Avoiding the world of online identity theft

In the modern age, a large part of us lives online – in the form of data! Whether it’s within social media, eCommerce websites or educational pages – you’ll agree with us that crucial information related to ourselves resides online.

This provides an ideal opportunity for the cybercriminals who want to steal your identity to impersonate you to launder money, make purchases and accomplish other malicious intentions.

According to an estimate, identity theft causes $50-billion worth of financial loss every year. For some people, identity theft can cause mere inconvenience that could be fixed with certain measures. For other parties, it can cause serious damage to their financials and reputation.

How do they steal your identity you ask?

In the past, identity theft happened when a criminal stole your post, bank receipts, wallets with credit cards, etc. In the digitally connected world, this can happen in any of the following ways:

Through phishing websites
Malware that gets installed on computers or smartphones
Transacting via ATM which has been rigged to skim information
Sharing passwords with untrustworthy people
Fake social profile
Remote access
By use of pharming websites

Though it is important to stay vigilant, you can protect your identity by being cautious and following certain steps.

Protecting yourself from identity theft?

Rather than facing issues, it is advisable to take some precautionary measures. Here is how you can protect yourself from such an ordeal.

Antivirus and anti-malware software

Keep your computer and smartphones armed with the latest antivirus and anti-malware software. Good software helps you in battling most malware, spyware, and keyloggers.

Be vigilant when using ATMs

While using an ATM, make sure you hide your PIN to avoid being detected by a hidden camera.

Passwords

Always keep different passwords for different websites and social media platforms. Make sure your passwords are strong enough to be undecipherable. To help you remember all the passwords, use the online services of Google to store them.

Watch out for spam or junk mail

Keep an eye for emails that pop-up in your inbox, appearing to be from a credible website or source that ask you to download something. Double-check with the source mentioned to ensure their credibility

Be careful on Social Media

The best way to prevent someone from stealing your information is by limiting their access to it. Limit your disbursement of information.

Follow these easy steps to keep a check on your data and information. Keep an eye on new information, and become aware of new ways to protect yourself digitally.

Want to get the best of cybersecurity for your business?

At Cloudscape, we specialise in learning our clients’ business and best-applying security technology to their needs.

If you would appreciate a free brief discussion about your operational challenges & to explore the threats to your business, please get in touch today.