Keeping Your Identity Safe in the New Year
Is someone else using your Social Security number or managing a bank account in your name? Start the New Year off being extra cautious and aware of not only what’s happening around you, but also what’s happening to you.
Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information to commit fraud or other crimes. For example, identity thieves can open bank or credit accounts, apply for loans, charge utilities, rent apartments, receive medical services, or apply for a job—all under your name.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, identity theft affects nearly nine million Americans each year. It is a serious crime that can cost a significant amount of money and countless hours to resolve.
Passwords
Creating a strong password is one simple step you can take to minimize your risk of identity theft or comprising either the university’s or your personal accounts. Here are some tips to remember when selecting a password:
- Most robust passwords are at least eight characters long and include a mixture of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and punctuation.
- Avoid using consecutive numbers, dictionary words, or personal information, such as your date of birth or mothers maiden name, which can be easy for hackers to guess or locate.
- Change your password frequently to put up an added layer of protection.
Phishing
Phishing is an illegal Internet activity that often ends up in identity theft for its victims. Phishing scams try to steal confidential information by trolling for unsuspecting victims through e-mails
and sending them to fake web sites where they are tricked into providing personal information.
- Never respond to suspected phishing e-mails under any circumstances.
- Never reveal personal and confidential information, such as credit card numbers and Social Security numbers.
Any time you receive a request for cash or personal information, such as a credit card, bank account or Social Security number, and you did not originate the contact, you can be sure it is a scam. No matter how compelling or urgent these requests seem, do not respond.
Spam
Spam is unwanted junk e-mail (usually sent in bulk) that is deceptive, annoying, and/or offensive. Fortunately, anti-spam measures are available at both the university level (to identify and filter spam before it lands in users’ mailboxes) and at the user level (to eliminate the spam that gets through).
- Activate your spam filters. If you are a student and use the university’s web mail system, you are already enrolled in the anti-spam service. If you are not a student, you can activate this service at 8help.osu.edu/2746.html. Regardless of whether you use the university’s web mail, be sure to use the built-in junk mail filtering in your e-mail program.
- Don’t provide a free-for-all. Whenever you’re online, you run the risk of having your e-mail address “harvested” by opportunists who use specialized software to collect e-mail addresses, which they use for their own purposes or sell to other spammers. Your e-mail address may be picked up whenever you post to mailing lists, chat rooms, or newsgroups, add your e-mail address to a database directory, or register for products online.
Social Networking Sites
Social networking sites allow you to socialize online and encourage openness, but they also challenge your privacy. Follow these tips to maintain it:
- Know how the site works before you join. Some allow you to post to a small group of users, while others allow anyone to view your personal postings. Decide what level of openness you want and consider setting viewing restrictions.
- Keep personal information to yourself. Posting your full name, Social Security number, address, phone number, bank or credit card account opens you up to identity theft or stalkers.
- Information lasts forever.
Only post information you are comfortable with others seeing forever. Even if you delete it, the information is still out there on someone else’s computer, and social networking sites can never fully remove these files.
Online Shopping
Purchasing items over the Internet can be convenient—until your credit card account or personal information is stolen. You don’t have to avoid online retailers or auctions, but you should follow these precautions:
- Know who you are buying from. Anyone can create a web site and sell from it. Use trusted retailers, see who links to the site, consult the Better Business Bureau, and verify the seller’s postal address and phone number.
- Security, security, and more security. Set alerts (under Preferences/Security) in your web browser to warn you when you are entering a page or submitting a form that is not secure. Never click on the link in pop-up messages that appear while browsing.
- Review the privacy policy. Not finding a privacy policy is a good indicator that you should avoid purchasing items on that site.
Want to learn more?
For more tips on protecting your privacy, visit buckeyesecure.osu.edu/SafeComputing and the following web sites:
Source: buckeyesecure.osu.edu/SafeComputing