Guide to avoid online identity theft
BT has today published a ten-point guide to help prevent internet users becoming victims of the growing threat of online identity theft.
The guide appears in an internet security report published today, written in conjunction with CPP, Get Safe Online, Lloyds TSB, Metropolitan Police and Yahoo! The report highlights the growth of online threats, the current situation and what the future holds.
For instance, 8% of UK PC users fall victim to online fraud and 15% know someone who has been targeted by an internet criminal. However, the report shows that customers are not taking appropriate, available steps to protect themselves - one in ten people questioned, for example, indicated that they would have no qualms about giving their credit card details to an unidentified third party.
?Online identity fraud is a growing and, until now, a silent part of fraud in the UK, which accounted for ?1.7 billion last year - ?35 per adult per year,? explained Ray Stanton, head of security at BT Global Services. ?We want to make sure that people are aware of the threat and are protecting themselves online, so they can enjoy the benefits of the internet.?
?Criminals are always looking for new ways to make money,? explained Detective Chief Superintendent Nigel Mawer, head of the Metropolitan Police Economic Specialist Crime Unit. ?Online identity theft and fraud are the latest techniques. By protecting themselves against the growing threat, users are also protecting others, so we urge everyone who uses the internet to follow the ten point guide.?
Notes to editors
Ten point guide to protect your online identity
1. Keep your wits about you at all times
Understand the risks and operate on the internet in the same way as you do in the offline world, with caution and appropriate scepticism. But do not be frightened; with simply precautions it is safe to use online banking and traders.
2. Question why a Web site is asking for information about you?
Think about whether it is somewhere or someone you want to give your details to. Only use secure web sites and also use common sense when it comes to phishing emails and web sites
3. Never give any online security details to anyone unless it is completely necessary
Be particularly cautious if you share your accommodation with other people. Consider pass wording your computer to avoid unnecessary access.
4. Look after your password
Change your passwords regularly and avoid standard passwords like a family member?s names or dictionary words. When creating a password use a combination of letters, numbers and even special characters, like an exclamation mark when possible. This will make your password ?strong?. Do not use the same password for every secure site you are registered with.
5. Never click on links in emails
Always type the web site (Hidden Content address for banks, financial institutions and retail sites into the browser address line or store them using the browser?s favourites function.
6. Keep up-to-date
Keep your security software (anti-virus, anti-spam, anti-spyware and firewall), operating system and applications such as Microsoft Office up-to-date at all times.
7. Remove the spies
Check all files on every computer that is connected to the internet at least once a week using anti-spyware and adware applications.
8. Keep your connection secure
Make sure everyone who uses the computer understands the precautions they need to take when online. Do not leave your broadband live unnecessarily and if you use a wireless modem ensure you set it to use at least 128-bit encryption if you are registered for online banking.
9. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is
Don?t open emails or go to sites that claim you have won a prize, unless you?ve entered a specific competition. If an email looks suspicious and is unsolicited delete it and don?t open it.
10. Know where to go for help should you be a victim of online identity theft
There are wide range of organisations and groups that people can turn to for advice should they be the victim of online identity theft. These include the police, industry bodies and suppliers of online services.
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
Zone Alarm Pro has a brilliant component built into it for Identity protection.
I use this for my firewall,antivirus,antispyware util. Never had a problem yet.
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
Good advice.
Can also use the phishing add-ins for browsers to identify spoof sites (although this means sending background info to microsoft if using IE).
And if a site is asking for personal details without showing the padlock at the bottom of the browser then think twice about sending the info.
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
Trojan horses are a major threat to your security.
I have experimented with these on my own computers.
A lot of them have keyloggers which will log every key you press for years if gone un-noticed.
When entering passwords i always put in part of it then click on another area on the page and type a few other keys, then back to the password area to finish off.
This will confuse any keyloggers you might have installed.
Dont be fooled by updated AV as some of these trojans are not detected.
Be very carefull what you download and open especially in instant messenger programs.
Also these trojans have the ability to see your stored passwords so when you are asked if you would like windows to store your password.....dont do it on banking/paypal/ebay ect....even email passwords can cause you problems because when your other passwords are lost they are sent to your email.
I recently had one on my pc (my kids downloaded it in a game).
I had a steam account stolen (for online gaming on valve).
After much hassle i got my account back and i was banned from every server for using cheat software.....nothing i can do about it now.
These trojans are freely available on the net...fortunately most that are visible to us are also visible to the AV companys and are detected
For a good insight into this have a look at prorat.net.......this is a very sticky trojan and removing it involves messing with your registry and scanning in safe mode.
If you have a look at this it will open your eyes as to what is possible.
All my mates/assosiates were well paranoid after seeing this.
But remember this is a trojan and your AV will pick it up so if you dont think you know what you are doing...use it only on a pc that is not used for sensative information.
:D
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
Top post Hitman,particularly like the keylogger tip,never heard that one before...
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
Good info hitman, I make regular formats of my drive throghout the year and re-install even though I have up to date av etc
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
If you get to know these programs you then are better informed to the risks.
Another trojan that is intresting is optix pro although the website that origionally offered this has now shut down.
This has to be the funniest trojan ive ever seen.
Jokes aside tho ...once infected they will give the hacker as much access to your pc as you have....even your registry.
I personally reinstall my operating system every year on every computer.
I think that the system gets sluggish and needs this to run smoothly anyway.
Never leave passwords in a word or notepad document.
Never share your whole hard drive unless you know what you are doing as computers with this are very easily hacked....without a trojan.
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
where i can i download this version of zone alarm?
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
quite interesing report, I always use router but still auto clean all the visited pages
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
very good read :)Time for a spyware sweep:)
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
In case somoene didint mentioned this, remember to clean your history in browser.
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
Is my phone safe all the time because these trogens are trained and programmed for pc's only arnt they?
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
Personally I find Zone Alarm a bit clunky. It takes an age to load and isn't that reliable at blocking applications accessing out.
Software firewalls aren't particularly good in general (on Windows OS) as they can be hacked and bypassed. Your better off using a router with a built in firewall to block incoming connections and keep your AV up to date to catch viruses etc. trying to access outbound, in my opinion.
I would recommend AVG antivirus as the latest update seems pretty slick. the updates and scanning are fast and it has an online filter that scans web sites for you.
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
Oh also for Sadiq. I don't know much about mobiles to be honest on the internet but one piece of advise I would STRONGLY recommend is to turn Bluetooth OFF!!!!
I work in networking and on a course recently the tutor (a security specialist) demonstrated to us how he could get all the information on someone's mobile using wireless on his laptop and a few tools if Bluetooth was on. The worrying thing is half the people didn't realise it was switched on!
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
online theaf is a REAL issue is uk
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
I have just started using Firefox 4 Beta as my browser, it has got a master password option in the tools folder which enables you to use a secure master password to protect all your other passwords from trojans, it might be worth a look to you guys...
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
Quote:
Thanks for posting sticky fingers. I'd like to think i'm quite good with my online security but always great to have a refresher every now and again.
lad get a grip its a 5 year old post surely there must be something you can help with on the forum rather than replying to 5 year old post?:lol3:
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
This must be some kind of a record as there has been at least one post every year for the 5 years since it was first made?
And we are still on the first page of the thread.
It's got more life in it than re runs of Dads Army! :))
Whatever happened to stickyfingers anyway?
Did he get locked up for those sticky fingers, .......or did he just wash his hands of of us? pmsl
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
I hope that Answered your post congo:)]
Re: Guide to avoid online identity theft
That's a non post Plaster! Please use the thanks button provided.
I expect mods to delete both these posts.