Cyber Identity Theft Is A Growing Problem
Cyber identity theft is a growing concern. In the old days there was a concern of a house being broken into and physicaly robbed, now thieves can come in through the computer. People who indulge in this type of activity have many ways at their disposal.
One of the most recent tactics even has a name, it is called phishing(fishing). The internet thief sends an e-mail that appears to have come from a legitimate site. Usually a bank or financial institution. Such as Citibank, eBay, Best Buy or PayPal to name a few. I get e-mails from PayPal frequently claiming that there is a problem with my account and it must be resolved immediately.
They will provide a link in the e-mail to their scam site. Never ever hit a link that is in this type of e-mail. Open a new browser window and type the URL of your financial institution if you think there may be a problem. Chances are exteremly good everything with your account will be fine. It is most likely just a lure to get you to hit their link.
This is a pretty simple trick but it is very effective. Education is the best defense, learn as much as you can about cyber identity theft.
Children Should Learn About Internet Theft
Internet theft should concern everyone but especially those that have children that use the internet or will soon. The internet is a fantastic way to learn the latest news, do research for school projects and communicate with friends but it can also be very dangerous.
It is the parents responsibility to make sure that a child visits safe areas online. A child should never know more about the internet than the parent does. You should at the very least know about the same.
If you attempt to block adult themed websites that have offensive material, it would not be good if your child knows how to get around the parental block. That is why it is important that you know how to use a computer and the internet.
Another good reason why you should have knowledge of the internet and computer use is because you are better able to fully understand the dangers of the internet. You may hear that an internet predator approached a child on the news. You may assume that will never happen to your child, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
A child on the net can be very vulnerable, playing a game or researching a paper online. A common mistake would be your child accidentally stumbling into a porn site, getting into malicious web pages that infect your computer, or and I gasp at the thought, mistakenly deleting your own computer’s files.
Mistakes like these can happen and your child may not be aware of them. If they do happen you may not be told for fear of punishment.
There are some activities that you can do with your kids that will in effect allow you to supervise their actions online. If that is not possible, you can always monitor their computer use. Which sites they visit, the activities they do online. If they use e-mails and chat rooms, pay attention to who they are corresponding with and how well they seem to know them.
Children should be aware of the dangers online. They should be able to recognize suspicious behavior or activities on the internet. Knowledge is truly the best defense. This will help you and the child set boundaries for their computer use. Hopefully you will be able to avoid any type of internet theft with the proper knowledge and training.
The computer should be in an open area of the house where anyone can supervise anyone’s online computer activities. It will deter every family member from doing things that are not allowed and help to avoid internet theft opportunities. For further information visit Cyber Identity Theft Blog to learn and avoid the dangers that can be associated with the internet.
Defense Against Computer Fraud And Cyber Crimes
Cyber security crimes are not just limited to computer fraud hacking, financial, personnel and work related information theft. Trojan horse, worms, viruses, spyware and malware are among the cyber security threats that can affect our computers and machines also our personal lives as well.
Everyone relies on computers to pay bills, communicate with others, arrange transportation, entertainment and other aspects of daily life is influenced by or depend on computers. This is why cyber security threats must be dealt with as soon as there detected.
The Government is also at risk to cyber security attacks. Granting public access can also increase the risks of data leaks, infiltration and cyber attacks. It is necessary to invest and have intensive solutions that address cyber attacks.
Government agencies are coming up with systems that will help in addressing cyber attacks. In addition to these programs there are ways to aid in providing long-term solutions for quick developing problems.
There are a multitude of agencies and institutions dedicated to fighting cyber crimes. InfraGard is a partnership between FBI and different members of the private sector like academic institutions, businesses, state and local law enforcement agencies and individuals. These organizations are dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to address criminal acts.
The government and also different organizations are reaching out to more CEOs of different businesses to help them understand cyber threat and what is can be done. This would help the government to come up with policies and resources that would help them build long term prevention plans.
The government and a multitude of different organizations are reaching out to more CEOs of different businesses to help them understand cyber threat and what is needed to be done. This would help the government to come up with resources and policies that would help them build long term prevention plans.
How often have we heard that the best cure is prevention. Too much reliance and putting too much sensitive material about our lives on computers is a risk that we all need to be prepared to face. We should be ready to handle cyber security issues on our own every moment.
One of today’s biggest concerns is computer fraud and cyber identity theft. Cyber thieves use all kinds of methods to commit computer fraud and steal personal or financial info from their victims personal computers.
Are You at Risk For Cyber Identity Theft?
If you think you’ve figured out how to keep the thieves out of your personal information you may be surprised at the methods they use to gain access to it. Finding out HOW thieves access your information is the first step in reducing the risk.
Lost or Stolen Wallet
Not surprisingly a person who has had their wallet lost or stolen is at great risk of becoming a victim of identity theft. Carrying important documents like your Social Security Number, birth certificate, driver’s license and credit or debit cards in your wallet can give a thief easy access to your personal information.
Missing Mail
If you think you’ve missed a couple bills or know that your mail box has been broken into, your personal information may have been stolen. Credit card bills, offers for credit cards and information that contains personal information or your SSN can be used to gain access to unauthorized credit or to commit fraud in your name.
Garbage
Thinking of throwing the latest credit card offer in the garbage? Clearing out old tax forms or other personal information? Rummaging through the garbage for such information is known as ‘dumpster diving’ and can be an easy source for identity thieves. Your personal garbage isn’t the only source – businesses that collect personal information can also be targeted.
‘Phishing’ or ‘Pretexting’
Online or over the phone there are unscrupulous individuals masquerading as legitimate businesses in an attempt to convince you to pass on personal information for illegal purposes. Any requests to ‘validate account information’ by providing personal information online or over the phone should be questioned.
Businesses or Employees
Employees or businesses that have legitimate access to your personal information may use that information for non-business activities. Identity thieves that work in institutions that contain sensitive personal data may abuse the access they have or even present themselves to you as someone that should have access, such as a landlord or employer.
‘Skimming’
Thieves have access to ‘tools of the trade’ that allow them to steal information from your card at ATM’s or during a card swipe for a purchase. These data storing devices capture your information without your realizing it.
Change of Address
By filling out a form at the post office the identity thief can have your bills and other personal mail diverted to a new address. It may take you a few days to realize what has happened and make the correction.
Spyware
A new threat on the scene is from computer viruses that ‘spy’ on you while you shop or do banking online. Any website that you enter personal information into can be ‘spied on’ putting you at risk.
Unsecured Online Transactions
Online shopping at a site that is not secured can potentially put you at risk of having your information stolen. Websites may also collect and sell some of your information without your knowledge unless their posted Privacy Policy states otherwise.
Break In
Anytime you or a business that has your information is a victim of a break in you may have had personal information stolen.
Personal Computers
Are you storing sensitive passwords on your laptop? Are you throwing out an old computer? If your laptop is stolen or accessed by a thief they may be able to find that information. Old computers may hold information on their hard drives even when you’ve deleted it.
What Cyber Identity Theft Can Do To You
We often take our liberties for granted. What you know life to be can suddenly change if you’ve been a victim of identity theft.
While you’ve been busy with your day-to-day life someone could have stolen your personal information and racked up debts or committed fraud – all with your name on it. What happens then can be anything from being denied employment, credit or even being arrested for a crime you didn’t commit.
Cyber Identity theft is that serious.
Victims of identity theft can spend years paying back debts or fighting to restore their credit as well as their reputation. Finding out you are a victim of identity theft can be frightening and a source of anxiety even after you’ve resolved the issue.
According to a survey conducted by the FTC (Federal Trade and Commission) 4.6% of Americans involved in the survey responded that they had been a victim of identity theft within the past year. That means about 10 million Americans dealt with some form of identity theft – from using existing credit cards to setting up new accounts or giving false identification when arrested for a crime.
It doesn’t stop there. The cost of clearing up the theft ranged from an average of $500 to $1200 per victim. It took them on average 30 hours to resolve the issue while also costing time and money for businesses and agencies who assist these victims.
With all the tools available to potential thieves along with our increasing reliance on paperless money transfers (credit cards, debit cards and online payments) we are incredibly susceptible to having this nightmare come true.
How can you reduce the risk and what do you do if it happens to you or your family?