Technology is always changing, which will create more ways for people to exploit “the system” Here are some tips to help you stay secure and well keeping your identify for 2007!
- VoIP users beware! Phishers will most likely try to take advantage of you. How? Well currently the most common way phishers get your password is setting up a fake website and making a link they send you in the email look like it goes to a site such as pay pal, but really it is their own server recording your info. Now what if you use your computer to call people and they know that. Well they could make it look like your calling your bank but really it goes to their line which is set up like the banks recording the call and hopefully getting your info!
- Information of millions of people is getting sold every day prevent yours by:
- Make a separate email account for spam that doesn’t have any of your personal details(possibly to phishers). Any time you sign up for a trial, web site, etc. use this address.
- Do not put your phone number out! use 000-000-0000
- Do not use your home address use something like 123 nowhere street
- For your secure things such as email, paypal, etc do not use the secret questions that people can easily find out with some research such as your “mothers maiden name”. And use a dummy question such as: having the question “what is your social security number” and the answer would be your Frequent Flyer Number. Just remember you did this.
- Do not click on a link to go to any site that you don’t want people to know your login for. Instead type in the address manually or use a book mark. I know it’s a pain just do it.
- Keep your operating system up to date! This prevents people from getting “in” your computer.
- Travelers, you are also highly targeted with the increase in WiFi and internet cafe’s people are tapping into your connection and recording your packets! Which can include your user name/password to sites you went to and your Credit Card #’s!
- Virus Scanners, it doesn’t have to be the most advanced but for any OS i recommend using something, you cannot think oh ill get anti virus software when i get a virus anymore. The chances of them changing your life from that one time is far greater now then it ever has been.
- Using a friends, school, cafe, pc for personal use? You better be using a USB drive with some type of portable browser on it(Google: portable app, you should see plenty). This will prevent the machine from storing your information. Unless it has malicious software such as a key logger on it.
- Like to use ATM’s? Well be cautious thieves are not only stealing your pin but can duplicate your card! How? Well they will plant a small camera near the keypad on an object that doesn’t look suspicious like the holder for your deposit slips(these are suppose to be underneath but thieves actually will plant them next to the pad) and then they plant a reader where you swipe your card(this have a digital copy of the strip). And then it is all wirelessy transfered to the thieves computer!
- Check to see if your cell phone supports blue tooth. If it does make sure you don’t have it unless you NEED it. People may be able to get inside your phone, take your phone book, make calls, send text messages etc remotely if you do not.
- Also if you think anything is fishy, or second guess doing something. Don’t do it, it is not worth it.
- Technology is always changing and new ways of stealing people’s information are constantly being exposed. To help protect yourself make sure you check newsgroups(CNN, Fox News, etc) or sites such as http://digg.com or http://slashdot.org on a weekly basis looking for security alerts, in order to ensure you are up to date.
Entries (RSS)