[Tech. Tips]-What is identity theft and how can you Protect it? Read it for solution and preventions.

kmdfaheem · 发表于 2019-04-16 16:32:20

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[p]With the insane amount of information we share online, it's pertinent to mention the risk of identity theft or the case when a fraudster steals another person's identity to commit Fraud on their name.

[p]Such crimes have been committed before, but now criminals are leveraging the internet's power to get hold of personal information and exploit it.

[h5]Here are some ways to avoid it.[/h5][h5]Attack[/h5][h2]How identity is stolen?[/h2][p]We share a ton of information online, including our names, addresses, emails, Aadhaar card numbers, PAN card numbers, bank account numbers, etc.

[p]The data usually remains secure, but sometimes lapses in security can result in the information being leaked on the internet.

[p]It can then go into dark web marketplaces where fraudsters can pay cheap prices to get hold of your details.

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[div][h5]They can also use phishing and malware attacks[/h5][p]While dark web marketplaces offer personal data in bulk, attackers can even use sophisticated phishing and malware-based attacks to grt hold of your personal information, Notably, they can even stalk your profile/phone or social engineer you into giving away personal/confidential details.

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[/div][div][div][/div][h5]Importance[/h5][h2]Why you should care about your information being compromised[/h2][p]Identity theft might not seem like a major issue, but you should note that this specific crime is the one that leads to financial fraud.

[p]Basically, with your personal information, an attacker could impersonate you and commit crimes on your name.

[p]They could use your credit card, apply for a new one, or get a connection/product/service you never applied for among many other things.

[h5]There's the risk of social crimes[/h5][p]Along with this, it is also worth noting that a bad actor could use your name and photo to create a fake profile on social media. This way, they can act out, harass women, and commit other heinous crimes on your name.

[div][h5]Prevention #1[/h5][h2]Never keep your information public[/h2][div]

[br][/div][p]Now that you know the risk of identity theft, we recommend keeping every piece of information private, be it on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

[p]This can keep malicious attackers from accessing your personal details for creating fake accounts or for carrying out social engineering-based attacks.

[p]Also, don't accept requests from people you don't know as they might have bad intentions.

[/div][div][div][/div][h5]Prevention #2[/h5][h2]Never give away your information on call[/h2][div]

[br][/div][p]Along with keeping profiles secure, never give away your personal details to any person claiming to be from a bank or any popular brand.

[p]Companies or financial institutions never ask for information on a call, which means any such call you receive could be an attempt to steal your data.

[p]They could offer rewards or warn about expiring services, but don't fall for it.

[div][h5]Prevention #3[/h5][h2]Handle important documents carefully[/h2][div]

[br][/div][p]You should also keep important documents safe at a place where no one except you or the people you trust could access them.

[p]Also, don't forget to shred correspondence from banks and other institutions before throwing away.

[p]Such documents (like canceled cheques or insurance papers) could hold crucial personal information that may get into the hands of outsiders from the bin.

[/div][div][div][/div][h5]Prevention #4[/h5][h2]Use personal devices carefully[/h2][div]

[br][/div][p]Smartphones and laptops hold a ton of personal and financial information, and hence it is important to keep them protected.

[p]Thus, as a rule of thumb, never enter your login-passwords in public for any service, and make sure all the confidential data is password-protected.

[p]This way, no one can access your information even when they have your phone.

[h5]Prevention #5[/h5][h2]Finally, watch out for malware and phishing[/h2][div]

[br][/div][p]Some crafty attackers can even conduct malware and phishing-based attacks to nab your personal details.

[p]Now, some malware programs can be difficult to fend off but a reliable anti-virus program can protect you against most attacks.

[p]Additionally, never click on any suspicious links and use only official sites to log into services like Netflix or your personal banking account.

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Stay tuned for more interesting informations.[br][br]Till then,[br][br]Keep Infinixing for latest and best quality informations.[br][br][strong]([/strong][strong]Source: [/strong]https://www.newsbytesapp.com/timeline/Science/44772/201492/how-to-shield-yourself-against-identity-fraud)