Protecting Your Identity

Anders Olson

Computers III

September 18, 2008

Identity theft has become

a real problem in the

real world and the virtual world online. Following are tips on

what to do to prevent identity theft in both of them.

Real World

• What do identity thieves want?

• Where do they find these?

• How are these used?

• How do you defend yourself?

What do identity thieves want?

• To become you using:– Your social security card

– Driver’s license

– Account numbers

– Passwords

Where do they find these?

• Purse/wallet– A lot of personal information stored there.

• Mailbox– Credit card bills, checking account

statements, pre-approved credit cards, outgoing bills

• Glove compartment– Vehicle registration, insurance cards, old bills

& receipts

Where do they find these?

• Trash

– Dumpster diving for old bills, accounts statements, etc.

• You

– Fake phone calls asking for personal information

What are they used for?

• To open credit card accounts

• To change mailing addresses on current cards

• Shopping sprees

• Use your name when arrested

• Apply for jobs

• File for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts

How do you defend your self?

• Purse/wallet– Don’t carry social security cards, more credit

cards than you need, or a list of passwords to different things like PINs.

• Mailbox– Take outgoing mail to post office and pick up

mail as soon as possible

• Glove Compartment– Clean out unneeded material. Lock your car.

Virtual World

• What do they want?

• Where do virtual thieves find these?

• How do you defend yourself?

What do they want?

• Your information– Your banking information– Your passwords– Your personal information (name, address,

etc.)– Anything that they can get their hands on and

allow them to create a new identity to use for their own purposes

Where do the virtual thieves find these?

• Unless proper safeguards are in place thieves can and will access:– Bank account information– Electronic tax returns– Insurance information– Spreadsheets/word processing documents– Anything with information

How do you defend yourself?

• Passwords– Use unique passwords– Change regularly– Remember them, don’t write them down

• File-sharing sites– If you can get their files, they can get yours.

• Beware of Phising– Phising- emails luring people to give their

logins, passwords, etc. to phony sites.

How do you defend yourself?

• Be careful of using public computers– Users can view list of previous sites users

have visited

• Purchase Anti-Virus Software

• Keep Operating Software Updated

• Install a Firewall

• Don’t give our personal information over the internet.

Further Your Knowledge

• OnGuardOnline.gov

• Nationwide consumer reporting companies:– Equifax: 1-800-525-6285– Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)– TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

• FTC Avoid ID Theft PowerPoint

Bibliography

• “Deter. Detect. Defend. Avoid ID Theft” [Online Image] 18 September 2008 <http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/images/identity-theft-symbols.gif>

• <http://www.onguardonline.com/• http://www.equifax.com/home/• http://www.experian.com/• http://www.transunion.com/• http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft