Identity theft becoming more of a threat

Identity theft is happening more than most people can handle or believe these days, and because more and more of your personal information is online every day, it gets harder and harder to accomplish any sort of identity theft protection or prevention.

Case in point. The “Scope of data theft broadens” article from ARS Technica by Eric Bangeman on 20 Feb, 2005 stated:

Early last week, it came to light that the personal data of 35,000 Californians was stolen from consumer data services company ChoicePoint. The theft originally became public knowledge when the company notified California residents about it. A recently-passed California law requires consumers to be notified when their personal data is illegaly accessed. By the end of the week, it turned out that there were at least another 110,000 people outside that state who were also affected by the theft.

And if you try to report identity theft today, and have lost less than US$5,000.00 the officials will most likely do nothing because there is so much identity theft going on that they don’t have the time to handle ’small cases’.

Now, why on earth should you care about this?
This should give you a clue…

Here are some steps on how you go about having some level of identity theft protection while your data is spread throughout the world more and more each day.
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a) Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Only allow one account to be accessed online. Keep your real money in other accoutns and transfer to the one online account as needed.

b) Do not use your name when registering your computer, software or services to whatever extent that you can. If your data is on your computer, an ill-minded hacker can dig it out.

c) Keep track of your credit charges. If you _KNOW_ what you purchased, you know what you didn’t and can spot when someone is using your data easier.

d) Do not use Internet Explorer to browse the Internet with. It has been the thorn in the side of knowledgeable computer security people for years, and has _NOT_ improved with age. If your bank, financial software or computer security software demands that you use it - demand that your bank, financial software or computer security software mend their less-than secure ways, or you will switch to a firm that cares about your security.

e) If you are the typical home computer user, you are running Windows. Ask your computer technician to _UNINSTALL_ Microsoft networking from your computer. This is largest source of questionable traffic on the Internet, and one of the easiest ways for a ill-minded hacker to get into your computer. At the very least, use a router that can block some forms of traffic, and block Microsoft networking.

f) If you are the typical home computer user, you are running Windows and leave your computer connected to the Internet all the time. Turn off your DSL/cable modem when you are not using it. Less time with the screen door open means less flies in the house (or bugs in the computer…)

g) Be smart about who you give your data to, and how much data you give. No-one ever said you have to give all your data to everyone that asks for it. Logging on to a forum, news or other non-secure website? Use a nick or made-up name. This is not hiding, this is simply identity theft prevention.

The bottom line is simply this:
Dish out as much of your personal data as you can afford to lose - because when you are on the Internet, chances are you will lose it.