| There are thieves everywhere and the Internet | | | | maiden name, don't give the real one, make |
| has its fair share of bandits of all types. | | | | one up (and use a different one for each |
| The most frightening and potentially | | | | program requiring this information) but make |
| dangerous thief is the identity thief. An | | | | sure you don't forget the names you invent. |
| identity thief can go beyond stealing the | | | | |
| contents of your bank accounts or running up | | | | 4. Never click a link in any email asking you |
| debts on your credit card. Identity theft can | | | | to update personal information. Any email |
| result in you being pursued for debts | | | | asking you to do this will be a "phishing" |
| incurred in your name by the thief, being | | | | email from thieves trying to get hold of your |
| blacklisted by credit reference agencies and | | | | personal details. If a genuine company needs |
| even being arrested on criminal charges. By | | | | you to confirm anything, it will ask you to |
| taking a few simple precautions, you can | | | | log into your account, it will not ask you to |
| ensure your identity is safe online. The | | | | click through via a "special" link. |
| following are seven effective tips for | | | | |
| password protection online. | | | | 5. Never tell anyone else your password. No |
| | | | legitimate company will ever ask you to give |
| Password Protection Tips | | | | them your password. |
| | | | |
| 1. Do not use the same password for | | | | 6. Use a software program to store your |
| everything. There are many people who use one | | | | passwords on your PC. The Mozilla Firefox |
| password for everything because they would | | | | toolbar will save your login passwords for |
| have trouble remembering numerous passwords | | | | you and enable you to log in to programs with |
| and can't be bothered to write them all down. | | | | just one mouse click. Roboform will do the |
| If you use the same password for everything | | | | same thing. It will also record the url of |
| and a thief gets hold of it, he has access to | | | | sites you log in at and recognize any attempt |
| every online facility you use. If a crook | | | | at phishing. Roboform also has a function to |
| gets hold of your personal details for any | | | | generate completely random passwords for any |
| program, one of his first actions will be to | | | | program you use. The "portable" version of |
| check to find out if you have a PayPal | | | | Roboform can be plugged into any pc, thereby |
| account where you use the same password. | | | | enabling you to use your passwords without |
| | | | fear of theft by keystroke loggers. |
| 2. Do not use any words to be found in the | | | | |
| dictionary as passwords. Passwords should be | | | | 7. Change your passwords regularly, being |
| a meaningless mixture of letters, numbers and | | | | sure to use brand new passwords, not recycled |
| (if the login permits) symbols. Thieves use | | | | ones from a month or two ago. This way the |
| software programs that can identify | | | | damage will be limited if a thief gets access |
| dictionary words when they are used as | | | | to a database containing your details. |
| passwords. | | | | |
| | | | Identity thieves are everywhere. They are |
| 3. Do not use obvious things for identity | | | | happy to rummage through your garbage in the |
| confirmation. Your date of birth, mother's | | | | hope of finding a copy of your bank statement |
| maiden name, father's middle name etc are | | | | or a discarded utility bill. Compared to that |
| matters of record that are available to | | | | dirty work, stealing your identity via a |
| thieves. Choose a more obscure option such as | | | | password you use on the Internet is a |
| your favourite color or the name of your | | | | pleasant option. It is up to you to make sure |
| first school. If a program gives you no | | | | the pleasant option is not an easy option for |
| choice and you have to provide your mother's | | | | the thieves. |