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Today’s Biggest Cyber Security Concern is Identity Theft

Today’s largest cyber security concern is Identity Theft . Cyber thieves use many different 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 nefarious activities even sports a name: phishing (pronounced like ”fishing”). The thief sends a simple 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 like that of your bank. They will ask you to fill out again your Social Security or credit card numbers, and other confidential numbers.

The following are some ways to minimize the risk of your sensitive information and identity from being stolen:

Do business with reputable companies Some attackers may try to trick you by creating web sites that appear to be legitimate. 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 standard practice, use and maintenance of an anti-virus software and firewall will protect your computer from attacks that may steal or modify information in your computer. Make sure that you 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.

The biggest cyber security concern is identity theft . Every member of the family needs to be aware of the dangers online. Thieves used to come in through the windows and doors, now they can come in through the computer. When all the members of the family are aware that the largest cyber security concern is identity theft then it will be harder for criminals to take info.. Free reprint available from: Today’s Biggest Cyber Security Concern is Identity Theft.

Build Good Cyber Security Protection Habits

Cyber security protection is not at all that difficult. Once you have incorporated it into your system then it is just like riding a bicycle or can be as normal as walking. All you need is to learn how you can make it work well and build a good habit to make cyber security consistent.

By doing this you can have a better chance of keeping your confidential information protected from attacks from virus or from hackers. This way you can keep your sensitive data safe from other persons who would like to access them and use them for personal gain or protect them from applications that can erase or corrupt your files.

Identify how your information can be accessed and who would be the likely people who can gain from accessing your confidential records. It’s like identifying the usual suspects in a criminal line-up. I’m not saying that the people you know cannot be trusted but it helps to be extra cautious. Your brother might not do something untrustworthy but his friends might and if they have physical access to your computer then your files are at a risk of being hacked.

Protect your computer with a strong password. Use combination’s of letters and numbers, upper case and lower case, and even use codes. Avoid using the usual birthdays, social security numbers, bank PINs, account numbers, favorite superheroes, favorite food, etc. Use unique passwords and make one up for every system that requires authentication. Do not use the same password in all your confidential files.

To protect your computer from outside hackers, the best thing would be to disconnect your computer from the network when you’re not using it. No anti-virus application or firewall system provides complete protection. The best way would be to remove yourself from the network when you are not using your computer to reduce the risk of being attacked.

When you do surf the web, make sure that you have your firewall on and your anti-virus application turned on. Also make sure that your security settings are at there highest level. Your emails, web browsers and even other applications have specific settings which increase the security allowing them to block attacks from virus, malware and spyware. Study the security settings and select one which permits you to maximize the use of the application but at the same time offer you a good deal of security to keep your files protected.

Also, do not forget about power surges and other technological problems. Even though, the virus and hacker threats are real and sometimes the priority, people forget that sometimes power surges or breakdown of computer hardware can cause loss of data or have files corrupted and rendered inoperable.

To have added protection therefore, it would be wise to install some uninterrupted power supply that protects you from power surges and permits you to back up or shut down your computer preventing possible corruption of files and applications.

And speaking of backing up, it would be great if you would regularly back up your files just in case the unthinkable happens. May these be personal files or files you need for work, having a good back up is always a great thing to have.

Once you have a system you will produce a good habit in cyber security protection which can help lower the risks of losing files or your confidential information being hacked. Identity theft is growing fast and the best defense is knowledge about cyber security protection .. Free reprint available from: Build Good Cyber Security Protection Habits.

Teach Children About Internet Theft

Internet theft should concern everyone but especially those that are the parent of a child who uses 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 be well educated on 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, mistakenly deleting your own computer’s files.

Mistakes like these can happen and your child may not know about them. If they do happen you may not be told for fear of punishment.

There are some activities that you can do with your children 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 chat rooms and e-mails, 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.

Set up the computer in an open area of the house where anyone can monitor everyone’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 info visit Cyber Identity Theft Blog to learn and avoid the dangers that can be associated with the internet.. Unique version for reprint here: Teach Children About Internet Theft.

Keep Your Defense Against Bank Identity Theft Strong

One of the unique challenges of living in a digital age is the risk of bank identity theft. Every day more and more people are choosing to shop on the internet and transfer money in the same fashion. The internet has opened new possibilities for every person in the world but it has also introduced us to new dangers. There are a number of things you can do to protect you and your family from bank identity theft.

Identity theft is a problem of epidemic proportions. Just in America alone there has been $52 billion stolen each year. It’s average and everyday people who suffer from this digital crime.

First, make sure you are shredding any type of identifying document. If something has your birth date on it or your social security number, do not just merely toss it into the wastebasket. Shredding is the only truly safe way to keep your personal account information away from the greedy hands of thieves.

Any time which you find yourself shopping online, make sure that you are using a secure web site. The majority of major web sites can be trusted but never make that assumption. Always read the terms and agreements portion and find out if the web site offers a secure connection which will keep thieves from getting your information and brining you to financial ruin.

Always make sure that your anti-virus and and anti-spyware are up to date and are working properly. Computer viruses can creep into your computer and access your personal information. These horrid and unfortunate things can scan your entire computer and then post all of the information found within on the internet.

Your local credit union or bank can also help you in the fight to stay protected. Most banks offer some form of identity security which you can take advantage of. They can help give you more ideas on how to keep yourself protected. It is your responsibility to keep yourself and your family protected from bank identity theft.

Bank identity theft is alive and well. Let us help you make sure you never become a victim of such theft. When you shop online make sure that the website is secure with a little lock in the URL. We have more information for you.. Unique version for reprint here: Keep Your Defense Against Bank Identity Theft Strong.

Best Defense Against Computer Fraud And Cyber Crimes

Cyber security crimes are not just limited to computer fraud hacking, personnel, financial 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 different kinds of agencies and institutions dedicated to fighting cyber crimes. InfraGard is a partnership between FBI and different members of the private sector like businesses, academic institutions, state and local law enforcement agencies and individuals. These organizations are dedicated to sharing information and intelligence to address criminal acts.

The government and many 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 the biggest concerns is computer fraud and cyber identity theft. Cyber thieves use many different methods to commit computer fraud and steal personal or financial information from their victims computers.. This article, Best Defense Against Computer Fraud And Cyber Crimes is available for free reprint.