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