When you chat, shop, or visit the web, what would you think if someone could get your personal information? no big deal? What if someone collects enough information about you and uses your name, birthday, and address to impersonate you online?
Hard to believe this is true? According to statistics, criminal cases of online fraud by stealing or hijacking personal information have become more and more common, and this is the result of the technology we love: the Internet.
The Internet makes it easy for us to apply for credit cards, shop online, and do research for school projects. At the same time, the Internet provides thieves with access to our personal information and an invisible cloak: they do not have to go there in person to make fraudulent purchases or apply for a credit card in your name. In addition, cybercriminals are also much more anonymous, because if they use a computer in a library or local airport, they cannot actually be tracked.
Using the Internet not only makes it easier for thieves to steal your ID, but also makes it more difficult for law enforcement agencies to track them down. Online identity theft is difficult to track down because it may take several months for victims to realize that their identity has been stolen. When the victim discovers the crime and reports it, the thief is gone.
As long as your computer is connected to the Internet, it is not safe unless there is a firewall or anti-virus protection. Although there is no way to prevent this crime from happening, you can take the following steps to reduce the risk:
- Install anti-virus software, security software and personal firewall to prevent intruders from illegally invading your personal computer or Mac computer. Good protection software usually has a firewall that allows the computer to enter incognito mode so that hackers will not find you online.
- Choose a password that is not easy to guess. Users should set a password that contains numbers and letters, and avoid using common words or names that are easily guessed by identity thieves.
- Don’t use the same password on different websites, and don’t store the password on your computer.
- Never disclose your personal information in chat rooms. Don't include your phone number or home address in your email signature.
- Use only one credit card to shop online and maintain a low credit limit. Shop on familiar and reputable websites.
- Use antivirus software to scan all email attachments you receive, even if you know and trust the sender.
- It is always better to make mistakes for safety. If you are not sure about an attachment, delete it. Especially if it comes from someone you don't know.
- Be careful when downloading to avoid downloading files that cannot be secured. This includes free software, screensavers, games and any other executable programs-any file with the extension .exe or .com, such as coolgame.exe. And make sure to scan it before running each program.
If you suspect that you are a victim of online identity theft, act quickly to prevent further theft. Remember, scammers may have obtained your personal information online, which can be used in a variety of ways.
This article is reproduced from snow beast software
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