Don't Be an Identity Theft Victim: E-mail Safety Tips

Remember the good old days: To send a picture to your family, you had to put it in envelope, mark the envelope "Photos-Do Not Bend" (which, apparently in some languages means "Bend this"), then find their mailing address, hunt for stamps, try to guess how many to use, then wait 3-37 business days for them to receive it. You business owners out there, remember trying to get your client that important proposal, having to get everything typed up and signed before 4 pm to make sure it went out overnight? Then, remembering at 4:15 that you forgot to include that important page.

My how we have grown. E-mail is a truly invaluable tool. What would we do without it! Now, we use it to send pictures to friends and family instantly. We use it to request more information about that vacation we want to take. Office coworkers use it to communicate with one another and businesses use it to communicate with customers and vendors. E-mail is fun and very cost efficient. But, it is not very secure. It is one of the main ways of transmitting viruses and other malicious software from computer to computer. Also, it is possible for your e-mail to be read by someone other than your intended recipient. E-mail is really like sending a postcard through the mail. Anyone can read what you write on a postcard. Knowing that, you would never write "secret" stuff on a postcard and that same rule should apply to your e-mail.

This article is the second in our series "Protect your Data Online and in the Office". Remember, a thief first needs your data in order to steal your identity. That is what we want to prevent. The first article in our series dealt with creating good, strong passwords. Now, we will offer some tips and suggestions that will help keep you safe while using e-mail. But first, where did e-mail come from?

A Very Brief History of E-mail
Very basic e-mail actually first appeared on scene in early 1960s. However, it only worked with a certain type of computer and so was not feasible for the masses. But then, in the early 1990s, the modern version of e-mail began to take shape. America Online and Delphi began to connect their corporate e-mail systems to the Internet and viola, the modern e-mail standard was born. Now anyone could send a certain number of e-mails each month for around $10 (can you imagine having to pay for e-mail?). Today, estimates on the number of e-mails send each day range from a little over 2 billion (yes, that is "billion") to 60 billion. Wow! That is allot of communication. It also provides plenty of opportunity for unscrupulous people to spread viruses and harvest sensitive data. So, lets see how we can limit our risk while using e-mail.

E-mail Attachments
Be skeptical of attachments. Even if you know the person sending you the message, if you are not expecting an attachment, don' t open it. The attachment may contain nasty little programs know as "letterbombs." One of these could easily render your computer useless. The best course of action is to contact the sender and ask them if they sent you a file. They can then verify that it was indeed from them. Then, you can decide to open it or not. If you decide to open it, make sure your anti-virus software is operating and is up-do-date. This may be an inconvenience, but it is much better than possibly installing a trojan horse program or a virus.

Links In Your E-mail Message
Be skeptical of links to web sites that may be included in the e-mail. You must make sure the link will lead you to where you think it will. The link may say it will lead you to the "E-Bay" site, for example. However, in reality, it might lead you to a questionable web site. Rather than clicking on any link within your e-mail message, copy the URL and paste it into your web browser. Here's how:

? While in the e-mail, highlight the entire link in question and press Ctrl-C.

? Open your web browser.

? Highlight the text contained in the address bar at the top and press Ctrl-V.

? Read the text carefully and make sure it looks safe. Sometimes the underlying URL is different from what appears in the e-mail message.

Install an anti-spoofing program like Spoofstick. It is a great little program that will alert you if you are about to go to a questionable site.

Personal Data
Never transmit credit card, bank account, social security number, passwords or any other information you consider private via e-mail. Remember, it is really like sending a postcard.

"But I got this email from my bank. They told me that I had to update my account information or it will be suspended", you may say. Amazingly, thousands fall for this. While the e-mail may look official, right down to the institution's logo, it is most likely a scam. Don't fall for it. Financial institutions will not do this sort of thing via e-mail. Most likely, they will send you a letter in the mail, requesting that you update your information. However, if you think that the request may really be legitimate, call them on the phone at the number that you have on record. Then you will be sure if the request is valid.

Passwords
Change your passwords often. This does not take long and goes a long way to protecting your data. See our article "Tips for Creating Good Passwords" for more information on this important step.

Spam
This is probably the number one complaint that clients have. While it is almost impossible to completely avoid spam, here are some things that can limit your exposure:

? Never reply to spam. Sometimes there is an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the message. However, if you click it, you are probably just signifying to the spammer that he has found a legitimate address and he will be sure to send you more spam.

? Enable your e-mail software's spam filtering features. This varies from e-mail program to e-mail program. Consult the help section of the software that you use for more information.

? Do not post your e-mail address on any web page. Programs called "harvesters" routinely search the Internet for e-mail addresses to gather and sell to spammers.

? Use a free e-mail account address (such as through Yahoo, MSN, Google) when filling out web forms. These addresses are free and, in most cases, they are very good at spam filtering.

? When filling out a web form, make sure to uncheck any box indicating you would like to receive "additional information" or "production information from related vendors" (unless you want to receive such correspondence).

Using Public Computers
When using a public computer at a library or coffee shop, for example, make sure you sign out when you are done. That way, the next user will not be privy to your account information. Also, make sure you close the browser you were using when you are ready to end your Internet session. Some computers are setup to automatically remove private information when they are closed. If you are not sure, ask the administrator.

In Conclusion
Hopefully, this article provided you with some new ideas regarding e-mail safety. Common sense and a healthy dose of skepticism will go a long way to keeping you and your data safe. Use caution when revealing personal information, such as account numbers or passwords, to anyone you meet in cyberspace because they may not be who they claim to be.

Next in the series will be an article discussing some software that will help to keep you safe. Make sure to bookmark our blog and check back for that article.

Useful Suggestions for Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft

It's no surprise that thousands of Americans are victimized by identity theft each year. Last year more than 9,000,000 people were victims of identity theft amounting to some $45 billion dollars.

By the time the average person realizes they have become a victim of identity theft; it is much too late. By this point, the victim's financial stability and credit rating may be impacted significantly.

What can you to to protect yourself from identity theft? Here are some useful suggestions for you...

• Place passwords on your credit card, bank, and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.
• Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your home.
• Use a paper shredder to shred sensitive documents before discarding them.
• Ask about information security procedures in your workplace or at businesses, doctor's offices or other institutions that collect your personally identifying information. Find out who has access to your personal information and verify that it is handled securely. Ask about the disposal procedures for those records as well. Find out if your information will be shared with anyone else. If so, ask how your information can be kept confidential.
• Never tell anyone your personal information over the phone or send it through email, or fax. Most legitimate companies will not request this information from you via phone or any other unprotected source.
• Monitor your credit report on a monthly basis to watch for unusual activitiy. Many credit report services will alert you to such activity and even assist you in resolving issues. We have partnered with Equifax to offer you their Credit Watch product.

By following these steps you can lower your risk of becoming an identity theft victim. Being informed is the most valuable protection against identity theft.

Bryan A. Mjaanes is the owner of the successful ReviewCardOffers website - a credit card offer comparison site where you can review more than 130 credit card offers and apply online.

 

How you can Help Prevent Identity Theft

How can I prevent Identity theft from happening to me? Never leave your receipt or slip in the ATM or gas pump. Pay attention to your habits, lock up or organize and file your bills, and bank statements. Shred them using a cross shredder before throwing them away.

In a recent article in MSN Money their research showed that 32% of people said they had been a victim of identity fraud by a friend or family, and 13% were victimized by a co-worker. Beware! These people know your patterns and habits.

Some steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of Identity theft are:

Get a copy of your credit report from all three credit bureaus. (FREE as of 9/1/05!)

Experian, PO Box 2002, Allen TX 75013 www.experian.com 888-397-3742
Equifax, PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30348 www.equifax.com 800-685-1111
Trans Union, PO Box 4000, Chester, PA 19016 www.transunion.com 866-887-2673

Opt out of mailing lists by contacting the credit bureaus above.
Opt out by reading the privacy notice that comes with your credit card and following the instructions.
Call the national Do Not Call Registry at 1-888-382-1222 or visit www.donotcall.gov be sure to call from the number you want to register
Do not carry your Social Security Card in your wallet
Do not print your Social security number on your checks
Do not get your social security number printed on your drivers license
Do not carry your Medicade card with you, Medicade #s are your Social security number
Delete any emails from Nigeria, or lottery or prize notifications before opening
Stop credit card offers 888-5-OPT-OUT
Remove your name from national mailing lists by visiting www.the-dma.org or write to:
Mail Preference Service
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

Install firewall and virus protection software on your computer
Password protect your computer and private personal files
Format your hard drive or physically destroy when disposing of your old computer
When you order new checks, get your first initial printed on them instead of your first name
Use a cross shredder to shred your bills and bank statements or any junk mail
Bring your mail to the post office or secure mail box rather than leaving it in a rural box.
Use only one designated credit card for online purchases
Be sure all online purchases are made through a secure server notice the lock icon and how the URL address changes from http to https. The S means SECURE.
Do not carry your PIN # in your wallet
Do not use your date of birth as a password or PIN.
Do not give out personal or financial information over the phone.
Grind up or shred back up CDs you are throwing away.
Check your online banking account at least 3 times a week and change your password often.

If you feel you have been a victim of identity fraud, contact the Department of Justice, consumer protection division. They offer mediation with identity theft; they also have a hot line for consumers that is available 8-5 Monday Friday. They maintain a database of written complaints that goes back to 1998. They offer seminars to school, seniors or your group.

Be aware that 40 million crooks obtained credit card numbers this past year, Be Suspicious. Also be aware that most identify theft is not reported, especially when it involves family members, so the statistics are off. These statistics show that consumers lost $5 billion last year when in actuality it is closer to $50 billion. There have been an estimated 9.9 million victims in America.

Michelle Dunn has over 17 years experience in credit and debt collection.
She has written 5 books in her Collecting Money Series. For more information on Michelles services or to order any of her books please email her at michelle@michelledunn.com or visit www.michelledunn.com& www.credit-and-collections.com



Secure your Privacy from Spyware and other Adware programs. Mitch JohnsonKnown by several different names, from spyware to malware or internet parasites, surveillance applications are installed on your system to monitor your internet activities and reveal your surfing patterns and purchasing habits. Spyware also extracts email addresses, hijacks browsers and records credit card numbers, bank accounts and password information.

The information gathered by a spyware application is sent back to the intruder who typically uses it to bombard you with pop up and email advertisements. More serious consequences occur when credit and bank information is obtained by spyware and used for identity theft or credit card fraud. Spyware also compromises the fast and efficient functioning of your computer as it builds up and uses the systems resources. Computer crashes occur with extreme infections which can lead to malfunctions in your registry keys and memory.

To avoid spyware and adware and protect your privacy users must be cautious when surfing the internet. Beware of freeware and shareware programs as they usually install spyware as well, without the users knowledge. Install and regularly use a good spyware scan and removal tool. An effective anti-spyware program will detect and remove all possible infected files.

The scanner should perform a deep system scan in order to catch files infected that usually go unnoticed.
Most spyware scanners have a removal feature as well but for those that do not a list of detected spyware files is still complied at the end of the scan. This list given by any spyware tool tells the details of that particular spyware as well as its location on your computer. If there is not removal feature on your program you can try manually deleting them.

Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.1st-in-remove-spyware.com/, a site that focuses primarily on spyware detection software, as well as tips on how to avoid spyware from popping up on your computer. His articles have also been featured on related spyware sites such as,
http://www.best-in-spyware-detection.com/as well as http://www.best-sypware-removal-reviews.com/