Today's Largest Cyber Security Concern Is Identity Theft

Today's biggest cyber security concern is Identity Theft

. Cyber thieves use all kinds of methods (hacking, use of spyware for intercepting information, etc.) in stealing personal or financial information from their victims, mostly from the computers.

The latest of these activities even sports a name: phishing (pronounced like ''fishing"). The thief sends a basic e-mail that looks like it came from a genuine site (mostly from financial institutions as Citibank, eBay, PayPal, Best Buy and others), telling you there is a problem with your account.

They would then ask you to click on a certain link in the e-mail, and you are taken to a site that looks exactly like that of your bank. Here, they will ask you to fill out again your Social Security or credit card numbers, and/or other confidential numbers.

The following are some ways to minimize the risk of your identity being stolen:

Do business with reputable companies Some attackers try to trick you by creating web sites that appear to be legit. Don't visit any site that is using third party links. Open a new browser and type the address yourself if you want to visit a site.

You can also check privacy policies to see how the company in question use and distribute information. Many companies allow customers to request that their information not be shared with other companies.

Maintain a security mindset - always be skeptical of unfamiliar sites and links, suspicious e-mails and IM messages.

Anti-virus software and firewall As a standard practice, use and maintenance of anti-virus software and firewall will protect your computer from attacks that may steal or modify data in your computer. Make sure to keep your anti-virus program and firewall up to date.

Fighting identity robbery As precautionary steps, regularly check your credit reports for strange transactions or transactions you do not recall, unusual charges on your bills, bills for products and services you do not have, or worse, unexpected denial of your credit card.

Once the identity robbery has been confirmed, calls to appropriate companies and agencies have to be done immediately. Have your credit card accounts closed right away so future charges will be denied.

Contact the Social Security Administration if your SSS card number has been accessed or the DMV if your driver's license or car registration papers were taken. This is to warn these agencies to watch out for unauthorized use of your personal ID information. Of course, you need to file a criminal report with the local police.

For U.S. citizens, you need to contact the main credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to see if there had been any unexpected or unauthorized activity. Have fraud alerts placed on your credit reports to prevent new accounts from being opened without verification. File a complaint with the FTC and IFCC.

by: Wayne Allen.

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