How To Avoid Getting Into Identity Theft Trouble

The credit card industry seems to be growing at an unprecedented rate. According to some statistical reports, the average American household has at least one credit card. In fact, from the total respondents in the survey, 81% of the households have at least one credit card.

This goes to show that more and more people are enticed to get their own credit card. The reasons for doing so are based on the fact that credit cards offer extreme cashless shopping convenience. Hence, everybody seems to be motivated to get at least one credit card.

However, the travails of the credit card industry do not end here. This is because the reality that evolves on the credit cards does not just depend on the way people use credit cards but with the way on how they use it and protect themselves.

What people do not realize is that the manner on how they use their credit cards can greatly affect the way they live. For instance, frauds and fraudulent activities are very prevalent in the industry and the best targets of the culprits are those who use credit cards whenever they are into shopping.

People should take note that one of the most prevalent credit card scams in the society today is the identity theft. In fact, it has been reported by the FBI that almost 350,000 up to 500,000 cases of identity theft are known to exist in the U.S. every single year.

Basically, identity theft is when some unscrupulous people try to get some information from you such as your social security number and other pertinent personal and financial data.

These sets of information are used deceitfully by these people for their own benefits. Hence, the poor victim does not realize that his identity was stolen and that his financial future is doomed.

For this reason, it is important to know how to avoid getting into trouble. Here is how:

1. Protect your personal data and any financial information

Never entertain phone calls that require you to give any personal data or information, even if the caller says he is from the bank that issued your credit card and that the information gathering is just some sort of verifications.

If this is the case, try to inform him that you wish to do the transactions personally. Hence, it is important to very if the caller is, indeed, a representative of the bank.

2. Avoid freebies and offers that involve credit cards

If you were offered with some promotions requiring you to give some personal information, then, it would be better not to entertain the promo at all.

Things like these will only entice you to try it. In the end, it is too late to realize that you have just been a victim of an identity theft.

3. Have a regular check up on your credit standing and bills

Most of credit card holders are so lazy to do regular check ups on their status. If you do this, it will be easier for you to detect any probable identity theft case on your part. Credit reports can definitely tell you if there were purchases that you know that you did not make.

4. Do not carry them around

The problem with most people is that they ten to carry their cards wherever they are. This is a bad habit that should be stopped. You will never know what will happen while you are in a public place, where identity theft could just be lurking around, waiting for its next victim.

The bottom line is that credit card users should be responsible enough not to allow these fraudulent activities to happen. Keep in mind that the reason why these kinds of frauds exist is that there are people who are unconsciously victimized every now and then.

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides identity theft resources on www.about-identity-theft.info

Identity Theft - the 1 most important thing you can do now!

Identity Theft - The one most important thing you can do to protect yourself!

If your credit card is ever stolen, don't panic. Immediately call the 3 national credit reporting organizations to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. The alert tells every company that checks your credit (as the thief trys to use your credit card) knows your information was stolen, and they will contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

Why is this so important? By the time most people do this, days after the theft, all the damage had been done. Notifying these 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately, stops thieves dead in their tracks! Now, here are the critical numbers you will need to contact if your purse or wallet is stolen: (Print these phones numbers now and keep a copy in your coat pocket, suitcase or another safe place that you can find easily if your purse or wallet is stolen.) a.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 b.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742 c.) Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289 d.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

Brought to you by www.Prepaid-Legal-Help-4U.com

I developed http://www.prepaid-legal-help-4u.com to help the 'little guy' have access to legal services previously reserved for the wealthy!

Protect Your Network From Identity Theft Now!

It is deniable that our works and lives are more convenient and easier when using wireless. We can work anywhere and that is why wireless networks are becoming so popular. Especially if you have broadband Internet access, a wireless router can give you instant communication with the world.

Imagine you are sitting by the pool and enjoying chatting through the Internet. Or lounging in the Jacuzzi listening to your MP3 collection is appealing to us all. Unfortunately, many, or even most, wireless units don't come with security features already functioning. This may not seem like a big issue to someone who is simply setting up a home network, but there are a number of potential problems you should consider.

Identity theft seems to be the most serious problem. If your network is unsecured, the personal data on your wireless electronic equipment is also unsecured. The order you just placed for a book at Amazon may have given your contact and payment information to an unscrupulous hacker! Nearly every town in which "WiFi" is common will have "War Drivers" and "War Chalkers" at work. These are people who walk or drive around town with wireless equipment, searching for unsecured networks. The "Chalkers" then live up their name, marking curbs and other public items with chalk so that others can more easily find and exploit your network.

In fact, not all "War Drivers" are hackers, of course. Many just want to use your network for free, but the risk is high if you don't learn how to protect yourself. You can usually find quite a bit of free information as to how to secure your network at the website of your router's manufacturer, or by doing a search in a search engine for a phrase like "secure home wireless."

In addition, there are also your neighbors who may find your network by accident and enjoy nosing into your activities and using your Internet access at will, slowing down your network speed in the process.

Even many businesses use cheap, home-use quality equipment for their company networks. With the poor security often found on small business networks, anyone with a basic knowledge of wireless can access sensitive company and customer data.

It is highly recommended that you hire service companies to secure your network for you, or else you will have to bear with a risk of being exploited. A search of your local yellow pages or an inquiry at your neighborhood computer store should yield professional help and get your private data private again.

George Williams maintains many websites about network security, including Wireless, Wireless Secret ,and Wireless Now

10 Ways To Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft

As the popularity of credit cards and Internet shopping grow, so does the chance that you will become a victim of Identity Theft. One's information can be easily accessed by anyone who has your social security number and other identifying information such as credit card bills or processed checks.

Before becoming a victim of identity theft you can go on the offensive and practice prevention in 10 basic steps. There steps will not guarantee that your information does not get into the hands of a criminal, but it gives you a better chance against a syndicate of International identity theft thieves.

1. Buy a Shredder. Shredding your old bills, invoices, receipts and credit & bank statements is the first and possibly most effective way to stop dumpster divers from access your information. Before throwing away anything with private information, shred it.

If you're not sure that the info can be used to steal your identity, shred it anyway.

2. When using an ATM be weary of those standing next to you. If someone is standing too close behind you, do not be afraid to ask them to step back.

3. Hidden camera detectors. In addition to prying eyes, also be aware of surveilance devices in stores, ATMs, gas stations, and anywhere you may be using a credit card or signing your name. There are many small and affordable hidden camera frequency detectors on the market. For more information see AntiSpyCam.com.

4. Treat your checks like money. Would you stuff your mailbox with wads of cold cash? Mail theft is probably easier than dumpster diving when it comes to stealing private information, and much cleaner. Mail checks by dropping them off at the Post Office and if you do order bank checks via the web or mail, have them delivered via registered mail or FedEx.

5. Biometrics services like fingerprint or voice recognition are becoming popular in the war against identity theft or account hacking. Voice biometrics works by digitizing a profile of a person's speech to produce a stored model voice print. Many banks are now offering this service, ask yours about adding this to your bank account security options. More info on Voice Biometrics at VoiceVerified.com

6. Make a list of all of your credit card numbers, passwords, usernames and bank account numbers and guard them in a safe place. Do not keep them on your computer, especially if you use peer to peer file sharing software.

7. When applying for a credit card request that your photo be placed on the card. There are also companies which will place your photo on your checks. For more information see UniqueChecks.com

8. Write on the back of your credit card "Ask To See My ID" , most people at the register treat credit cards like cash not asking for ID. If they do not ask or forget to do so, ask them why they have not.

9. When you move be sure to register your new forwarding address with the Post Office and also inform all of your credit cards, banks, and subscriptions services personally of your new address. If they are still sending private information to your old address, cancel your card or account.

10. Don't carry your social security number or credit cards you don't use on you. You are not required to carry a social security card so lock it up. If you're not using your credit cards, keep them in a safe place with your social security card.

Mrs. Suzuki is a freelance security and techology writer and has never had her identity stolen.

Don't Fall For The Latest Internet Identity Theft Scam

Q: I use PayPal to accept credit cards for my online collectibles business. I recently received an email that my PayPal account was going to expire in five days if I didn't click a link in the email and give them my PayPal account information. Being naturally paranoid I decided not to give this information and I'm happy to say that my PayPal account did not expire. Was this a scam? -- Brenda A.

A: Be thankful that your paranoia kicked in, Brenda, because you were about to fall victim to the scam of the week, this one aimed at the 35 million merchants and individuals who use Paypal.com as their online payment processor.

The email you received was not from PayPal, but from an Internet bad guy behind a forged email address using the PayPal.com domain. You should understand that no reputable online company will ever ask you to provide your account information. Think about it. They already have this information. Why would they ask you to provide it.

Since I use PayPal for several of my online ventures, I, too, received the email in question. The email first seeks to instill fear in you by saying that your PayPal account will be closed if you do not provide personal information. You are then directed to open an attached executable file and enter your PayPal account information and other personal information that PayPal doesn't even require, including your social security number, checking and savings account information, driver's license number, and other personal information that can be used to clean out your PayPal account and perhaps even steal your identity.

If you're not familiar with PayPal, it is a hugely successful, web-based company (purchased by eBay in 2002) that many online retailers and eBay sellers use to accept electronic payments for everything from newsletter subscriptions to consulting services to just about any product for sale on eBay.

The allure of PayPal is that it does not require the seller to have a bank merchant account through which to process credit cards. Anyone with a verifiable email address and bank account can use PayPal and the service can be implemented almost immediately after registering. When someone places an order on a website that uses PayPal for online payments, that customer is directed to PayPal.com to complete the payment process using a credit card or electronic check. The merchant can transfer the money collected in his PayPal account to his checking account any time he likes. Since many larger merchants make this transfer just once a week or so, their PayPal accounts are ripe for the picking from those who have the cunning and lack of ethics required to gain access.

The shear number of PayPal customers is one reason it has become a popular target of scam artists trying to steal personal information from individuals and businesses alike. Identify theft is on the rise. Thanks to the Internet stealing someone's identity has never been easier. At any given moment, there are any number of Internet thieves using all manner of high tech wizardry to steal personal and business information from unsuspecting souls, and many times they can gain access to this information simply by asking the person to provide it through fraudulent means.

The PayPal scam is just the latest in a long line of sophisticated attempts to steal personal information through online means, Amazon, eBay, Dell Computer, and many others have been the brunt of many such scams in recent years.

Identity theft is what's known as "a knowledge crime," which means that the criminal doesn't have to break into your house to rob you blind. If you have a bank account and a social security number, you are susceptible to identity theft.

While most people are familiar with identity theft, most business men and women never think about it happening to them, at least on a professional level. Consider this: if a criminal can learn your business checking account number or the number of your company credit card, they can steal far more from your business than if they had simply knocked down the door and carted off your desk.

The Internet aside, most business and personal identity theft is still the result of stolen wallets and dumpster diving. You should guard your business records closely and be very careful what you throw away. Stop and think for a moment what a criminal might find in the dumpster behind your office.

There's a good chance that dumpster has, at various times, contained scraps of paper with your social security number, driver's license number, credit card number, old ATM cards, telephone calling cards, and other pieces of vital business information like bank statements, invoices, and purchase orders. A dumpster-diving thief could literally rob your business blind in a matter of hours.

Here are a few ways to protect yourself from business and personal identity theft.

? Never give out your first name, last name, business name, email address, account passwords, credit card numbers, bank account information, PIN number, social security number, or driver's license number.

? Change your online account passwords every 30 days. Believe it or not, a hacker who steals your personal information can guess your online account passwords in about two minutes. If your Charles Schwab online account password is your birthday or the name of your first born or family pet, count on a hacker cracking that code faster than you can say "Bill Gates."

? Never provide personal information in response to an email or telephone call. Just because someone calls and says they are from Dunn & Bradstreet and need to confirm your business information does not mean they are really from Dunn & Bradstreet.

? Never give your business credit card number over the phone to place an order with someone who has called you unsolicited. If you are interested in what they are selling get their number, check out their company, then call them back to place the order.

If you think that you have become the victim of identity theft or think someone is trying to steal your identity or personal information you should report them immediately to the Federal Trade Commission. You will find more information on their website at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/. For more information on what to do if identity theft happens to you visit http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17a.htm.

So, if you ever receive an email from PayPal, Amazon, eBay, or any other ecommerce website asking you to update your account information by email you can pretty much bet the farm that it is a scam.

Here's to your success.

Tim Knox, Founder For more information on starting your own online business visit http://www.dropshipwholesale.net, the website for online entrepreneurs.

Tim Knox
Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker
http://www.prosperityandprofit.com
http://www.dropshipwholesale.net
http://www.smallbusinessqa.com
http://www.timknox.com

Identity Theft Exploding: Heres How you can Avoid Becoming a Victim - Plus, Tips if you do Become a Victim

Americans are more concerned about
identity theft than unemployment or
corporate fraud, according to a
survey of 2,000 people conducted by
Star Systems.

Nine out of ten Americans demand
new federal legislation, while
two-thirds say the financial
services industry needs to do a
better job of verifying the
identity of customers who open bank
accounts (66 percent) and credit
card accounts (72 percent).

Some 5.6 percent of respondents
reported being victims of identity
theft, which translates to 12
million people. When debit and
credit card fraud and identity
theft were combined, close to 15.9
percent of consumers say they have
been the victim of one of these
crimes. (Source: Star Systems,
2003)

For most of us, using your debit or
credit card to make a purchase has
become an every day aspect of life.
Many of us do it every day and feel
safe in doing so.

But it is far from safe. People
with your debit or credit card
information may make purchases with
your card information over the
telephone, via the Internet, or at
a local retail store.

As we moved to a cashless system of
transactions by debit or credit
card, a relatively simple crime
niche has grown identity theft
and fraud.

Some law enforcement authorities
are not pursuing the crime in a
coordinated and cooperative
fashion. Thus, a situation has
grown that affords the people who
perpetrate such acts of theft and
fraud, act with a degree of
confidents that they will not get
caught.

What can you do to reduce your
chances of becoming a victim of
identity theft or fraud?

Here is a list of actions that you
can take to avoid becoming a victim
of identity crimes.

1. Never throw receipts or
statements away that have personal
information on them. The trash is
the greatest repository of
information for the identity thief.
Even better, shred everything that
has identifying information on it
(transaction receipts, etc.).

2. Pay to have an unlisted
telephone number in your local
telephone directory.

3. Take as much identification off
of your personal checks and
drivers license as possible. Thus,
no home addresses, phone numbers,
or social security numbers on
personal checks. Last only your
last name and first initial rather
than your full name. You want a
retail clerk to check your ID when
you are cashing a check.

Most states now provide a photo ID
on all new automobile drivers
licenses issued. If you do not have
one, conceder getting your licenses
renewed now to get a photo ID for
identification purposes. Do not put
your social security number on your
drivers license.

4. Check your bank accounts for
suspicious activity everyday, this
can be done online via the
Internet.

5. Have your middle initial removed
from all public documentation if
possible. Middle initials help
identity thieves narrow down their
searches for victims.

6. If someone calls you asking for
your personal information on the
telephone do not provide any
personal information to anyone over
the phone.

7. Dont leave your mail out
overnight. If you will be away from
home for any period of time: have
your home mail delivery stopped. If
possible, secure a locked mail box
at your local post office or a
retail store mail box service for
your home mail delivery.

If you go on vacation, have your
mail and newspaper delivery stopped
and arrange to have your yard
maintained. Include the post
office, newspaper service, and your
friends or neighbors to insure that
your home looks as if it is
occupied while you are gone.

For a checklist for your home
security while you are away see
ProtectionConnect.com/homesecurity
www.ProtectionConnect.com/sitemap.
www checklist.html or html#home.

8. Write Check ID on the back of
your debit or credit cards next to
your signature. In that way, when a
retail store checks your signature
on your card, they will verify that
the card is being used by the
proper individual.

9. Be aware of people standing too
close to you and shoulder surfing
you while you conduct your ATM
transactions.

If you do become a victim of an
identity crime do the following:

1. Demand to file a police report
no matter how unwilling the law
enforcement office may be. Make
sure to get a copy or at least the
report number.

2. In the case of card fraud, make
sure to cancel your card and report
it as stolen to your credit card
company as soon as you find out.

Immediately, fill out affidavits
with the appropriate financial
institution denying that you were
the one who made the relevant
purchases. In most cases, the banks
will respond with up to a 30-day
process that requires the
businesses that accepted the
fraudulent transactions to repay
the banks.

3. Report the fraud to the three
major credit bureaus:

~ TransUnion Post Office Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022

~ Equifax, Equifax Equifax Credit
Information Services, Inc Post
Office Box 740241 Atlanta, GA
30374 1.888.766.0008

~ Experian Consumer Information
Post Office Box 1909 Orange, CA
92865

4. The U.S. Secret Service handles
fraud cases that cross state
borders. If you know that your case
applies, contact their local office
to make them aware of your case. If
it is part of a broader fraud case,
you may be contacted by an agent.

5. You can also fill out a
complaint form with the Federal
Trade Commission, although this is
strictly used to track national
identity theft statistics.


Nine out of ten Americans demand
new federal legislation, while
two-thirds say the financial
services industry needs to do a
better job of verifying the
identity of customers who open bank
accounts (66 percent) and credit
card accounts (72 percent).

Some 5.6 percent of respondents
reported being victims of identity
theft, which translates to 12
million people. When debit and
credit card fraud and identity
theft were combined, close to 15.9
percent of consumers say they have
been the victim of one of these
crimes. (Source: Star Systems,
2003)

For most of us, using your debit or
credit card to make a purchase has
become an every day aspect of life.
Many of us do it every day and feel
safe in doing so.

But it is far from safe. People
with your debit or credit card
information may make purchases with
your card information over the
telephone, via the Internet, or at
a local retail store.

As we moved to a cashless system of
transactions by debit or credit
card, a relatively simple crime
niche has grown identity theft
and fraud.

Some law enforcement authorities
are not pursuing the crime in a
coordinated and cooperative
fashion. Thus, a situation has
grown that affords the people who
perpetrate such acts of theft and
fraud, act with a degree of
confidents that they will not get
caught.

What can you do to reduce your
chances of becoming a victim of
identity theft or fraud?

Here is a list of actions that you
can take to avoid becoming a victim
of identity crimes.

1. Never throw receipts or
statements away that have personal
information on them. The trash is
the greatest repository of
information for the identity thief.
Even better, shred everything that
has identifying information on it
(transaction receipts, etc.).

2. Pay to have an unlisted
telephone number in your local
telephone directory.

3. Take as much identification off
of your personal checks and
drivers license as possible. Thus,
no home addresses, phone numbers,
or social security numbers on
personal checks. Last only your
last name and first initial rather
than your full name. You want a
retail clerk to check your ID when
you are cashing a check.

Most states now provide a photo ID
on all new automobile drivers
licenses issued. If you do not have
one, conceder getting your licenses
renewed now to get a photo ID for
identification purposes. Do not put
your social security number on your
drivers license.

4. Check your bank accounts for
suspicious activity everyday, this
can be done online via the
Internet.

5. Have your middle initial removed
from all public documentation if
possible. Middle initials help
identity thieves narrow down their
searches for victims.

6. If someone calls you asking for
your personal information on the
telephone do not provide any
personal information to anyone over
the phone.

7. Dont leave your mail out
overnight. If you will be away from
home for any period of time: have
your home mail delivery stopped. If
possible, secure a locked mail box
at your local post office or a
retail store mail box service for
your home mail delivery.

If you go on vacation, have your
mail and newspaper delivery stopped
and arrange to have your yard
maintained. Include the post
office, newspaper service, and your
friends or neighbors to insure that
your home looks as if it is
occupied while you are gone.

For a checklist for your home
security while you are away see
ProtectionConnect.com/homesecurity
www.ProtectionConnect.com/sitemap.
www checklist.html or html#home.

8. Write Check ID on the back of
your debit or credit cards next to
your signature. In that way, when a
retail store checks your signature
on your card, they will verify that
the card is being used by the
proper individual.

9. Be aware of people standing too
close to you and shoulder surfing
you while you conduct your ATM
transactions.

If you do become a victim of an
identity crime do the following:

1. Demand to file a police report
no matter how unwilling the law
enforcement office may be. Make
sure to get a copy or at least the
report number.

2. In the case of card fraud, make
sure to cancel your card and report
it as stolen to your credit card
company as soon as you find out.

Immediately, fill out affidavits
with the appropriate financial
institution denying that you were
the one who made the relevant
purchases. In most cases, the banks
will respond with up to a 30-day
process that requires the
businesses that accepted the
fraudulent transactions to repay
the banks.

3. Report the fraud to the three
major credit bureaus:

~ TransUnion Post Office Box 2000
Chester, PA 19022

~ Equifax, Equifax Equifax Credit
Information Services, Inc Post
Office Box 740241 Atlanta, GA
30374 1.888.766.0008

~ Experian Consumer Information
Post Office Box 1909 Orange, CA
92865

4. The U.S. Secret Service handles
fraud cases that cross state
borders. If you know that your case
applies, contact their local office
to make them aware of your case. If
it is part of a broader fraud case,
you may be contacted by an agent.

5. You can also fill out a
complaint form with the Federal
Trade Commission, although this is
strictly used to track national
identity theft statistics.
 

Steven Presar is a recognized small
business technology coach, Internet
publisher, author, speaker, and
trainer. He provides personal,
home, and computer security
solutions at
www.ProtectionConnect.com. He
provides business software reviews
at www.OnlineSoftwareGuide.com. In
addition, he publishes articles for
starting and running a small
business at www.abcResults.com. Be
sure to sign-up for the SOHO
newsletter.

 

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.

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