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Identify Theft

What is identity theft?

Identity theft refers to the theft of personal information, which is often used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you a lot of time and money by destroying your credit and ruining your good name. It is a serious crime

Why do criminals target home PCs for identity theft?

Identity thieves and hackers target home computers because they know families often do not maintain adequate security protection on their PCs. This makes these family users easy, lucrative marks. Many hackers access your personal information in order to steal your money and your identity. Others might want to use your home computer as a shield to mask their identity as they steal from others.

Phishing is a particular type of identity theft: the online method of fraudulently obtaining personal information for identity theft, such as passwords, social security numbers, and credit card details, by sending spoofed emails that look like they come from trusted sources, such as banks or legitimate companies.

Typically, phishing emails request that recipients click on the link in the email to verify or update contact details or credit card information. Like spam, identity theft emails are sent to a large number of email addresses with the expectation that some percentage of recipients will read the messages and disclose their personal information.

Anyone can fall victim to identity theft by:

  • Accessing the Internet from an unsecured PC-Without a security layer between your computer and the Internet, you invite hackers to steal your identity, destroy your files, or use your PC to attack others
  • Obtaining potentially unwanted programs like spyware or adware on your PC-Malicious software programs may monitor your keystrokes, track your Internet logins, transmit your confidential information, or redirect your browser to fake web sites
  • Sending personal information over the Internet-Hackers can easily retrieve sensitive data that is sent over an unsecured Internet connection
  • Downloading files from friends and family or accepting unknown emails-You can obtain a virus, worm, or Trojan simply by accepting files from your friends, family, or others
  • Not recognizing phishing scams or spam-Phishing scams use fraudulent emails and web sites to lure unsuspecting users into revealing private account or login information
  • Leaving your wireless network unsecured-Since your wireless network's radio waves travel through walls, a hacker with a simple antenna could attack you from miles away to steal your information or to launch attacks from your PC

What is online identity theft protection?

Online identity theft protection helps keep you and your family or business safe from dangerous website spoofs that can lead to the compromise of your PC and your identity and can threaten the security of what you value.

Why do I need online identity theft protection?

You need online identity protection because identity thieves and cybercriminals can steal your personal information for the purpose of committing fraud in your name or abusing your personal financial information.

Identity theft protection is a wise investment for individuals, small businesses, medium businesses, and global enterprises.

Identity Theft Research
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