Hosting Service Providers and Identity Theft

My Hosting Service, My Security Service: How much protection does your web host give you from identity theft...and how much can they?

There are laws now that protect us from identity thieves, sure, but oftentimes, by the time the law gets involved, the damage is already done. Your website may be defaced. Your name may be sullied. Your hosting service may have locked you out. You lose customers. You lose money. To recover, you have to regain lost ground, which also takes time and money. But what can you do to protect yourself? And can your web hosting service help?

In two words: they'd better. At the very least a hosting service in the age of spammers, hijackers, and hackers (oh my!) should at the very least have one or more firewalls protecting your data. They should also be able to offer you protection from Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks, a common outcome of internet identity theft. Some hosting services may offer you a Virtual Private Network (at relevant expense, of course) for additional protection.

Your payment area should be completely secure, at the bare minimum promising SSL digital encryption of all incoming and outgoing data. You should also make sure the shopping cart your hosting service provides is compatible with the major online payment processing gateways, such as PayPal, NETeller, Citadel, FirePay Click2Pay, UseMyBank, and others.

Identity thieves will often try to access your hosting service account using the "fruits" of their thieving. Once inside, they can hijack your domain away from you or delete important files from your hosting service. If this happens to you, one thing to do is check the server logs of your hosting service to figure out the exact date and time that the theft occurred. Note the IP addresses involved in the action and contact the associated ISP. This alone won't resolve the problem. But it's a start.

If your email address is stolen, you may find you start receiving returned messages that you appear to have sent but which you know for certain you did not. Print each and every one of those messages out immediately and make copies -- they're evidence. Not only may they come in handy in tracing the source of the theft, but they may be the very things that keep your hosting service from terminating your account (if, for one hypothetical example, a thief uses your email address to send X-rated material).

The other immediate action to take if you ever suspect yourself of being a victim of internet identity theft is notify your hosting service, your ISP, and your domain name registrar. Any instructions they give you, follow. You could also file a police report (and probably should, at least to get the crime on record), but as it's unlikely anything will come of it (at least not immediately), this should really only be done after you've first contacted your hosting service, ISP, and registrar.

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Identity Theft Crimes

The cost of identity theft crimes is ranging in the billions, since everyday someone is robbed of their identity. The FBI, Police Departments around the world, Government and other teams are joining to fight the ongoing crime of identity theft, however, the stronger the fight the more these groups of authorities fall behind.

Down through the centuries criminals have always managed to stay one-step ahead of the authorities. Today, these criminals are taking advantage of technology development and moving even two-steps ahead. Identity theft is one of the leading crimes around the globe and the more authorities battle the crime, the more identity thefts move in to take away someone else's life.

When a person is robbed of their identity is a long, hard fight to restore the life, yet in some cases, the person never receives their identity back. When a person does receive their identity back, it leaves a void in their life. During the battle to recover your identity, you will feel angry, frustrated, hopeless, stressed, and so forth and you will feel like you are left alone in life. You are not alone since thousands of others are also victims of identity theft, thus the only partners you have are those battling with you. The authorities work to fight identity theft, however little movement is made to progress toward apprehension, since most criminals are far too intelligent to get ahead of. Criminals outside of the Internet are likely to be caught sooner than those that steals identities over the World Wide Net. Thus, the World Wide Net is less guarded by authorities than many believe; therefore, the criminals are less apt to be apprehended.

If you are not an identity theft victim yet, make sure you do everything you can to guard your self from becoming the next victim. As a victim myself, I have fought more than seven years with little result and the perpetrator in one instance was never caught.

If you become a victim of identity, theft, be prepared to battle throughout the rest of your lifetime. Be sure to contact the three B's right away and let them know that you believe that your identity was stolen. The Credit Bureaus will put up a Fraud Alert once they are notified, thus you will need to step up when this alert is activated and ask them to FREEZE your accounts. Freezing the accounts will provide you hope whereas fraud alerts will only add to the distress you are already feeling from the crime. Fraud alerts only alert the creditors that someone has possibly tampered with your account, while a Freeze on your account will enforce the creditors to look more into your situation if you apply for credit in the future.

Once you have alerted the credit bureaus that you are possibly a victim of identity theft, make sure you close any accounts that the theft may possibly have access to...bank accounts, credit card accounts, department cards; et cetera should all be closed immediately. If you notice any bills on your credit cards, checking accounts of other accounts notify the provider and dispute the charges immediately. Delaying to take action will only worsen the situation.

It is important to keep guard over your checking accounts, saving accounts, credit cards and other accounts at all times to make sure no activity is in movement that you have not issued. Keep all PIN numbers, ID numbers, Social Security Card and other information in a secure area and do not allow anyone access to those numbers unless you have no doubt in your mind you can trust the source.

After my identity was stolen, I lost self-respect, confidence and felt that my privacy was non-existing. In fact, it affected me so dramatically that my body alone felt completely violated. Identity theft crimes are one of the worst crimes that could be committed against another individual. In fact, as a victim of rape and a victim of identity theft, I preferred to have been raped again rather than lost my identity. I compared the two, since it will give you an insight of what to prepare for if someone steals you identity.

Tony Robinson is an International Author, Webmaster and Security Guru. Check out his Identity Theft Protection Tips at http://www.officialidentitytheft.com/

Own your own online business? You might be a Target for Identity Theft

Own your own online business? You may be a target for ID Theft.

QUESTION: What day of the week do you put your garbage can out on the
street?

ANSWER: That is the day you are MOST vulnerable to Identity Theft.

Why?

Think about what you put into your garbage can.

If you are like most people, you have tossed a lot of "junk mail" into
the garbage (usually tied up in a neat plastic bag). Things like
"pre-approved" credit card applications, just waiting for a signature
and returning them back to the bankwith your NAME on the application
form.

Other items include canceled checks, medical bills (usually with your
social security number), phone bills utility bills, and charge card
account information.

Armed with the critical few bits of information you provided in your
garbage can, criminals can hijack your credit reputation and go on
hundred-thousand-dollar shopping sprees using new credit cards issued
in your name.

They can run up large phone charges to 900 numbers, make long distance
phone calls, and using your cancelled checks, make Automatic Check
Transactions on-line to buy what ever their heart desires.

Do you want some more bad news? The government can't stop them.

The U.S. Supreme Court, in effect overturning the 1974 Privacy Act,
stated that: "garbage left at a curb for pick-up is public domain and
subject to inspection and seizure by anyone".

This means "anyone" including criminals and your corporate competitors
are free to check your garbage can or dumpster, anytime they are so
inclined.

So what is a person supposed to do to protect themselves and their
family?

The simple answer is to buy a paper shredder and use it every day.

"Shredding makes your personal information unavailable for the taking"
states Tony Storrie, director of marketing for Fellowes, the world's
leading manufacturer of shredders. "Shredding junk mail, credit card
receipts and any other form of personal information means it is
thoroughly destroyed, useless to criminals looking to profit at the
expense of unsuspecting people."

The Privacy Rights Clearing-house (PRC), a non-profit education and
research program administered by the University of San Diego's Center
for Public Interest Law, also suggests shredding, claiming it can
protect citizens against having their sensitive information stolen
by Identity Thieves.

Start Shredding TODAY!

Merritt Tumanis
Permission is granted to reprint the following article as long as no
changes are made and the byline, copyright information, and the
resource box is included. Please let me know if you use this article
by sending an email to mailto:mtumanis@iserv.net

"Credit Alert, Learn how to reduce your risks for Identity Theft"
found at http://www.wmce.net/idtheft/sales.html

P R O F O U N D K N O W L E D G EPeter Andersen

Profound Knowledge by FocusedImpact.com

We all are on a quest for knowledge. Whether it is information that will make our lives easier or just small packets of data that in a trivial way allows us to sort out "why things are the way they are on this planet." As intelligent beings we are constantly receiving and sorting information, in most instances, we are overwhelmed. Therefore, when relevant information arrives that is meaningful, concise and thought provoking, we have a tendency to reflect on this data for the principles and guidance that it offers. Here are seven insights that are worthy of the title Profound Knowledge.

1. LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES: R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Respect is essential for effective leadership. Lack of respect will require a leader to work twice as hard to realize their objectives. Furthermore, leaders can't be successful as disconnected individuals, no matter how great their individual expertise or potential is. To be an effective leader, you must have the support and respect of those you lead.

2. PARADIGMS: BREAKING THE MOLD
Paradigms are sets of rules and regs that establish the boundaries of what is currently believed to be possible within a given field. Therefore, our perceptions of reality, based on our paradigms, dramatically effect our business decisions. Likewise, we try to make future decisions by basing them on our current paradigms. Case in point, in 1968 Swiss watch makers had over 60% of the world's marketshare. By 1978, their dominance shrank to a mere 10%. What happened? The current paradigm had shifted and a new paradigm was born... It was the Swiss that first developed the quartz watch however they did nothing to protect their ideas and freely displayed the new quartz at world watch conferences. Seiko quickly capitalized on this new method of watch design and significantly enhanced their marketshare to become a world leader.

3. THE NEED FOR LONG-TERM VISION: THE PELICAN BRIEF
The pelican catches fish by flying high over their unsuspecting victims then diving at a high rate of speed into the water to forcefully overcome their prey. Although a successful method, this process eventually leads to their demise. You see, diving from high altitudes damages their eyes and slowly breaks down other vital functions that allow for their success. Eventually, the pelican goes blind and is unable to fish at all.

4. WORD OF MOUTH MARKETING
Businesses have used word of mouth marketing for years. In the case of the liquor industry, it was not uncommon to have paid agents visit trendy bars, order the brand of choice (normally an unknown import) and strike up conversations with both barkeeps and customers in order to establish or talk up a cool image. In many cases it worked!

5. SUCCESS
Studies by Harvard, Stanford and the Carnegie Foundation suggest that success on the job depends 85 percent on people skills and only 15 percent on technical knowledge.

6. ORGANIZATIONS AND GEESE
Geese fly in a V-formation where each bird must take a turn at fighting the wind and being the leader. Each must know the common destination and choose the right course and speed. At any given moment each bird must be capable of leading all the others.

7. CREATIVITY
Creativity does not come from inspiration. Creativity comes from knowledge.

Focused Impact Media specializes in strategic and tactical marketing through brand development, positioning and new media communications. Discover more Profound Knowledge at http://www.focusedimpact.com

How to Prevent Online Identity Theft

 

Identity theft rates one of the fastest growing crimes in mAmerica today and the Internet can make it even easier for some criminals to take your good name and drag it through the mud.

Identity theft involves criminals stealing your personal information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers and other information, usually to buy things on credit or to empty out your bank accounts.

Through your financial liability with your credit cards may be limited to $50 to $500, it can take years for you to clean up the mess online identity thieves leave behind.

As with any crime, an ounce of prevention may just cause the would-be identity thieves to leave you alone and move on to an easier target.

The following tips can help you avoid having your identity stolen.

1. Never give out your social security number, online or otherwise. No company you buy things from needs your social security number.

If you do business on the web, obtain a a Federal Tax ID number to use instead of your social security number.

Once criminals have your social security number, along with your birth date and address, they have virtually everything they need to start wreaking havoc in your life.

2. Use a good anti-virus program. One of the ways criminals get your credit card numbers, passwords and other sensitive information is through "Trojan horse" viruses that log your keystrokes and transmit information to the evil doers.

The "Bad Trans" virus that has caused so much havoc is just such a virus.

3. Always use a "secure" server when transmitting credit card information over the web and know something about the company before handing over your information.

You can feel pretty confident that you are using a secure server if a little lock displays in the status bar on the bottom of your web browser.

4. A popular new way to pay for goods and services online is to "use your checking account just like a credit card".

Be extremely cautious about paying this way through the web. By giving a company your checking account numbers you give away much of the information necessary to empty your bank account!

5. Never give out information such as your birthday, marital status, education level or other personal information.

This additional information makes it extremely easy for criminals to make themselves appear legitimate when they pose as you. Websites should ultimately only require you to provide your name, email and billing information for a purchase.

You should avoid any site requiring more information than that.

These criminals prey on people's ignorance and you can usually defeat them simply by making it too hard for them to get your information.

If you do find yourself a victim, immediately contact police and get legal help. Do not wait because you feel embarrassed or "stupid" over what happened.

Waiting only lets the trail grow cold and limits how much law enforcement can do to help you.

(c) Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
http://www.thenetreporter.com

Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the co-author of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how to use fr^e articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website or affiliate links...

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