It is now easier than ever to do the things we must do each month, like paying bills and shopping, without ever leaving the comfort of our home, and it’s all because of the Internet. In so doing, they tend to keep a lot of sensitive details stored on their PDAs, laptops and desktop computers, such as banking and credit card information along with the relevant passwords and PINs. The danger of doing this is that a skillful hacker has no trouble accessing a computer from anywhere in the world and getting the information that the owner thought was so safely stored in the computer’s files.

The hacker can do more than just take the money in the bank accounts or available on the credit cards. The fact is, once a criminal has your account information, he can actually assume your identity and apply for more credit cards, loans and other sources of credit. Your credit can be quickly ruined by a criminal running up huge amounts that will be billed to you. I am going to give you some valuable steps that you should take right away to protect yourself from this type of destructive crime.

1. Anytime you use a personal computer, laptop, or PDA, set a password that no one can figure out in order to use it.

2. Computers will give you the option to save your password so you don’t have to type it in each time you log on; do not do this, though. Many users have found it convenient to use the computer’s capability to remember passwords and automatically enter them so they don’t have to try to remember numerous passwords themselves. But of course that means that they are also there for an identify thief to use to access your accounts.

3. File sharing is the transfer of information between one computer and another, and it allows for easier access to your information. If you must use this feature, be sure to password protect it.

4. One of the best defenses you can use is to change your security questions and passwords often.

5. Never turn off the antivirus software you use, or your firewalls.

6. Do not fall for phishing attempts, a popular scam which an identity thief uses to obtain personal information. The way they do this is by sending out an email that you think is from someone who is real, either a credit card company or bank that you already use. The emails typically ask the recipients to verify their personal account information, such as username, password, and PIN number, so the account can be updated and won’t be closed down. Of course, if you provide the information, it will be used to gain access to your accounts and your money.

7. If you do any online shopping, don’t use your credit card and give your number unless you are sure that the merchant can be trusted and the site is secure. The best way to make sure that your information is safe is to use PayPal to pay for items online when you can.

Nowadays, just about everyone is at risk of becoming a victim of identity theft. It’s important that you learn ways to protect yourself, such as using identity theft software on your computer. Get the information you need at Protect My Identity.

Tags: Identity Theft