One of the articles I read this week was about the new federal regulation, referred to as the Red Flags Rule, requiring financial corporations and organizations to develop programs to help prevent identity theft in the computer age. The date of enforcement for this regulation is currently set as November 1, 2009. I’m glad to see that financial organizations will be at least attempting to help control and hopefully prevent some of the identity theft problems we are experiencing. However, I am fully aware that it is really my own responsibility to protect myself. I can’t rely on others to do this task for me.
As usual, my trainer brain kicked in and I thought about my training clients and how much exposure they have to identity theft. Some of my Versitas clients are individuals or small business owners, who must shoulder most of the IT responsibilities themselves. Together, we work hard in our training to ensure that they are ready to do their daily business and technology-related tasks. What if they are blindsided by someone who steals their identity or their data/information?
As much as we shop, communicate and pay bills online, are we doing everything we can to keep ourselves off the radar of identity theft hackers? I think that we all know to safeguard our Social Security numbers and credit and bank card numbers, but what else can we do? As any good blogging trainer would do, I immediately thought, “I need to write a blog on this!”
Here are a few ways that I use to try to keep my online information safe:
1. Think before you click. Don’t click on pop-up ads or links from unknown sites. When you point to the link, look at the status bar at the bottom of your window to see the name of the website where the link is pointing. It may be a phishing email. For example, if I receive what I believe to be a legitimate email telling me to click on a link, I don’t click on the link in that email. I type in the web page address for that company and log in to my account. That process may take a few more clicks but won’t take me to the wrong site where they can get my information.
2. Keep your security software and updates current. First of all, make sure your software (like an antivirus, firewall, and anti-spyware) is installed and running correctly. Activate any security features you have like pop-up blockers, automatic scans and virus definition updates. Credible software manufacturers will have regular updates to most of their products. Don’t postpone these updates thinking that you will get to them later. As I’ve learned, I most likely won’t get to them later.
3. Check your credit report! You can check your credit report at all three main reporting agencies once a year for free by going to: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp The Federal Trade Commission’s website (http://www.ftc.gov/freereports) reports that the only authorized free credit report website is AnnualCreditReport.com. I even checked my infant son’s reports this year since the crime of stealing a child’s identity is on the rise.
I know these are just a few ways to protect yourself, but I hope that if you are not already doing them, that you will begin today. After all, we are our own first line of defense!
Tags: computer age, credit report, Identity theft, Red Flag Rules, security software, Versitas
It’s getting more difficult than ever to tell if a site is legit or not. I say - follow your instinct - if a page seems suspicious to you run the other way!
Think before you click is right… don’t trust any links in emails - always go out to the company’s website. Thanks Angela!
I clicked on a pop up once and was sent to a site that had miss-spellings in some of the content (they also wanted information). That was my clue to get the heck out of there!
Good points Angela. I especially agree with your point about keeping your anti-virus software up to date. It can be a life saver!