Security Risks: What You Should Know About Identity Theft

Identity theft is a very real problem that can affect almost anyone today. Identity thieves do not operate just online, they employ a variety of techniques in order to steal information that can be used to access personal accounts, or to open new accounts. Avoiding identity theft requires vigilance and knowledge about the practice. Every person should know how to deal with common risks that could lead to identity theft.

Unsecured Wireless Routers

Identity thieves can use unsecured wireless routers to steal personal information. Software-like packet sniffers, and other applications can capture and decode data moving through the router from hundreds of feet away. The packets can reveal login and personal data, when banking or making purchases online. This can be prevented by protecting wireless routers with a strong password, or by using virtual private network software.

Impersonation

Identity thieves often impersonate utility workers, or city officials in order to gain access to a home. Thieves lie about needing to check an appliance, or other item in the house. They then use the time inside to collect personal information like bills, credit cards, or bank statements. It is important to verify the identity of anyone being let into the home. Additionally, strangers should never be left alone.





Malware

Malware can be installed quietly on a computer from an email or a malicious website. The malware can slowly gather keystrokes, passwords, and personal data for weeks and then send it to a remote server. Avoiding malware involves not clicking on suspicious links, and not opening emails from unknown senders. Suspicious websites should also be avoided.

The Identity of Children

Identity thieves are starting to target children in order to create false identities backed by some real information. Parents need to make sure no personal information about children is posted on social media networks. Paperwork and documents listing information about children should be stored securely or shredded in order to protect their identities.

Physical Theft and Burglary

The most common way thieves get personal information is by burglarizing a home and stealing documents. This can occur in less than two minutes. The solution is to contact a company like Banhams Close Security that can install strong locks, doors, and alarms to prevent burglaries. Securing the home, and increasing physical security around the property will deter most identity thieves.

It is important to protect even the smallest pieces of personal information. Identity thieves can work for weeks or longer trying to assemble data about a person from several different sources. Homeowners should add security to the house, shred all documents with personal information, and take every precaution when online.

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About The Author:
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and recent graduate of the University of New Mexico. She lives in Los Lunas where she writes, spends her time outdoors, and tries all the new food she can. Contact her via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.

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Understanding the Link between Social Media, ID Theft and Your Credit

Image by http://usopenborders.com

Chances are, not everyone on your social media site is someone you would haphazardly hand your credit card to. Yet, many people are treating social media sites like a trusted best friend or even an ATM when they share photos, travel plans, birthdays and addresses publicly with the world. Because of the lasting damage that identity theft can have on credit scores and long-term financial health, it’s important to break the link between social media, ID Theft and your credit.


According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, identity theft is broken down into three segments:

• Unauthorized use or attempted use of existing credit cards
• Unauthorized use or attempted use of other existing accounts, such as checking accounts
• Misuse of personal information to obtain new accounts or loans, or to commit other crimes.

Consumers most at risk of identity theft are those who don’t regularly check their bank accounts and credit scores, which are most often children and the elderly. According to a 2012 report from Carnegie Mellon CyLab, children are targeted 35 times for identity theft more than adults, and 15 percent of the victims are under the age of five. Kids that have grown up in the social media environment are not afraid of what they share. They also don’t apply for credit and don’t have as much activity around their bank accounts so it takes longer to see if their identity has been compromised.

While the older generation is less apt to participate on Twitter, they are also less likely to apply for a mortgage, car loan or other purchase that requires a credit check. Years can go by before any unusual activity is noticed on their credit scores.

However, 12 million Americans fell victim to identity theft last year and they certainly weren’t all children and elderly. In fact, every three seconds, someone in the United States becomes a victim of identity fraud, according to Javelin Strategy & Research 2013 Identity Fraud Report. This means over 5% of all U.S. adults were affected by identity theft in 2012.

Think you’re not at risk? Go to http://protectyourprofile.org for a realistic look into what criminals could obtain from your Facebook account. It recently won a 2013 Marcom Gold Award for the realism of the experience.



Social Media’s Role

Information in social media can let criminals piece together enough of a story to steal identities without being caught. “Hackers can take family names, addresses, phone numbers and use that data to try and figure out passwords. These people can sell your information to other criminals in their network and it’s worth a lot on the black market,” says David Anderson, directory of product at Protect Your Bubble.com.

For example, a Facebook user can be duped into giving up personal information through fake posts asking for likes, votes, or clicks. These messages look legit because they appear to be sent by a friend. The user many not think twice about entering contact details like a phone number to participate in a contest, special or poll. Once they enter this personal information, they become susceptible to identity theft as criminals start to share data that may ultimately result in capturing payment credentials like credit or debit card numbers.

In fact, just this December hackers swooped in to capture login information from over 2 million Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google accounts. Facebook accounted for over half of the compromised accounts and left victims vulnerable and uncertain about just how much information the hackers consumed.

How to Break the Link

On social media, consumers must personally self-manage information and stay on top of security settings to keep their credit secure. According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, no individual, business, or government entity is solely responsible for securing the Internet.

Everyone has a role in securing their part of cyberspace because individual actions have a collective impact on making the Internet more secure. What role can you play? Here are five simple steps you can take to unlink your social media account from your credit and from the risk of identity theft.

1.  Take the time to review credit card statements each month for fraudulent charges.
2.  Remember when you share information on social media, it’s not in a bank vault.
3.  Choose a secure password that doesn’t include your birthday or pet name. Make passwords at least 8 characters long, combining uppercase and lower case letters, numbers and symbols.
4.  Alternate passwords for different accounts. Using the same password on Facebook as your online banking is a huge risk.
5.  Never send money based on a Facebook post or message. If you get a request from a friend that seems out of character, be aware that their account may have been hacked and ask them directly rather than assuming it is a legitimate request.

Don’t let thieves ruin your credit or financial stability. Learn more about keeping your identity and finances safe at http://us.protectyourbubble.com/id-theft. Please take steps to protect yourself and share this information with others to help fight against identity theft.

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About Author: Dechay Watts is Chief Content Strategist at Sprout Content.

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5 Ways You're Making it Easy for Hackers to Steal Your Identity

Identity theft is just a scary news headline until it happens to you. This crime is happening with shocking frequency, according to the Department of Justice, which estimates the cost of these crimes amounts to $6.4 billion each year. About three percent of U.S. households fall prey to some form of identity theft, which equates to about 3.6 million families each year. How are thieves stealing our information?

Using Public Wi-Fi Hotspots

Image via Flickr by Jannie-Jan

Public Wi-Fi is convenient and can save you big bucks on expensive data plans, but the convenience may not be worth the price when it comes to identity theft. Any information you access or send over a public Wi-Fi connection is subject to being stolen, including passwords, account numbers, personal photos, as well as sensitive data like social security numbers and business data. Instead, convert your smartphone to a Wi-Fi hotspot or invest in a VPN.

Ordering From Unsecured Websites

When the Internet was new, people were more cautions to check for the security symbol in the address bar. As online transactions have become commonplace, people are ordering from unsecure websites all the time without even thinking about it. Only do online business with trusted companies, and always check for the security icon before entering your payment information. Use a prepaid debit card for online purchases so your liabilities are limited if the number is hacked.

Tossing Documents in the Trash

Do you carelessly toss out your paid bills, all those pre approved credit cards, and bank statements? Many thieves target the trash, knowing we throw away all the information they need to open credit accounts, phony bank accounts, and take out loans in our name. Invest in a shredder, preferably a cross-cut shredder for maximum security.

Posting TMI on Social Media

What are the types of information identity thieves need? Your birthday, pet's name, mother's maiden name, and your employer, all of the other information that's readily available on your social media pages. Never friend anyone you don't know, and keep your privacy settings tight, but also never assume that anything you post on social media is secure. Also, avoid posting when you're going out-of-town, new cell phone numbers when you change services, and other tell-tale info. If you use social media regularly, consider a protective service like LifeLock's identity theft services.

Using ATM and Debit Card Machines

A device called a skimmer can easily be placed into ATM machines and debit card machines such as those at the gas pump. The device allows the machine to act normally, so you never suspect anything is wrong, but it steals your card number and PIN number. Thieves can then empty your account and you're none the wiser until you try to make a purchase and your card is declined. Your bank may offer recourse, but your account will sit empty for some time while the bank investigates. LifeLock services and a prepaid debit card are useful for these purposes too. They may steal what's on the card, but at least you won't be broke while you wait for the charges to be credited to your account.
The Age of Information is indeed convenient, but it's also less secure. Always weigh the benefits of those conveniences against the terror of identity theft. Sometimes, it's just not worth the risk.

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About The Author:
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How To Prevent Credit Card Identity Theft While Abroad

When you’re traveling overseas, you’re automatically putting your identity at risk, primarily due to your credit card. The risk isn’t severe enough that you should avoid travel altogether, but it does warrant some extra precaution and a reasonable amount of attention that you should be aware of during your trip.

Since identity theft is common and difficult to protect against in other countries, you need to be a bit more proactive in terms of protecting your credit card. Identity thieves will specifically target foreigners, especially Americans because of their perceived vulnerability.

They’ll assume that you’re not paying attention and that you aren’t prepared, but if you prove them wrong, then you’ve already won the war.

So, how can you be prepared and get the jump start on potential identity thieves?

While you can never guarantee the safety of your credit card 100-percent (even on American soil), taking these simple steps can help to ensure that you’ve got the deck stacked in your favor.

Here are a few things you can do to help prevent identity theft while travelling abroad:

1. Notify your credit card company ahead of time -- Your credit card company is on your side. It might not feel like that at all times, but when it comes to identity theft, you’ve got a willing (and powerful) ally in your credit card company, so be sure to use them.

Give them a call before your trip and give them a quick “readers digest” version of where you’re going to be and what you’ll be buying. Not only will this prevent your credit from getting unnecessarily deactivated, but it will also help your credit card company know when and where to flag certain purchases if something does go wrong.

2. Cover up when entering your PIN number -- It seems obsessive and maybe even rude, but when you’re making a purchase in public and you have to enter your PIN number, feel free to be discreet.

If someone looking over your shoulder can get your PIN number, it’ll make you a prime target for identity theft and in turn will make life much easier for those targeting you.

3. Photocopy your credit card -- Make a copy of the front and back of your card and leave it with a trusted friend or family member before you go. This will make the process of cancelling the card easier, in the event that it does get stolen. Chances are that this won’t be an issue, but if your card does get swiped, it’ll allow you to expedite the cancellation process.

4. Checking expenses online or on your smartphone -- Make sure that you have your bank’s app, or some other method of tracking purchases and checking your balance on your laptop or smartphone.

If you’re able to monitor your purchases on a daily basis, you’ll also be able to pick up on inconsistencies or purchases that you might not have made that will show up on your expense report.

Don’t get overly obsessed with checking it, but just review your purchases each night to make sure you don’t find anything unexpected.
Staying Sharp


Overall, staying sharp and keeping your wits about you when you’re traveling abroad will be enough to keep the topic of identity theft off the table. In addition, taking these extra steps will help you to protect against the most typical forms of credit card theft and fraud.

In the off chance that you do experience some issues with your credit card while traveling abroad, there are plenty of resources for credit help that will be able to assist you.
The more you can ensure a smooth and uneventful trip overseas, the better off you’re going to be, especially when dealing with your finances.

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About The Author:

Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer and internet entrepreneur from Southern California whose writing covers everything on technology, home security, gaming and marketing. She keeps her computer well-protected through the use of various programs.

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