How Do I Avoid Identity Theft

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Teens Identity Theft - Learn About Money Management and Best Way …

August 4th, 2010 |

How do you keep your teens from getting their identity stolen? This is very important today with the popularity of the internet.

However, while the internet is a very popular place for identity theft, your teen’s information can get stolen offline as well. For instance, someone serving you at a restaurant could jot down a credit card number. Or your teen could lose their credit card at a store.

And if your child’s credit gets taken, the thief will use their card to make a lot of purchases. Since they will not pay for them, this will cause your kids’ credit score to go down severely. While this might be able to get recovered, it’s a long and arduous process.

So how do you prevent identity theft? Here are four sure ways to avoid them:

1. Avoid unsecure sites

You don’t have to worry about them giving sensitive information to larger sites like Amazon or eBay. However, many of the smaller sites are not very trustworthy.

Many of them will take their information and use it themselves. How do you avoid these sites? Just make sure you read reviews about any site they are considering giving sensitive information to. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

2. Avoid scams

Often times scammers will send fake emails from legitimate sites such as PayPal or eBay, asking for their sensitive information. They will usually say they need to update their member information, or something to that effect.

The emails usually look very official. However, legitimate sites will never email anyone asking for sensitive info. Alert your teens to these common scams.

3. Shred sensitive info

This is one of the most popular methods of preventing identity theft, because it works. If your kids have bills and other financial documents they are trashing, shred them first. Anything that has their license, social security, bank account, or credit card number must be cut up.

They can either do this themselves or purchase a shredder. This will cut it much faster, although it’s obviously more expensive.

4. Be wary of file sharing sites

These are extremely widely used among teens. They are also among the most dangerous sites. They enable people to give others their computer files, so it can easily go wrong if important data is transferred. Be certain the computer’s settings will prevent any important files from getting shared.

Identity theft is very common. In some instances you can’t do anything about it, such as if somebody hacks into your child’s bank account. However, most times you can prevent it. Implement these four tips, and your kids should be safe.

Posted in how do i avoid identity theft |

Tags: Amazon, Credit Card Number, Credit Score, Ebay, Fake Emails, Financial Documents, Identity Management, Jot Down, Money Management, Paypal, Popularity Of The Internet, Preventing Identity Theft, Scammers, Scams, Security Bank, Social Security, Teens, Thief |

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How to Prevent and Detect Trojan Horses · Mcu Data Logger

July 23rd, 2010 |

Author: ID Theft PRO

Has your computer developed a mind of its own? Is your computer doing things such as the mouse moving on its own and the CD-ROM drawer moving on its own? You knew your computer was smart, but not smart, right? It is good to know that there are steps you can take to help prevent and detect Trojan Horses. Like the ancient Greek Trojan Horses that appeared as innocent, but were very destructive, computer Trojan Horses are malicious software that masquerade as something harmless, useful, and innocent. A Trojan horse in fact can allow a hacker to take full control of your computer. The hacker could actually have more control of your computer than you have. The cyber crook could even install a keystroke logger onto your computer, allowing them to see every keystroke you type. This malicious software could allow them to record your passwords, banking info, credit card number, and other personal information. This could enable the hacker to steal your identity and you could become yet another victim of identity theft, one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada and the USA.

Trojan Horses get into your system by pretending to be something good, useful, and innocent. This is very much like the ancient Greek Trojan Horse. Did you download an image or video file off of Usenet, a cool game or MP3 music file from a file sharing site such as Kazaa or Limewire? The file very well might be bundled with more than you bargained for – a Trojan Horse or other malicious software.

Trojan Horses are downright scary and a real threat to your Internet security and privacy. In fact, this malware could lead to you becoming a victim of identity theft. Ready to disconnect your Internet forever and throw your computer out the window? Well, don’t do that just yet. It is should be reassuring that there are things that we can do to help detect and remove Trojan Horses.

Probably the biggest line of defense for helping prevent having your computer infected with a Trojan Horse or other malicious software is being careful what you do online. Avoid using file sharing sites using the Gnutella network to download free movies, MP3 music files, etc. These sites are notorious for containing files infected with malware, including Trojan Horses. Use caution when downloading files off Usenet. Also, be careful what you freeware you download. That cool game could very well contain more than you bargained for – a Trojan Horse or other malicious software. Only download programs from reputable sources. Never accept programs transferred by instant messaging applications. Finally, never open an email attachment from someone you don’t know. In fact, never open an email attachment from even someone you know that is unfamiliar and/or unexpected, as their system could be infected with a Trojan Horse or other malware. Confirm that the sender did actually send you the email before opening.

If you have no other internet security software installed on your computer, ensure you have anti-virus software installed on your computer. Don’t forget to keep your anti-virus software up-to-date, as anti-virus software is only as good as the last update. It is good to know that most anti-virus software automatically updates. There is also free anti-virus software online to download. AVG offers free anti-virus software, also bundled with free anti-spyware software. In a recent report Maximum PC gave AVG Anti-virus Free a rating of “good”, 7/10.

Ensure that you have anti-spyware software installed on your computer. Maximum PC actually recommends you have Spybot Search & Destroy as well as two other anti-spyware programs installed on your computer. It is good to know that there are free anti-spyware programs, including Spybot Search & Destroy, to download online. Windows Vista actually includes Windows Defender, a free anti-spyware program.

Finally, be sure to keep your operating system up-to-date with the latest security patches, to help protect yourself from Trojan Horses and other malicious software. For the latest Windows updates go to http://update.microsoft.com.

By following these internet security tips you can indeed help prevent and detect Trojan Horses and other malicious software. When it comes to Trojan Horses and other malware, an ounce of prevention is indeed worth a pound of cure.

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Posted in how do i avoid identity theft |

Tags: Ancient Greek, Cd Rom, Credit Card Number, Crimes In Canada, Data Logger, Hacker, Internet Privacy, Internet Security, Kazaa, Keystroke Logger, Malware, Masquerade, Other Malicious Software, Passwords, Remove Trojan, Software Trojan, Trojan Horse, Trojan Horses, Trojan Software, Victim Of Identity Theft |

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The Small But Extraordinary Benefits of Change IP Software : Fight …

January 26th, 2010 |

Author: ID Theft PRO

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Let us break down the small things that <a onClick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.change-ip-proxy.com”>IP change</a> software or IP changer does to greatly benefit Internet users like you and me. These small things will mainly add up to that one big advantage from changing our IP address. The extraordinary benefits are in browsing the Internet safely, with our personal data protected and our real location disguised. What are the small things that make it up, and how do they contribute tremendously towards our privacy and protection?

With our IP being changed constantly as we log on to the Internet, we are certain that our real location is kept hidden from malicious and prowling eyes on the Web. The software to change IP such as Private Proxy software will route us through anonymous proxy servers and give us a random IP that was taken from a pool of IP addresses available for use. The constant changes will show that you are from one country one minute and in another country the next. This will help us avoid being tracked by hackers who want to know our IP. The constant changing of IP might be a small thing to us who are so immersed in surfing the net. But it is actually helping us out a great deal.

Another benefit involves our online transactions. Online shopping is so common these days, especially with great buys from eBay, Amazon, and other shopping sites. Of course, when shopping there is a need to enter your credit card number to pay for what you have purchased. With Change IP software or IP changer as it is called, we can freely shop around online. The software makes it possible to browse anonymously, and therefore our identities are safe when doing transactions.

Speaking of transactions, we can also feel safe and protected from identity theft with anonymous surfing. Surfing with a fake IP address makes it hard for hackers and cyber criminals to track us down to our real location. Changing our IP from time to time creates a barrier that can ward off the cyber criminals and prevent them from procuring our personal information for their selfish uses. Identity theft is one of the most serious cyber crimes today. The criminal becomes hard to track down because of the stolen identity and he victim is left with a tattered name and violated feeling.

Other benefit using Change IP Software can be in using a different IP address when a certain IP is banned or blocked by a website. In using another address, you can try visiting that website again with no problems and no ban. It might be a problem if you get the banned IP but as the Change IP software or IP changer would change the IP the next time you log on, this won’t be much of a headache.

No matter how small it may seem to us, especially to new Internet users, Change IP technique comes as a very beneficial addition to increase our level of Internet security and privacy. We may not think much of it as go surfing the Web and shopping for items we’ll be paying online for. But there’s really no question as to how great an IP changer can be for our online privacy.

To know about the latest developments in the technologies to help you Change IP with multiple proxy servers and how these tremendous benefits make you secure on the net visit http://www.change-ip-proxy.com . Find out how a new software product Private Proxy Software can protect your identity and privacy while surfing on the net.

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Posted in how do i avoid identity theft |

Tags: Anonymous Proxy Servers, Browsing The Internet, Credit Card Number, Ebay, Ebay Amazon, Exit Link, Gt Software, Hackers, Internet Users, Ip Address, Ip Addresses, Ip Software, Link Href, Lt, Onclick Javascript, Personal Data, Pool, Proxy Software, Random Ip, Shopping Sites |

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What is Phishing? Avoid Becoming a Victim

January 5th, 2010 |

Author: ID Theft PRO

Phishing is a criminally fraudulent process made in attempt to scam an Internet user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. It is usually made through email. Phishing is a lucrative computer crime which is growing rapidly in the last few years. The best way to protect against phishing is to know how to recognize it.

How Does Phishing Work?

Phishing is usually made by email or IM. You will receive a message that may appear to be from a friend, a business, a government agency or some other legitimate entity. For example, a lot of phishing messages appear to be from credit card companies or banks. Some appear to be from major online retailers, such as, Amazon, ebay and PayPal. Some will be from organizations or companies you have never dealt with before so they will be easier for you to detect.

A phishing message may state that the company or organization it has been sent from has data problems and your private information needs verification. The message usually has a link that you are supposed to click on in order to validate your private information. When you click on that link you will be directed to a fake website that resembles the original website that the phishing message pretends to be from. Phishers will do anything in order to convince you that you are in a legitimate website. They will have a similar URL as the original website and the appearance of the fake website will be identical to the original one. You will be asked to enter your personal details, most likely in a popup window. These details may include your credit card number and password, your account details and password etc. When you enter your personal information phishers will harvest your data and exploit it. They may drain your account immediately or sell your personal information to someone else. A phishing message could also have an attachment that when clicked on infects your PC with malware.

How to Detect a Phishing Message

Most important is to remember that legitimate businesses should not ask for personal details via email or by popup window. If you encounter such an email or IM then it is probably a phishing message.
If an email asks you to “verify your information” or “confirm your user and password” then it is probably a phishing message.
If an email states consequences that will occur if you do not verify your details then it is probably a phishing message.

Avoid Becoming a Victim

When getting a phishing email, do not click on the link or the attachments that appear in the message and delete it immediately. If you are not sure that it is a phishing message open a new browser page and enter the URL of the legitimate business manually.

Be aware that your PC may be infected by malware that can take over your browser requests and whenever you ask for your bank website or credit card company website it will direct your browser to a fake website in order to steal your personal information.

The best precaution when getting a suspicious email is to obtain the support or customer service departments details of the legitimate business that presumably sent you the message (not by using the email or the Internet) and contact them in order to validate authenticity.

Posted in how do i avoid identity theft |

Tags: Account Details, Amazon, Appearance, Banks, Computer Crime, Credit Card Companies, Credit Card Number, Ebay, Email, Government Agency, identity theft, Internet User, Lot, Major Online Retailers, Phishing, Popup Window, Url |

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Steps To Take If You Are A Victim Of Identity Theft

June 18th, 2009 |

Author: ID Theft PRO

Identity theft can be one of our worst nightmares, since the stolen identity is always used for illegal purposes. Apart from having your identity stolen from you, you could also become a target of litigation from parties hurt by the actions of the identity thief.

So what should you do if you ever become a target of identity theft? This article provides information on what to do after you discover that your identity has been stolen.

What To Do After Identity Theft
Here are some steps to take once you discover your security has been compromised by an identity thief.

1) Let The Credit Rating Agencies Know
The credit rating agencies should be told about the theft as soon as possible. Creditors will need to contact you before they give loans to anyone approaching them for credit on your behalf. Try to get the fraud alert extended to seven years from the current 90 days. File all credit reports you receive, since it is crucial as evidence to show identity theft.

2) Keep An Eye On Credit Reports
Keep monitoring credit reports, so fraudulent accounts in your name are not opened. Keep reviewing your credit reports and look into the credit companies you have not had any dealings with.

3) Close Dubious Accounts
If you feel that some accounts have been opened by the identity thief, or there has been unauthorized access to the accounts, close them. Have the credit card companies and your bank notified by mail, so that you have a record stating that they were formally notified.

4) Opening New Accounts
Use new personal identification numbers and passwords if you wish to open new accounts. Ensure that the passwords are such that someone else cannot guess them.

5) Stopping Doubtful Transactions
If you feel that any transaction related to your account or credit card number is fraudulent, use fraud dispute forms available at the bank to state your claim. If you want the bank to consider your request, you need to prove that you have been a victim of identity theft. You can submit a copy of the police report or submit proof that your signatures have been forged.

6) Report To The Police
Report the identity fraud to the police as soon as possible. Get an affidavit from the police station to prove the crime, since banks and credit card companies will ask for the affidavit to be submitted before they take action to close accounts that have been compromised.

The above steps will help you close fraudulent accounts opened in your name and keep further fraud from being committed in your name. Report the identity fraud as soon as you discover it to the proper authorities.

Posted in Bank Identity Theft, Computer Identity Theft, Corporate Identity Theft, Credit Card Identity Theft, Criminal Identity Theft, ID Theft Prevention, Online Identity Theft, Spoofing, The Law On Identity Theft, What Is Identity Theft |

Tags: Credit Card Companies, Credit Card Number, Credit Rating Agencies, credit reports, Creditors, Fraud, how do i avoid identity theft, identity theft, Identity Theft Prevention, Identity Theft Protection, Illegal Purposes, Litigation, Loans, Mail, New Accounts, New Passwords, Nightmares, Passwords, Personal Identification Numbers, Personal Numbers, Seven Years, Target, Thief, Unauthorized Access, Victim Of Identity Theft |

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