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 The
internet has become an increasing popular and
convenient way for millions of people world-wide to run
their lives. With online shopping, credit card use,
banking etc on the increase criminals have tapped into
this to commit identity theft crimes by stealing these
details and using them for their own gain.
There are
a variety of methods used by criminals ranging from
using specialist spyware software that people
unknowingly install on their PCs, e-mail 'phishing'
scams where people are conned into revealing personal
information (especially banking information) and
password stealing by using special computer software to
guess a persons password.
Much of these risks can be reduced by knowing what to
look for, using the correct and up to date software and
picking hard to crack passwords.
Phishing is when an email is sent by a criminal
that looks like a genuine message from a bank, online
trader or other legitimate organization. The email says
that you need to update your information and provides a
link to do this. However the link, although often
looking genuine, goes to a website run by the criminals
who then steal you personal information such as bank
details, passwords etc.
Spyware
is a type of software that gathers and reports
information about a computer user without the user's
knowledge or consent. These can perform a range of
different functions, such as causing unwanted pop-up
advertising, tracking a users internet usage, logging
keyboard strokes, steal password information and other
private information, installing secret premium rate
phone-dialers etc.
AutoComplete is a feature of many software
programs, including web browsers, that guesses the
rest of the information being typed by the user,
often based on previous entries. It can also
remember passwords and other information.
Protect yourself from Identity Theft by storing
the following information in your SafetySend
Lockbox:
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Social Security Numbers |
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Drivers License Number |
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Account Passwords |
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Health Insurance ID |
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Life
Insurance Policy number |
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Vehicle
registration |
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Bank Account
Information |
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Emergency
phone numbers |
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Physician
contact information |
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Online Account Numbers |
How to protect yourself
You
may be careful about
locking your doors and
windows, and keeping
your personal papers in
a secure place.
Depending on what you
use your personal
computer for, an
identity thief may never
need to set foot in your
house to steal your
personal information.
You may store your
Social Security number,
financial records, tax
returns, birth date, and
bank account numbers on
your computer.
Tips to help you keep
your computer – and your
personal information –
safe.
Virus protection
software should be
updated regularly, and
patches for your
operating system and
other software programs
should be installed to
protect against
intrusions and
infections that can lead
to the compromise of
your computer files or
passwords. Ideally,
virus protection
software should be set
to automatically update
each week. The Windows
XP operating system also
can be set to
automatically check for
patches and download
them to your computer.
Do
not open files sent to
you by strangers, or
click on hyperlinks or
download programs from
people you don't know.
Be careful about using
file-sharing programs.
Opening a file could
expose your system to a
computer virus or a
program known as
"spyware," which could
capture your passwords
or any other information
as you type it into your
keyboard.
Use a
firewall program,
especially if you use a
high-speed Internet
connection like cable,
DSL or T-1 that leaves
your computer connected
to the Internet 24 hours
a day. The firewall
program will allow you
to stop uninvited access
to your computer.
Without it, hackers can
take over your computer,
access the personal
information stored on
it, or use it to commit
other crimes.
Use a
secure browser –
software that encrypts
or scrambles information
you send over the
Internet – to guard your
online transactions. Be
sure your browser has
the most up-to-date
encryption capabilities
by using the latest
version available from
the manufacturer. You
also can download some
browsers for free over
the Internet. When
submitting information,
look for the "lock" icon
on the browser's status
bar to be sure your
information is secure
during transmission.
Before you dispose of a
computer, delete all
the personal information
it stored. Deleting
files using the keyboard
or mouse commands or
reformatting your hard
drive may not be enough
because the files may
stay on the computer's
hard drive, where they
may be retrieved easily.
Use a "wipe" utility
program to overwrite the
entire hard drive.
Look
for website privacy
policies. They
should answer questions
about maintaining
accuracy, access,
security, and control of
personal information
collected by the site,
how the information will
be used, and whether it
will be provided to
third parties. If you
don't see a privacy
policy or if you can't
understand it consider
doing business
elsewhere.
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