SubscribeFREE EBOOK
Valid Email Required to receive free eBookSecurity Tips
Browse by Category
Identity Theft Myths Part 3of3 During PYIW
Published: Oct 23, 2009Identity Theft Expert Robert Siciliano
The National Foundation for Credit Counselors, which sponsors Protect Your Identity Week, has compiled a number of identity theft myths. To support their efforts, the Santa Fe Group Vendor Council Awareness and Education Subcommittee has helped to clarify some common misinformation with regards to this increasingly common crime. This is the third and final post on the subject.
Myth #8: I don’t use the Internet, so my personal information is not exposed online.
Your personal information appears in more places than you might realize, whether it’s your medical records, a job application, or a school emergency contact form. Many of these records are kept in electronic databases and transmitted online. Social networking sites are another good source of personal information for identity thieves. Even if you do not use them yourself, your friends or members of your family may be sharing personal information about you. Not using the Internet may offer some protection, but it won’t keep you safe from online criminals.
The identity theft resource center has compiled a list of high profile data breaches.
Get Safe Online offers tips on safe social networking.
Myth #9: Social networking is safe.
Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter can be fun to use. But they can be dangerous when it comes to your identity. These sites are used by thieves and others to steal information, trick people and promote a variety of scams. To protect yourself, avoid making personal information available to large groups of “friends,” take advantage of the privacy controls offered by most of these sites, and use common sense.
I blogged about social networking websites for the Huffington Post.
Myth #10: It is not safe to shop or bank online.
Like social networking, shopping and banking online are safe as long as you use common sense and make good choices about where and how you do it. Most importantly, always take care to confirm a site is legitimate before you use it, watch out for copycat sites, and keep your computer safe from viruses.
Get Safe Online offers tips on safe online shopping.
The FDIC offers tips on safe Internet banking.
Invest in Intelius identity theft protection and prevention. Not all forms of identity theft protection can be prevented, but identity theft protection services can dramatically reduce your risk.
Robert Siciliano “Disclosures” Identity Theft Speaker discussing hacked email on Fox News
Similar Posts
- Identity Theft Myths Part 2of3 During PYIW
Identity Theft Expert Robert Siciliano The National Foundation for Credit Counselors, which sponsors Protect Your Identity Week, has compiled a number of identity theft myths. To support their efforts, the Santa Fe Group Vendor Council Awareness and Education Subcommittee has helped to clarify some common misinformation with regards to this increasingly common crime. We’ve already discussed - Identity Theft Myths Part 1of3 During PYIW
Identity Theft Expert Robert Siciliano The National Foundation for Credit Counselors, which sponsors Protect Your Identity Week, has compiled a number of identity theft myths. To support their efforts, the Santa Fe Group Vendor Council Awareness and Education Subcommittee has helped to clarify some common misinformation with regards to this increasingly common crime. Myth #1: There’s no - Is Your Facebook Friend a Fed, or Sex Offender?
When you think about it, Facebook is weird. Where else in the world do you call people who you don’t know your friends? I probably have about 10-15 friends. Most are acquaintances and the others 400 are total strangers. There’s a lot of excessive trust in the Facebook world. People have - Should Background Checks Be Required for Dating Sites?
It’s no secret that there are kooky people both online and on the ground. The problem with the online part is kooky people seem to gravitate there. My theory is that those who have ulterior motives, an agenda of sorts, may believe they can lure in their victims easier online. I can see why they’d - Researcher Proves Your Friend Isn’t Your Friend
I’ve said numerous times that there’s too much trust in the Facebook world. People have entirely dropped their sense of cynicism when logged on. Apparently, they see no reason to distrust. Generally, your “friends” are people who you “know, like and trust.” In this world, your guard is as down as it will ever be.