Protect Your Identity Learn About Cybercrime

Knowing how to protect yourself can be your best ally


More than 430 million people worldwide have been affected by cybercrime, which cost $388 billion in monetary and time losses, according to the 2011 Norton Cybercrime Report, released last month.

The report was based on interviews with nearly 20,000 individuals from 24 countries, and found that 14 people fall victim to cybercrime every second - a total of 1 million victims each day. Overall, 69 percent of adults who regularly go online have experienced cybercrime.

The most common forms of cybercrime are viruses and malware. These are also the most preventable forms of cybercrime, also called online identity theft. Identity thieves look for victims by “phishing” - a practice in which a victim receives some sort of communication asking for personal or financial information. There are often embedded links in these communications that contain viruses or malware, which will infect the victim’s computer and allow access to personal and financial information.

But there are ways you can protect yourself. First of all, don’t open e-mail or respond to communications that are unsolicited. Never click on links provided in those communications, including those that you might receive via social media sites.

Never provide your personal or financial information online unless the site is secure and you are sure of the identity of the source behind the request. This includes your Social Security number, credit card and bank account numbers, driver’s license number or health insurance information. If you are unsure about the request, verify it with the proper source using a number found on the statement or website - do not call a number provided in the communication.

Make sure that your computer is equipped with up to date anti-virus and anti-spyware software, as well as a firewall. Use unique passwords for every site you visit, and make them difficult to decipher, using upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols.

Never download software that is from an unknown source. If you often download games, screensavers or other items from sites that are disreputable, they may contain backdoors and Trojans that your anti-virus software may not catch. Only download software if you are sure of the source.

Make sure you also monitor your credit profile. You will need to check your bank and credit card statements carefully each month, but you should also look at your credit report to be sure there are no fraudulent or incorrect entries. The sooner you find there is a problem, the sooner you can take steps to fix it.

Lastly, you can always enroll in a identity theft protection program that will monitor your credit reports and alert you of any suspicious activity going on with your accounts.

Company Contact Information
SmartCredit
(877) 372-3895

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Original Source: Protect Your Identity – Learn About Cybercrime