in your hands. It’s your responsibility to make sure that tomorrow it isn’t in someone else’s.