dentity theft is becoming free accounts such as yahoo,
a bigger problem as more hotmail or grail, and most of
and more people are making them can interface with popular
the internet a bigger part of email clients like outlook or
their lives. People who are new outlook express. Use one of them
to the online medium often fall for all of your shopping
prey to ‘phishing' or other transactions.
internet identity theft schemes.
In many cases the ‘phishing Disguise your online identity. If
party' uses your credit card to your real name in Mary Smith try
order goods for them selves, in to avoid using email accounts
other cases they will apply for with name like msmith@example.com
credit cards, set up bank when dealing with people you
accounts, and take advantage of don't know and trust. If you were
your good credit rating. born in 1972 don't chose
Correcting these issues involves msmith1972@example.com as your
a lot of time energy and stress, email account.
so here are ten tips to help you
from becoming a victim of Use different level passwords.
identity theft. Use one password for your
personal information, use another
Use a disposable email account. for your business accounts and a
Keep your business or personal third for your disposable email
email account just for business accounts or mailing lists you
or personal communication. If you sign up for. Don't use sequential
are going to be making purchases passwords like password1 for
online, joining newsgroups, or personal use password2 for
subscribing to mailing lists and business, and password 3 for
ezines use a disposable email disposable accounts.
account. There are many online
Use strong passwords. Don't use
your birthdates, year you were Use credit cards instead of debit
married, or your children's cards. While many debit cards now
birthdates. Avoid choosing offer online purchase protection
passwords that consist entirely it's easier to dispute fraudulent
of letters or numbers. Also try charges than to recover debit
to avoid using passwords that are card funds that have already been
actual words. The best passwords spent.
are mnemonic phrases like "my
father ate three apples for When you make purchases online
breakfast". Take the first letter make sure your transactions are
of each word and convert the secure. In the address bar you
number into numbers and you end should see "https" and not
up with "mfa3a4b". "http". There should also be
small lock icon in your browser.
Rotate your passwords. You should If this is your first purchase
change your passwords every 6 to from the company make sure the
12 months. If you suspect your issuing company is someone you
passwords have been compromised have heard of like Verisign, or
change them as a safety Thawte.
precaution.
Check a company's privacy policy.
Use only one credit card for all When you make your first
of your online purchases. If any transaction make sure your check
of your other credit cards have the privacy policy, look for
online transactions you know they logos from consumer groups like
are fraudulent. If you see Trust-E and the better business
offline purchases for your online bureau. Click the logos to make
credit card you also know they sure they are authentic.
are fraudulent.
Never open or fill out email to great lengths to look exactly
requests for you to update you like the companies website using
account or credit card settings their exact logo.
via email. These are ‘phishing'
scams people use to try and "© Computers.6ln.com, All Rights
secure your personal information. Reserved.
Many of them are growing
increasingly sophisticated and go
About the Author:
This article was written by Jim Faller of http://computers.6ln.com a website with information about viruses, spyware, adware, backups, data recovery and computer security.
Read more articles by:
Jim Faller
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
