|
Author: Nikki Greene Article source: http://www.selfseo.com/. Used with author's permission.
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.
Securing your Channel
Anybody who's spent any amount of time online knows that internet addresses begin with "http://". This is used to electronically communicate the request for a line in which to jump onto the internet, and is what most people use for web surfing. Those who are a bit savvier know that a request can be put in for a secure channel, which will deflect attempts to capture any personal data that may be transmitted through the line, such as in the case of bank account numbers for those who prefer to do online banking. In order to request a secure channel, simply begin the web address with "https://" - the "s" is a red flag to the system that you're requesting a secure channel.
Credit Card vs. Debit Card
Making online purchases using a credit card is a fairly common practice today, but is far different from using a debit card online. If you really must make a purchase in this way, don't ever use a debit card. Once the funds are removed from your account, you'll be unable to retrieve them, but a credit card charge can be disputed and - in most cases - the amount that was charged without your authorization can be retrieved.
Phishing Scams
While it's simply common sense not to provide anyone with your password to an online account - or other information that might be used to access it by an outside entity - some rather creative scams have been perpetrated, which are convincing enough to lure even the most cautious of consumers into their trap.
The best example of this type of scenario would be the receipt of an e-mail from your bank, payment service or online auction host that appears to be perfectly legitimate, telling you that you need to confirm your account number, password or balance due to some type of fraud investigation, etc., that they've initiated.
Typically, a link is offered that you're instructed to click onto, in order to verify that you are, in fact, the owner of the account. When you sign in with your screen name and password after clicking on the link, these electronic thieves capture that information and use it against you in the future.
The moral of the story is that, if you should receive any type of communication from one of these types of institutions, always use an outside internet line to contact them directly in order to confirm the fact that they've sent you this e-mail. In nearly every case, these messages are fraudulent.
Social Security and Credit Cards
Since cards such as these contain extremely sensitive information about your identity - particularly in the case of the social security card - then the best way to guard against internet identity theft is to avoid providing them online. If these are truly needed in order to process some type of transaction, then it's better to request that a hard copy form is sent to you through the postal service, and take care of the matter in that way.
Use Common Sense
Protecting yourself from internet identity theft is largely a matter of common sense. If there's a bit of sensitive information that no-one else should be privy to, then it's not a good idea to blast it across the internet - unless you're feeling very, very lucky. The author grants reprint permission to all venues so long as the copyright and by-line are included intact.
Copyright © 2005 Preventing Identity Theft.com All Rights Reserved.
About the Author: Nikki Greene is dedicated to helping you become better informed when it comes to preventing identity theft. Sign up for her "Preventing Identity Theft Newsletter" and keep up with the latest trends, identity theft in the news, and how you can safeguard your identity: http://www.preventing-identity-theft.com/
15 Simple Metabolism Boosting Secrets
If you are finding it a struggle to lose weight, try these tips to start burning calories faster. You'll lose weight more easily AND have more energy to get thr...
10 Tools for Dealing with Criticism and Rejection
Ouch! Whether it's feedback we've asked for, an unsolicited remark called out from the audience or a simple "no" result of an audition or submission process, cr...
Las Vegas Hotel Maps
So you are planning to visit Las Vegas but…. do you know where to start looking? Do you know where are the places you want to see? And, most important of all… d...
Weddings, From a Photographers Point of View
What can you do to make your wedding day more enjoyable and less stressful?
October: A Month of Personal Harvest
October is hands down my favorite month. Every year l look forward to a visit to Lynd's Fruit Farm in Pataskala, Ohio. My husband and I get in the car on a cris...
Manual Article Submissions - Miscellaneous Setup Needed
Now that you have your Simple Text & HTML setup for submission online, open up one more text file for miscellaneous information that will be asked of you from v...
Wildlife in Winter Ponds
This may seem contradictory, but you want to leave a little bit of debris in the pond when preparing it for winter. Some water gardeners net out the fish, comp...
Body Jewelry and Todays Stars
Body jewelry and body piercing practices have been observed by various groups of people all over the world throughout the centuries. For some tribes it is a rit...
Asian Gambling Basics
Gambling became popular in China in the last phase of the imperial dynasty i.e. from 1644 to 1912. Canton, Macao, Shanghai and Hong Kong became the famous for t...
Why Are Manhole Covers Round?
Recently I stumbled across a list of Microsoft Interview questions and was amazed by how the questions challenged me to look beyond the ordinary. I share some o...
Curls Are Back In for Spring 2005!
This Spring is the time to flaunt those curls!
The Beauty of Ceramics
Try your hand at creating something beautiful and useful.
IPod Energy Source
Imagine a magic iPod player, which was small and compact, that you could take anywhere. Okay they already thought of that and it is available. So let's imagine ...
Abdominal Training - Abs
Everyone wants a six-pack of abs right? Well, maybe not everyone, but you get the point! Most people think that training their abs will somehow make them appear...
Speed of Movement & the Mighty Metronome.
Learn how the often-neglected parameter of tempo can influence your
training.
Hobbits and Lice
Flores Island and Mungo Man do not fit the lie of 'his'-story. The academic world is a long way from able to incorporate the meaning behind the recent proofs as...
Why Laughter Is Good For You
LAUGHTER REALLY IS THE BEST MEDICINE according to the latest scientific
studies. LAUGHER discharges tension, relieves depression, anxiety, fear,and
anger. It ...
Whirlpools Go Chromo
Home Spa's Getting Holistic with Chromotherapy: CHROMOTHERAPY, sometimes called color therapy, light therapy or colorology, is based on the fact that certain co...
Time Management Wasters
Learn how to get rid of your time management wasters...
Spirituality from the Hebrew Bible: 10 Major Themes
Have you ever wanted to gain an overview of the Hebrew Bible (also known as the "Old Testament")? Explore its major themes, including God, Man, Sin, Righteousne...
Wedding Cake Toppers
When deciding on a topper for your wedding cake, try to find something unusual or one of a kind. The kind of wedding you are having, is a guide to the type of w...
Want a Flat Stomach? - Heres the Best Exercise
It's not the exercise you may think. Find out the best way to begin flattening your stomach.
Who Will Passive Income Work Best For?
Students are not the only people who should think about creating passive income, however. If you find that your job is not paying you enough money, but you defi...
Inspired Intuition - Following Your Inner Voice
How many times have you had a hunch, inkling, a gut reaction or other display of intuition and failed to act on it? Sometimes our intuition is a warning; other ...
|
Print this page