| Simply stated, identity theft is the unauthorized | | | | higher level of protection, such as a strong |
| use of someone else's identity represented by his | | | | password system, should prevent the thief from |
| name, fingerprint, voiceprint, photograph, or unique | | | | completing a start up. |
| personal information. Identity theft is a broad | | | | If you wish to go further up in the ladder of |
| security and legal issue occurring in the real, | | | | identity theft protection, there are software |
| physical world and the virtual, and in many cases | | | | (some totally free, some shareware) you can use |
| straddles both. | | | | to encrypt and decrypt your files using virtually |
| This is because identity thieves thrive and practice | | | | impenetrable, standards-based algorithms. |
| their trade in both worlds, presenting the art and | | | | Although thieves may be able to access or open |
| science of identity theft protection quite a handful | | | | these encrypted files, they can not make |
| of problems and measures to contend with. | | | | anything of what they see. Encryption is a good |
| If you believe this is something you need to be | | | | idea. Unencrypted files in hard drives may be read |
| concerned about yet do not wish to be made an | | | | by hackers even if the computer is |
| unwilling expert by the enormous volume of | | | | password-prevented from completing a start up. |
| information on the subject, there are three basic | | | | Secondly, remember that identity theft can be |
| ways to secure yourself and as well as help those | | | | perpetrated by individuals personally, or through |
| around you. | | | | their agents, namely software, in the in the virtual |
| #1 Be prudent about revealing personal | | | | world. Keep your computer secure from intrusion |
| information. | | | | with a firewall and antivirus software as a |
| Banks and financial institutions print hard copy | | | | minimum measure. And keep that antivirus |
| forms as Internet sites display pages asking you | | | | software version updated. Viruses and their |
| for all sorts of information about you, eventually | | | | variants come out of the woodworks almost |
| to be stored in filing cabinets and computer | | | | every second. |
| databases whose security can not be fully | | | | #3 Ever be threat and security aware. |
| guaranteed against third-party intrusion. | | | | Perhaps the most fundamental and safest attitude |
| A sound identity theft protection policy is to give | | | | you can take toward identity theft protection is |
| only the absolute minimum information required | | | | to be resigned to the fact that there is an |
| even by anyone you could trust them with. | | | | imminent and permanent threat to you but that |
| One thing to be aware of is the existence of the | | | | there are measures you can effectively take to |
| "phishing" threat in the Internet. Phishing is the use | | | | minimize it. |
| of official looking email or bogus sites by identity | | | | Items 1 and 2 will get you up to a good degree |
| thieves to obtain personal information from | | | | of protection, but one careless and reckless action |
| unwary or unsuspecting individuals. If unsure, you | | | | can open up even your best defenses. It can be |
| can verify the website you are entering by | | | | as trivial as discarding an information-laden piece |
| checking its certificate (online) issued by trusted | | | | of bank document into your kitchen trashcan or |
| certifiers/verifiers. | | | | handing over your unprotected, confidential files in |
| #2 Secure your own physical and virtual spaces. | | | | your computer and hard drive to an uncertified |
| First, anything and everything that contains or can | | | | shop technician. |
| contain personal information should be secure at all | | | | Identity theft protection is an evolving practice |
| times. This would include your home and office | | | | just as the Internet develops by embracing |
| mailboxes, computers, and desk. The most critical | | | | innovative technologies, thus enabling new |
| measure is to prevent unauthorized third-party | | | | transaction processes. More threats and modus |
| access to them. | | | | operandi will emerge, but those aware and |
| And should computers fall into the wrong hands, a | | | | prepared will come out the wiser. |