Each year, identity theft results in an estimated loss of $52 billion nationwide. Protecting yourself from becoming the latest victim is more important now than ever before, especially on the internet.
Here are some tips on how you can prevent online identity theft:
- Shop on secure websites
Shopping online is safe only when you browse for merchandise on secure web pages. Always check for a lock graphic on a site or check to see if “https” shows up in the address bar. This indicates your web page is secure and your data is encrypted. A connection that is not secure allows hackers to quickly grab your private information.
- Avoid phishing scams
Identity thieves use phishing in spam emails or online chat rooms to draw out personal information from unsuspecting victims. They usually pretend to be anything from your bank to your credit card company and try to convince you to send information or click on a link. Never respond even if it seems legitimate. Responsible organizations will never contact you in this manner.
- Use current anti-virus and anti-spyware software
If your computer becomes infected by a virus or trojan horse program, it can do tons of damage quickly. These malware programs are designed to scan your hard drive, gather private information and send it back to identity thieves. Fighting off these threats requires installing an anti-virus program and an anti-spyware program to identify and eliminate suspicious files and programs. These act as a first line of defense against identity theft.
