PROTECTING YOUR IDENTITY

Most Internet Users know about Identity Theft, but were you aware of, that Phishing is tied directly to the Theft of your Identity. It’s time you learned more about Protecting your Identity.

Phishing is a fraudulent method of deceiving you into parting with your Personal Information. Phishing Scams are done very well in an attempt to get you to give out your Personal information. The Thieves Goal is to obtain good information, such as your Credit Card number or your Paypal Login.

You might for example get an E-email that says there has been a charge to your Credit Card, and it usually shows some big amount. Then it will tell you if it is an error to click onto a link, which will then ask you to verify your Credit Card information.

Unknowingly you enter your information in hopes of straightening out the error, which isn’t an error at all. In 5 minutes or less they have all the information they need to go shopping on your Credit Card.

There are other common deceptions such as the one that says your access to your Bank Account has been stopped, and it requires all your Personal information to reactivate. Or the Paypal one that says there has been a new E-mail address added, and if it’s not correct to enter the correct information below. You click a link, Log into a site that looks just like Paypal’s site, and divulge your Password.

These scams generally arrive via E-mail, and they look very legitimate and very serious. Individuals are targeted continuously with the disguise of larger corporations in need of a correction on your part. Even savvy Computer users have been known to fall for them. Remember there only purpose is to gather your Personal Information.

There is always a degree of urgency that goes with these E-mails encouraging you to act now or else. They scare you, trick you, and get your Information before you even realize what is happening. And because they look so professional you don’t stop to think about Scams, you just want to correct the serious problem.

Although E-mail is the common form of delivery it is also a method that is used in Pop-ups providing you with a link to a site that looks very legitimate, where you are asked for Personal Information, and perhaps even your Credit Card numbers for a Download, which by the way never arrives but you’ve parted with your Personal Information.

Wait – there’s more bad news. Your Identity can be stolen without you ever knowing it. Phishing is only one common method but there are also behind the scene events that can occur.

Some are called Keystroke Programs, which make a Copy of every Key you enter including your Passwords. Other programs just want to Hack Passwords.

You can reduce your risk here by choosing a Password that is a least 7 characters and has one number, one capital letter, and one character. You should never use real words because there is Software that encompasses the entire Dictionary.

So how do you protect yourself ?

Well there are some things you can do to make yourself a lot safer:

1. Remember that no Legitimate Company will ever ask you for your Password in an E-mail.
2. Never link to a Site that is asking for Personal Information from the E-mail. Instead go directly to the Site and enter your Information there. The link in the E-mail may take you to a site this is so close to the original you will not be able to tell the difference, and don’t always believe the address you see in the Bar, because addresses can be masked.
3. Purchase good Protection. Buy software that deals with Phishing, Adware, and Viruses.
4. Install a good Firewall. It’s always nice to have a Software Firewall and a Hardware for the added protection, especially if you are on a High Speed direct connection such as Cable.
5. Remember to create Passwords that are Secure and nevershare your Passwords with anyone.
6. Change your Passwords every 60 days.

There’s never such a thing as a 100% guarantee but installing Protective Software is like putting a Padlock on your Computer Protecting your Identity from Thieves.

You can take a look at our Software Reviews, where we give our opinion about the best Computer Protection Software on the Market Computer Software Reviews

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