Carroll County Times Articles
Preventing Internet Identity Theft –
It's More Than Digital
by Tom Alessi – September 25, 2005
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” said Benjamin Franklin about two hundred years ago. It is a trite and time-worn adage that continues to be relevant in the cyberspace age when identity theft through the Internet has become a serious issue in our society.
Given the digital nature of cyberspace, it would seem that the ounce of prevention needed would be software applications which would protect our sensitive information from Internet thugs. Appropriately, the Internet security industry has responded to the threat of these assaults on our personal data with “firewalls” and “spyware protection.”
Essential Protection
A firewall can be likened to building a castle around your data with a drawbridge and gatekeeper. The firewall allows only permitted access to the castle while raising the drawbridge to block undesired contact. The users of the computer or network system “train” the firewall gatekeeper what incoming and outgoing data traffic is acceptable and what should be blocked. The gatekeeper will ask if each new application is to have access to the Internet. You control access to the sensitive data.
Spyware protection is important as well because spyware can, without your knowledge or permission, monitor your computer activity and even control your use of the computer. A spyware invader can tell what keys you are typing on your keyboard and pick up sensitive information about you. It can also hijack your web browser, leading you to websites that you did not intend to visit. Again, personal information can be compromised by the invader.
However, even with a firewall and spyware protection, a computer or network is still vulnerable. The Achilles' heel is you and every other human who uses your system. There will be times when you, or someone on your system, will willingly share information, unknowingly visit a bad website, or otherwise compromise your information security.
Basic Safety Rules
Therefore, in addition to the software programs mentioned above, you should also be aware of certain basic rules about safely navigating the Internet:
- Personal Information
- Be extremely careful about giving out sensitive personal information on the Internet. Before providing such information, check the company's privacy policy to make sure you understand whether your information may be shared.
- Purchasing
- Use a credit card, not a debit card when you buy online.
- (The maximum liability for unauthorized use of a credit card is $50.00.)
- Beware of False Appearances
- Beware of “phishing” - this is a method Internet hackers use to send e-mails that appear to come from legitimate Internet providers asking to confirm sensitive information, such as passwords and social security numbers. Legitimate businesses should not ask you to confirm such information on the Internet.
- Record Keeping
- Maintain records of your Internet purchase transactions and pay attention to e-mails from the vendors.
- Trustworthy Companies
- Do business only with companies you know are trustworthy. If you don't know the company, try to get a reference from someone you trust. When asked to provide your financial or other sensitive information, the address bar at the top of your screen should change letters from “http” to “https” or “shttp” to indicate a secured environment. If the information is being encrypted or scrambled, your browser may indicate that as well.
- Understand the Offer
- Understand the offer being made.
- Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Legitimate Bills and Invoices
- Check all bills and invoices carefully.
- Make sure everything looks legitimate.
- Credit Report
- Order a copy of your credit report periodically to make sure that someone is not using your personal information to charge on your existing accounts, to open new accounts in your name or to change your address. Beginning September 1, 2005, you can order free copies of your credit report as often as every 4 months from one of the three major credit reporting services. Call 877-322-8228 or go to “www.annualcreditreport.com” to make your request.
- Educate Computer Users
- Educate your children, employees or anyone authorized to use your computer system about the scams used by unscrupulous hackers so they do not reveal sensitive information about you, your customers, friends or your business without asking you first.
More Information
If you would like to get more information about protecting yourself against identity theft on or off of the Internet, the U.S. government's Federal Trade Commission has an excellent site at www.ftc.gov. Other good sites to visit on this topic can be found as follows:
- National Fraud Information Center / Internet Fraud Watch
- www.fraud.org
- Better Business Bureau
- www.bbb.org
- United States Department of Justice
- www.usdoj.gov
About the Author
Tom Alessi is Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending for New Windsor State Bank, and an Advisor for the Carroll Technology Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating businesses, government and residents about technology issues. Questions are welcomed and may be addressed in future articles. Email advisors@carrolltechcouncil.org or go to www.carrolltechcouncil.org for a list of Advisor categories.
