With the advent of the World Wide Web, a whole new breed of criminals have surfaced, posing threats to more than just our material assets, but also to our very identities. Although there are a number of effective methods for protecting yourself from internet identity theft, not everyone takes the necessary steps to initiate such a plan. By tightening up your own personal security measures, you'll be far safer when you go online, and much less likely to become just another victim in the world of cyber-theft.The traumas and problems associated with identity theft are by no means new on the scene. Those of you who are accustomed to working on the internet, purchasing or for any personal use will know that there has become an increasing risk in internet identity theft as more and more people are using it to carry out their daily activities.
According to some research executed by the Federal Trade Commission, as many as 10% of Americans using the internet have been involved in some form of identity theft in the last half decade - sounds worrying doesn't it? Internet identity theft has its differences when compared with common identity theft. In the case of common identity theft you would have to have had something physically taken from you - such as money stolen from your home or a credit card statement snatched out of your garbage.
As awful as common identity theft is, internet id theft can be far worse. The primary reason for this last declaration is that those who have incurred internet identity theft might not realize it's happenings until it is too late to do something about it.
How Does Internet Identity Theft Take Place?
Most internet users don't know how easy it can be for internet identity theft to take place. Computers can be technical at the best of times but it is well worth your own safety and security to discover how internet identity theft works. Your hard drive collects and stores a whole lot of personal information about you and your internet usage.
Temporary internet files, cache and your browsing history will store even the smallest of details on your hard drive - but what is the most worrying is the storage of credit card numbers and passwords, personal addresses and telephone numbers.
Hackers have their ways to get hold of that information - even without being directly in front of your computer. If the information you are inputting on the internet travels over an insecure transmission they can pick it up. Spy-ware is yet another trick they have up their sleeve - certain software and downloads may include some malicious spy-ware that lets the hacker see right into your computer and extract the information he needs to perform internet theft.
How Can You Prevent Internet Identity Theft?
There are two very critical procedures to making your computer and internet as safe and secure as possible - let's break it down for you:
1. Secure Your Internet Browser
The McAfee Site Adviser is a great start when you want to secure your internet browser. Every time you run a search, the results will bring up a list of corresponding websites. McAfee rates all websites as either safe, questionable or unsafe. A small icon is placed to the side of each result so you can be warned about possible dangerous sites.
Then you need a program that warns you against possible spy-ware and other malicious software such as the Winferno Software package.
A Pop-Up Blocker is also crucial to your internet security.
As well as anti-spy-ware, you will need an anti-virus software too which can intercept any incoming viruses from downloads or even emails.
2. Protecting Your Personal information and Data
You need to regularly delete the following files from your computer. However, sometimes it is better to have a software to do this for you so that you don't delete something you shouldn't be!
A good protection software will remove the following data for you:
Recent Document's List
Temporary Internet Files
Cache
Browsing History
Tracking Cookies
Finally as a complete sources of protection you may wish to invest in an Identity Protection Plan and let specialist monitor and protect your records for fraud or other unlawful uses. You will be alerted to anything suspicious and be able to protect your identity online and off with peace of mind.
According to some research executed by the Federal Trade Commission, as many as 10% of Americans using the internet have been involved in some form of identity theft in the last half decade - sounds worrying doesn't it? Internet identity theft has its differences when compared with common identity theft. In the case of common identity theft you would have to have had something physically taken from you - such as money stolen from your home or a credit card statement snatched out of your garbage.
As awful as common identity theft is, internet id theft can be far worse. The primary reason for this last declaration is that those who have incurred internet identity theft might not realize it's happenings until it is too late to do something about it.
How Does Internet Identity Theft Take Place?
Most internet users don't know how easy it can be for internet identity theft to take place. Computers can be technical at the best of times but it is well worth your own safety and security to discover how internet identity theft works. Your hard drive collects and stores a whole lot of personal information about you and your internet usage.
Temporary internet files, cache and your browsing history will store even the smallest of details on your hard drive - but what is the most worrying is the storage of credit card numbers and passwords, personal addresses and telephone numbers.
Hackers have their ways to get hold of that information - even without being directly in front of your computer. If the information you are inputting on the internet travels over an insecure transmission they can pick it up. Spy-ware is yet another trick they have up their sleeve - certain software and downloads may include some malicious spy-ware that lets the hacker see right into your computer and extract the information he needs to perform internet theft.
How Can You Prevent Internet Identity Theft?
There are two very critical procedures to making your computer and internet as safe and secure as possible - let's break it down for you:
1. Secure Your Internet Browser
The McAfee Site Adviser is a great start when you want to secure your internet browser. Every time you run a search, the results will bring up a list of corresponding websites. McAfee rates all websites as either safe, questionable or unsafe. A small icon is placed to the side of each result so you can be warned about possible dangerous sites.
Then you need a program that warns you against possible spy-ware and other malicious software such as the Winferno Software package.
A Pop-Up Blocker is also crucial to your internet security.
As well as anti-spy-ware, you will need an anti-virus software too which can intercept any incoming viruses from downloads or even emails.
2. Protecting Your Personal information and Data
You need to regularly delete the following files from your computer. However, sometimes it is better to have a software to do this for you so that you don't delete something you shouldn't be!
A good protection software will remove the following data for you:
Recent Document's List
Temporary Internet Files
Cache
Browsing History
Tracking Cookies
Finally as a complete sources of protection you may wish to invest in an Identity Protection Plan and let specialist monitor and protect your records for fraud or other unlawful uses. You will be alerted to anything suspicious and be able to protect your identity online and off with peace of mind.
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