Top 10 Ways to Protect Your Identity Online

Follow these tips to keep your identity safe
July 2009
by Robin Wark

When it comes to crime, the Internet is still the Wild Wild West. One modern day bandit is Max Ray Vision, a prolific San Francisco hacker who pled guilty in June to two counts of wire fraud. Vision, who will be sentenced in October, stole almost 2 million credit card numbers. He swiped these from not only financial institutions but also cybercriminals. He used those numbers to rack up more $86.4 million in fraudulent charges.

It is not just your credit card and banking numbers you need to protect while using the Internet. These cyber fraudsters try to glean your personal information - through research, spyware or keyloggers - so they can open accounts in your name.

How do you protect yourself? The simplest solution is to never use the Internet! But in today’s world that’s just not practical. The following 10 hints can help you protect yourself online:

  1. Select quality passwords. Your password is the easiest way a thief can access your bank account and other important information on the web. While it can be a pain to remember, it is safest to have a different password for each of your online banking, credit card, email and social networking accounts. To make it difficult for someone to guess your password, you should select something that you can remember but not obvious – don't use your children's or sweetheart’s names. Also, you can make it difficult for thieves by using passwords that don’t use conventional capitalization, utilize both numbers and letters and have more than the standard eight characters (making it more work for a criminal).
  2. Always use a firewall. Most computers come with them pre-installed, but there are also free and professional versions available. They can greatly deter hackers.
  3. Make use of software tools. Programs like ParetoLogic Anti-Virus, ParetoLogic Anti-Spyware and XoftSpySE scan your PC thoroughly and remove malicious code that is looking to do damage or steal your confidential information. ParetoLogic Anti-Virus and ParetoLogic Anti-Spyware both feature “active protection,” which stops files from downloading to your computer without your knowledge. As well, software like ParetoLogic Privacy Controls cleans your PC of confidential and potentially embarrassing information that cyber criminals could use against you.
  4. Beware of emails from people you don’t know. If you do not know the sender, do not open attachments as they could be malware. As well, if an offer in an email sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of any email asking you for personal information, no matter what the promised reward.
  5. If you receive an email from your bank or another institution you deal with asking for information, verify it first before proceeding. Legitimate businesses rarely ask for personal information via email. As well, emails could contain links that could lead you to fake web pages. It is better to log onto your bank’s website or contact the institution yourself to ensure you are not being had.
  6. Look for the lock. In your browser’s tool bar, the padlock symbol should appear and the URL should read "https." This indicates a secure connection, protected by encryption technology.
  7. Monitor your credit cards and bank statements carefully. If there are strange charges, you should take the time to check them out. Often criminals will try a $1 or similar small charge first to make sure the number works before trying a larger purchase. You should look for this pattern. As well, you can ask for one free credit report each year. This can help you find out if someone has opened accounts in your name.
  8. Surf safely. If something doesn’t feel right online, it probably isn’t. You should navigate away from the suspicious site quickly without clicking on anything on it. For example, if the site seems to be overpopulated with advertisements or unclothed women it usually is probably not a safe place.
  9. Give out your personal information sparingly. If your Facebook or MySpace profile contains your telephone number, address, email and workplace, a savvy identity thief can probably establish accounts in your name. In the case of online registrations, fill out only the required fields. Also, you should decide whether you want a company to share your information with others. There is usually a check box that lets you opt in or out of the sharing of the information.
  10. Keep track of your children online. Your kids' Internet activities could put them and you at risk. You should discuss safe surfing practices with them and consider using parental software such as PGsurfer to protect them. More information about safe surfing can be found online at safesurfer.org.

Cyber criminals are a cagey bunch who are always adapting. While authorities strive to catch up, it is best to do what you can to protect yourself online. Following the above 10 tips will give you a good start on thwarting identity theft online.