Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in many countries around the world today.  Therefore, it really is incumbent upon you to defend yourself on all levels against identity theft.  Towards accomplishing this important goal, you need  to make an honest assessment of all of the different ways in which you may become the target of an identity thief.  Through this article, you are provided with an overview of how your own children can become a vehicle through which an ID thief can end up making you (or even your children) the victims of identity theft.

If you do have children who use the Internet you already have taken the time (one would think) in educating yourself about the predators that prey on children online.  Of course, a great deal of this attention is focused on the online predators that entice children and attempt to committed sexual crimes on these minors.

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A warning for all internet and email users!

It’s almost Valentine’s Day once again but before opening up that  E-Valentine’s Card, you may want to think again.  It may not be coming from cupid but instead from someone ready to spread the so called Storm Worm virus.

The Storm Worm virus have used the various holidays in the previous year to send out millions of emails and electronic cards such as Valentine’s E-Cards.  It is a malicious software (malware) and it does infect computer machines and made it become a part of of the Storm Worm botnet.  A botnet is a network of compromised machines but under the control of a single user.  Botnets are known to be to be set up to facilitate criminal activity such as phishing, spam emails, identity theft and other servcice attacks to spread malware to other computers online.  When a user clicks on the email link, he automatically downloaded the malware and his computer system is infected.

It is very important to be extra careful in opening up any e-card emails. Make sure that you know the sender before opening e-cards.  Do not open any unsolicited e-mail and if you accidentally opened them, never click on any links provided.

How Does Identity Theft Happen?

Identity thieves use items like your driver’s license or Social Security number to assume your identity. With just a few items of personal information, an experienced identity thief can open new bank accounts and write bad checks, get new credit card accounts in your name and not pay the bills, get a personal, car loan or cash advances, create cellular phones accounts or utility services and start running up bills, change your mailing address and charge on your existing credit card accounts, illegally obtain employment or rent an apartment but refuse to pay the lease until being evicted. (more…)

You’ve taken on board the warnings about identity theft, you have your own personal shredder in the house as well as the office and you destroy any paperwork that includes personal information prior to tossing it in the trash.  (more…)

With the increasing prevalence of phishing cases, we have learned that it’s best to protect ourselves from falling victim to this scam. We know now how to identify a phishing email and we’ve realized that it’s wise to just ignore it and not click on any links. However, there’s also a more proactive way to further combat this scam and that is - to report phishing.  (more…)

Security software is a must for your computer to help thwart identity theft in its tracks.  Since there are several different types of security software, let’s look at the most important kinds that you need. 

Firewalls – A firewall is like a shield for your computer.  It stands out front, and protects your computer from hostile internet traffic.  Without one of these, hackers can get into your personal computer and take whatever they want.  Credit card numbers, names, birthdates and social security numbers are all available to identity thieves if your computer isn’t being protected by a firewall.  It stands between internet traffic and the connections to get into your computer, keeping out bad traffic, but letting regular or non-threatening internet traffic travel freely. (more…)