| Identity theft or fraud are often used | | | | If you are a MySpace, Facebook etc... user, you |
| interchangeably. However, this is kind of a | | | | also want to watch over which personal details |
| misnomer. There has to be a theft before fraud | | | | you publicize. Cyber-criminals are on the lookout |
| gets committed. This information is, of course, of | | | | for new opportunities every single day. |
| little use to the victim. | | | | Online identity fraud protection starts with installing |
| Gone are the days of rummaging through | | | | an antivirus program. This is your very first and |
| somebody's dumpster in order to collect some | | | | basic line of defense. While you are at it, you |
| personal information. Sure, these practices still | | | | might also consider installing an antispyware |
| exist, but you would have to be pretty down and | | | | program as a second line of defense. Most |
| out to employ these kind of methods if you have | | | | antivirus programs have antispyware capabilities, |
| access to a computer and the internet. | | | | but not as a good as a dedicated antispyware |
| To continue the rummaging through the dumpster | | | | program. |
| analogy, even if you didn't have access to the | | | | Another, very important thing to mention, is that |
| internet, a criminal might go after redundant | | | | you should not hook up your computer straight to |
| equipment like personal computers or even | | | | internet. Have a router sitting in between your |
| servers that have been disposed of without | | | | computer and the world wide web. Anyone trying |
| wiping the data on the harddisk. | | | | to get access to your computer would have to |
| Modern day criminals specializing in identity fraud | | | | hack the router first in order to start hacking |
| are much more likely to use the internet by | | | | your PC. |
| infecting your computer with Trojan horses | | | | Keylogging or taking a copy of your desktop is |
| containing spyware and all sorts of extra goodies. | | | | another favorite pastime of cyber-criminals. |
| Phishing is another one of their favorite tactics. | | | | Always try to stay one step ahead of them by |
| Impersonating a well-known company in an email | | | | patching your PC and installing the necessary |
| or through a fake website inviting you to enter | | | | security software. |
| you personal credentials. | | | | |