Identity Theft Offline -- So Many Possibilities

Chris Simpson, head of Scotland Yard's computer crime unit was unpleasantly surprised to learn how easy it is to cheat anybody out of his or her personal info -- by means of a fake survey.

This survey wasn't a scam; in fact, it was an experiment. It was carried out in March for the Information Security show (April 26-28). The results showed that most people casually give out their personal info.

Market researchers questioned 200 people on London streets in a bogus survey on theater-going habits. 92% of those who took part disproved the common stereotype of British as reserved people. They readily gave out personal data, including first school and birth dates, mothers' maiden names, names of pets -- valuable info for, say, cracking passwords. During the survey many people volunteered such key details as name, address and postcode.

The chance to win free tickets was enough for these people to reveal almost everything one might need to impersonate them. By the end of the survey, the fake researchers had everything they needed to take out credit cards in their name and even open bank accounts. These 200 people were lucky -- the survey was just a trick. But what if it hadn't been?

Instead of laughing at naive and unwary Londoners, let's think whether we all are careful enough with such personal data. Aren't we sometimes give away information without a clear idea how it will be used -- and by whom?

Much cautioned about identity theft and phishing in the Internet, we tend to relax when speaking in person. Most of us will never click links in spam or open attachments if we don't know who sent the email. We don't trust letters asking us for sensitive information. We are getting wiser.

We have heard about identity theft plenty of times. We know that good deal of identity theft occurs offline. But all the same, some of us are still far from having good habits such as shredding personal correspondence before throwing it into the trash, or not having the same easy-to-guess password just for everything.

The odds of identity theft online partly depend on such factors as what anti-virus and anti-spy software is installed on a PC and how often it is updated. Software vendors try to develop and provide effective means of defense against information-stealing malware. Of course, much depends on whether the user is careful enough to avoid a phishing scam, and even on what sites he visits -- one can easily pick malware while visiting certain websites.

As for plain looking over your shoulder when you are writing something down, digging out papers from your trash or picking some valuable info from a casual talk -- nothing will help you if you carelessly scatter information about yourself.

Alexandra Gamanenko currently works at Raytown Corporation, LLC -- an independent software developing company that provides solutions for preventing identity theft.

The company's R&D department created an innovative technology, which capable of blocking information-stealing malware.The company's anti-keylogging software disables the very processes of information capturing -- keylogging, screenshoting, etc.

Learn more -- visit the company's website http://www.anti-keyloggers.com

---

Phishing

Recently I have received email from my bank/credit Card Company,... Read More

Can I Guess Your Password?

We all know that it's dangerous to use the same... Read More

The Important Steps To Protect Your Kids on the Internet

Internet is the ocean of knowledge. In this ocean you... Read More

Identity Theft - Dont Blame The Internet

Identity theft ? also known as ID theft, identity fraud... Read More

8 Surefire Ways to Spot an EBAY Scam E-Mail and Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Ebay is a great site and is used by many... Read More

Protecting Your Children On The Internet

If you are a parent, as am I, I think... Read More

How To Avoid Hackers From Destroying Your Site?

Recently, my site and other internet accounts ( http://www.nabaza.com/sites.htm )... Read More

Remove Rogue Desktop Icons Created By Spyware

If you have used a Windows machine for a while,... Read More

Phishing - Learn To Identify It

Phishing: (fish'ing) (n.)This is when someone sends you an email... Read More

Delete Cookies: New-Age Diet or Common Sense Internet Security?

No, this article isn't about some new, lose-20-pounds-in-a-week, certified-by-some-tan-Southern-California-doctor diet.... Read More

Whats All This I Hear About Firewalls?

At this point, if you've got the whole "turning the... Read More

Keeping Worms Out of Your Network...

No auntie Sookie, not earth worms, computer virus worms that... Read More

Email Hoaxes, Urban Legends, Scams, Spams, And Other CyberJunk

The trash folder in my main inbox hit 4000 today.... Read More

What is Hacking? Are You a Hacker?

WHAT IS HACKING?Hacking, sometimes known as "computer crime" has only... Read More

Why Malicious Programs Spread So Quickly?

It seems that nowadays cybercriminals prefer cash to fun. That... Read More

Top Ten Spyware and Adware Threats Identified

On December 8, 2004 Webroot, an award winning anti-spyware solution... Read More

Phishing, Fraudulent, and Malicious Websites

Whether we like it or not, we are all living... Read More

Identity Theft Article ? A Phisher Is Trying To Steal Your Identity!

Sooner or later everyone with an email account will receive... Read More

Passwords or Pass Phrase? Protecting your Intellectual Property

Much has been said on the theory of password protection... Read More

Blogs as Safe Haven for Cybercriminals?

To blog or not to blog? Well, why not? Lots... Read More

Personal Firewalls for Home Users

What is a Firewall?The term "firewall" illustrates a system that... Read More

Sarbanes-Oxley: A Cross-Industry Email Compliance Challenge

Is your enterprise following the rules?The bulk of financial information... Read More

Spyware Removal

Spyware SolutionProbably Today's Biggest Computer Problem. You Suffer Without Knowing... Read More

Technology and Techniques Used in Industrial Espionage

Industrial Espionage. These methodologies are being used on a daily... Read More

Spyware Programs Are Out To Get You!

The average computer is packed with hidden software that can... Read More

Phishing: An Interesting Twist On A Common Scam

After Two Security Assessments I Must Be Secure, Right? ... Read More

How to Get Rid of New Sobig.F Virus?

As you know, this time the virus under the name... Read More

How to Manage Your Username and Password The Easy and Secure Way

Have been an Internet user for more than 9 years,... Read More

Virus and Adware - Fix them Both!

We all get the odd virus now and then, but... Read More

Web and Computer Security

Well, if that would have been said to me by... Read More

Spyware Attacks! Windows Safe Mode is No Longer Safe

Many of us have run into an annoying and time-consuming... Read More

How to Protect Yourself Against Online Criminals

Credit card fraud is a growing problem for online businesses... Read More

How Spyware Blaster Can Protect Your Computer From Harm

By browsing a web page, you could infect your computer... Read More