Every day, thousands of people experience identity theft, leading to the theft of vast amounts of resources and money. To prevent identity theft, users must follow several guidelines to prevent this disruptive crime from occurring in cyberspace. Online security and protection against hackers can be achieved simply by using the latest security software.
Online users must be constantly aware and vigilant in their use of different programs, websites and online services. We have to consider that despite the ease and convenience that online processing presents, they are susceptible to hacking by technically competent and knowledgeable hackers.
Customers and customers should only take advantage of the services of online service providers with a secure and developed system of business transactions in cyberspace. It is a joint responsibility of users and service providers to be careful to prevent identity theft.
The basic principle used to prevent identity theft is preparation and care. Most people who fall victim to identity theft are unaware of the rampant activities of hackers to install hidden programs such as worms and viruses.
Hacker employs these malicious programs by attaching them to different websites and disguising them as credible tools. Online users are tricked into downloading them. These programs actually steal information and use it against users. In the United States alone, thousands of cases involving the theft of passwords leading to the theft of online bank funds are reported at a regular rate. By the time people discover the theft against you, most of the damage is already done.
The second principle to prevent identity theft is caution. Before conducting sensitive transactions on a website, it is the user’s responsibility to know how effective the security measure is in place to protect their passwords, resources and investments. Reliable websites usually offer firewall facilities during online payment and bank transfer.
The third principle to prevent identity theft is to update yourself regularly. This can be easily done by downloading and installing all the latest security programs such as Internet security software, registry cleaners, and virus scanners. It’s easy to find these utilities as thousands of websites are set up to provide free and trial downloads.
The fourth principle is to always be careful and vigilant. An online user should always be careful where they enter their passwords and important data, such as public computers and a random person’s laptop. Computers accessed by the general population could be infected with illegal software that steals and stores data to use for degrading and harmful purposes.
The fifth principle to prevent identity theft is consistency. People tend to forget about scanning external drives and devices that are built into their system. This could lead to the installation of hidden programs such as viruses, which are common hacking tools for identity theft.
By following these five basic principles, an online user could easily prevent identity theft and its harmful effects. As computer users, it is the responsibility of the owner to be careful when using it for different purposes, especially online payment. Hackers only victimize those who are unaware and ignorant.
