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Editor’s note: Automated teller machines, better known as ATMs, are turning 50 on June 27. Computer science professor Pradeep Atrey, from the University at Albany, State University of New York, explains the security features and concerns of modern cash machines.
1. How does an ATM work?
In the broadest sense, an ATM works by accepting a cash request from a user, verifying the user’s authority to access a particular bank account, ensuring that account has enough money to fulfill the request and dispensing the money – all without the assistance of a bank clerk or teller.
When using modern ATMs, a customer inserts a plastic card into the machine’s reader, which registers either the data encoded on the card’s magnetic strip or its embedded chip. It prompts the customer for a personal identification number, usually called a PIN, often four or six digits long.
If the card and PIN match, then the customer can deposit money, check an account balance or, most commonly, request a cash withdrawal. When the customer specifies an amount of money, the machine uses an internet connection or a phone line to connect to the customer’s bank, verifying the funds are available and dispensing the cash.
A more sophisticated theft involves covertly monitoring the device and its users. Thieves can install small cameras in different places on an ATM, sometimes hidden by plastic panels that look like normal parts of the machine. With those, they can capture the card number, its expiration date, the name on the card, and even the three-digit card verification value (CVV) number on the back.
That’s more than enough information to use the card to make unauthorized online purchases look legitimate. Fraudsters may also sell the data in online black markets. By installing fake card slots, or even extra attachments (called “skimmers”) on top of the existing card slot, attackers can read the information on cards’ magnetic strips. That can help them make fake duplicate cards to use in other ATMs.Hidden cameras also let thieves watch users enter their PINs. A recent study found that a thermal camera can also capture PINs, by identifying which number keys are slightly warmed, because they were pressed by the user. Specifically, the researchers found that PIN detection accuracy could be up to 78 percent when the heat traces on the key pad are captured within 30 seconds of authentication.
A similar study reveals that it was possible to find all four digits of the PIN from a distance of 35 centimeters and if the thermal camera was placed at an angle between 30 and 45 degrees. However, it was much harder to identify the correct sequence of the digits.
3. Can ATMs be hacked?
Tech-savvy criminals have several options for hacking ATMs. The outer casings of ATMs often conceal hidden USB ports, used for software maintenance and update. If an attacker can locate the hidden port, he can insert a portable USB drive with a malicious program installed, taking control of the machine. That essentially allows the attacker to dispense cash without using a card.
A few years ago, a new attack became popular. Called a “black box” attack by police, the theft involves cutting holes in the ATM casing and physically disconnecting cables between the computer and the mechanism that actually dispenses the cash. Plugging another computer into the cash dispenser’s controls lets an attacker order it to release large amounts of cash.
The ATM’s telecommunications connection offers another means of attack. By intercepting communications between the machine and the bank, an attacker can collect useful card and account data. That may also offer a way to remotely install malicious software and take control of the machine itself: for instance, to issue commands to dispense cash.
4. What security measures are or can be deployed?ATM-related fraud and theft can’t be completely prevented. Banks are working to develop additional security measures, such as the three-digit CVV on the back of cards. Individuals can also take preventive measures to protect themselves when using ATMs:
If your bank issues them, use a chip-enabled card. They provide improved security by verifying the physical card is genuine, and not a fake duplicate.
It is often safer to use an indoor ATM, rather than one directly on the street, which can be accessed more easily by criminals either before or after your transaction.
Check the ATM to see if it looks like it has been physically altered or damaged, if anything is attached to the built-in card reader (to read the magnetic strip) or if there are any small cameras around the keypad. Avoid using it if anything looks suspicious.
Be careful of your surroundings and the people in the ATM area. A person behind you in line may be trying to catch a glimpse of the PIN you enter on the keypad.
Cover the key pad when entering your PIN so no observer or spy camera can see it.
If you enter the correct PIN but the transaction fails, immediately contact the bank that issued the card to warn them that there might be a problem with the machine or your account.
5. How can new technology make ATMs more secure?
As the ever-escalating arms race between ATM security professionals and criminals continues, customers will find themselves urged to use increasingly advanced security methods to identify themselves at ATMs. One method is two-factor authentication, which adds an additional layer of security a user must pass before being allowed access to an account.
Without this one-time code, an attacker can’t access the victim’s bank account.Future methods of user authentication at ATMs are likely to involve biometrics, like fingerprints, which could augment – or even replace – the cards and PINs that have gotten banks and users through the past 50 years of automated banking.
Photo illustration by Natalie Matthews-Ramo/Slate. Photo by Utkarxh Rathore/Unsplash.
One day, B.J. Mendelson was playing Roblox with his school-aged nieces when suddenly, he heard a stranger’s voice come out of one of their iPads. A longtime digital security buff, he was pretty creeped out. He knew how to keep himself secure online, but the incident brought home just how many opportunities for privacy breaches there are lurking in everyday devices. Most people, including his own brother and sister-in-law, operate them without a playbook.
That’s why this fall, he decided to start a podcast miniseries with the goal of making digital privacy more accessible. Sexy, even. The result is Stupid Sexy Privacy, a show in which he and co-host Rosie Tran give listeners bite-size, actionable tips on dealing with basic tech stuff like password management, not letting your car harvest your data, and whatever Elon Musk is doing to Twitter. Mendelson was kind enough to share some of these pearls of privacy wisdom with Slate, though you should probably get a VPN before you read them.
This interview has been condensed and edited from two conversations for clarity.
Heather Schwedel: Let’s consider the hypothetical person who knows absolutely nothing about privacy—what are some things they can do to improve their security, like, right this second?
B.J. Mendelson: Use the right browser and get a forwarding email address. I use DuckDuckGo and an @duck email address. These days, most marketing emails have trackers in them that collect data about you. The @duck forwarding address strips away the tracker and forwards it to your real email so you can get messages without companies collecting your information.
You can also use ClamAV to look for malicious software, and use Signal for messaging. Signal is great—it’s not sophisticated, it has a lot of fun features, there’s a group chat option, and it lets you chat securely with your friends and family without worrying whether someone can access your messages. If I can get people reading this to just switch to Signal, I’ve already done a large part of my job.
Also, get a VPN (virtual private network.) It disguises your web activity and limits the data your internet service provider can collect about you.
I thought a VPN was for like, watching streaming services from other countries and buying dark-web drugs. Do I, an average person, really need one?
If you’re at home, then you don’t have to worry about it. But if you’re out and using public Wi-Fi, you absolutely do. Something like 90 percent of Gen Z and millennials own a smartphone. [Actually, it’s roughly 98 percent for Gen Z and 94 percent for millennials.] We’re all out and about using and connecting to different Wi-Fis that are probably not secure. That’s a serious thing. That’s why I use tools like Proton VPN, which has an app. You fire it up, and then off you go.
If you’re going through a breakup, and you’ve shared your device with that partner, you absolutely need a new device. It’s the only way to guarantee that there’s not a keylogger—which lets the person who installed it monitor every single thing you enter on your keyboard, including passwords, emails, etc.—or some other kind of spyware that they’ve put on there.
When I heard that tip, I balked at the idea that it was easy. First of all, you recommend getting a new Mac, which is expensive!
You’re right, it is expensive. And it sucks. And I wish that there was an alternative. But for most people, that is the easiest, most basic way for them to protect themselves.
It also struck me as a little extreme to get a new computer every time you go through a breakup. In a lot of cases, you were with a decent person and it just didn’t work out—should you really be afraid of them?
That’s always the question, right? In the privacy space, they talk about threat vectors, which is really just a nice way of asking what the probability is that someone’s going to do something shitty to you. But, it’s easy to be evil today. Revenge porn is unfortunately a huge thing. That’s why we talk about this stuff.
But you’re right. I have a couple of ex-girlfriends who’ve had access to my stuff. Am I concerned that they’re spying on me? No. But is the possibility there? The possibility is always there.
These costs must start to add up. How much money do you personally spend on privacy stuff annually?
Signal is free. DuckDuckGo is free. The DuckDuckGo forwarding email address is free. ClamAV is free. Proton VPN is one regular expense, which is about $100 a year. Again, the nice thing about privacy is that a lot of this stuff is open-source , which means it’s freely available, and the incentive is usually to protect users rather than turn a profit. There are services like 1Password that I also pay for.
DeleteMe, the other service that I think everyone needs, is also unfortunately expensive. It’s a tool that removes personal data captured by data brokers. If you’ve got two weeks’ worth of free time, you can go to all 600 of those data brokers yourself and fill out a form on their individual websites, which is often buried under a bunch of legalese. In doing so, you might even create more data that then go back to them. So what DeleteMe does is constantly look for your information and then scrub it again, which saves you time. I paid about $250 for it.
All told, I spend about $300 or $350 a year on privacy stuff. And I want to be clear: That sucks. I should not have to pay for this. Something like DeleteMe should be something that’s government-funded so that everyone can use it.
What’s the dumbest infosec mistake you see people make?
Clicking on suspicious links in emails and texts. We all fall for it. I’ve fallen for it. My dad recently fell for it. Just understand that not everything you get is safe, especially in email. There’s a company that I do some work with, and we constantly get phishing emails that look like they’re from the CEO. Everything looks so legit and sophisticated that people click on it. And so that’s been the most common thing.
People need to look for typos and spelling errors in these emails. And to check if the domain from the sender was correct. What does the website look like when you do click through? And if you do click, please, for the love of God, do it using Tor. Any time that you’re suspicious of a link, if you’re on a desktop, you can just download Tor and then pop the link in there. That’s a secure way to look at a link without having to worry about it hijacking your system.
Your first book about privacy came out a few years ago, and you’re working on a new one now. What would you say have been the biggest changes in this landscape since the last book came out?
Definitely this thing that’s going on with Twitter. But before that, it was the scope and scale of Russia’s hacking of the DNC [Democratic National Committee]. We didn’t know how deep it was. But I think the level of sophistication is something that people should be aware of.
Here’s the scary thing: The tools and tactics that Russia used have now been co-opted by Republican operatives, fascists, and other weirdos to harass people, dox them, and spread misinformation. Things like trying to smear people with old tweets or things that have been taken out of context have also become so much more common and aggressive for the day-to-day person. When I first wrote the book, we were talking about governments, journalists, and big organizations being hit with these attacks, but now we’re all dealing with it.
I definitely want to talk about Twitter. What should people do about Twitter right now?
If you’re going to stay, the first thing you want to do is protect your tweets by going into your settings, then the Privacy and Safety tab, then clicking Audience and Tagging. That makes them private, so only the people who follow you can see them. This matters, because what’s going to happen when Musk rolls out the new Twitter Blue? If you look at the ad for Twitter Blue, it says, “Rocket straight to the top of @-messages and DMs.” If I were a bad actor, I could purchase Twitter Blue and just start harassing people in a way that’s harder to ignore. Protecting your tweets can help.
The second thing is to use a YubiKey, Google Authenticator, or Authy. Google Authenticator and Authy are two-factor authentication apps that are more secure than SMS. But the most secure option is a YubiKey, which is a physical key that plugs into your USB drive or phone that you need to have with you to log in to Twitter.
The third thing, and this gets into legal territory, is to delete your DMs in case someone breaks into your account. The response that I’ve gotten to this is, “Well, that doesn’t delete them from Twitter servers.” Two things to say about that: First, you should delete all your past and future Twitter DMs just in case someone breaks into your account and finds information that could be used to break into your other accounts.
Secondly, if Twitter employees access your DMs, the company is liable under the Stored Communications Act. Corporate employees of companies like Facebook and Google can face criminal charges for accessing this sort of private information and using it in certain ways.
I think there is a real risk that if you’re the average person using Twitter, you can still be hacked. Plus, privacy is a thing that we need to do together. Not only are you protecting yourself, but you’re also protecting other people whom you’ve had conversations with.
Another idea I’ve always been suspicious of is that I need to put a sticker on my laptop camera.
Again, it’s a crime of opportunity. Let’s say you’re at work, and there’s a breach in the company server. If that happens, people can find a way to get on to your laptop, and it’s entirely possible they could activate your microphone and your video camera without you knowing. For a long time, I was telling people to just put a Post-it note over the camera. I know it sounds silly, but it’s a legit concern.
Just talking about hidden cameras for a second, that’s a global epidemic around the world that adversely affects women. And so, getting an RF detector—a small device that detects hidden cameras—can go a long way to keeping yourself and your privacy secure. You can also get a mic blocker to disable mic access so no apps on your phone can listen to you.
OK, one more question. What is the sexiest thing about privacy?
There’s nothing sexier than being able to share images and videos with your partner, especially during times like a pandemic, and not having to worry about, “Oh my God, this is gonna wind up on some guy’s hard drive or website?”
I think intimacy with the knowledge of security is very sexy.
Deep fake or deepfake technology as AI or artificial intelligence as a biometrics fake visual... [+] Getty
Facial recognition software has become increasingly popular in the past several years. It is used everywhere from airports, venues, shopping centers and even by law enforcement. While there are a few potential benefits to using the technology to prevent and solve crimes, there are many concerns about the privacy, safety and legislation regarding the use of the technology.
Facial recognition technology uses a database of photos, such as mugshots and driver’s license photos to identify people in security photos and videos. It uses biometrics to map facial features and help verify identity through key features of the face. The most key feature is the geometry of a face such as the distance between a person’s eyes and the distance from their forehead to their chin.
This then creates what is called a “facial signature.” It is a mathematical formula that is then compared to a database of known faces. The market for this technology is growing exponentially. According to a research report “Facial Recognition Market” by Component, the facial recognition industry is expected to grow $3.2 billion in 2019 to $7.0 billion by 2024 in the U.S. The most significant uses for the technology being for surveillance and marketing. This, however, raises concerns for many people.
The main reason for concerns amongst citizens is the lack of federal regulations surrounding the use of facial recognition technology. Many are worried about how accurate the technology is and if there are biases and misinformation in these technologies. One issue, for example, is that the technology has been proven in multiple studies to be inaccurate at identifying people of color, especially black women.
Another major concern is the use of facial recognition for law enforcement purposes. Today, many police departments in the U.S., including New York City, Chicago, Detroit and Orlando, have begun utilizing the technology. According to a May 2018 report, the FBI has access to 412 million facial images for searches.
Not only is this a concern with the possibility of misidentifying someone and leading to wrongful convictions, it can also be very damaging to our society by being abused by law enforcement for things like constant surveillance of the public. Currently, the Chinese government is already using facial recognition to arrest jaywalkers and other petty crimes that cause debate amongst what is considered basic civil rights and privacy issues versus protecting the public.
Accuracy and accountability are necessary when it comes to the use of technology, especially regarding the justice system. The concerns have not gone unnoticed by politicians and many cities have started to create legislation around these issues. Oregon and New Hampshire have banned the use of facial recognition in body cameras for police officers. California cities, such as San Francisco and Oakland, and some cities in Massachusetts have outlawed certain uses of facial recognition technology for city officials including law enforcement.
The Utah Department of Public Safety has also put forth some bans on the use of facial recognition for active criminal cases. Law enforcement in Utah claim that the use of facial recognition software helps keep dangerous criminals off the streets, but advocates say that there is no checks and balances when it comes to the system. Recent pushes from Portland, Oregon show that they are soon to follow suit.
The latest legislation push to put limitations on facial recognition technology is a California bill, AB 1215, also referred to as the Body Camera Accountability Act. This bill will temporarily stop California law enforcement from adding face and other biometric surveillance technology to officer-worn body cameras for use against the public in California.
According to the ACLU of Southern California, “AB 1215 is a common-sense bill that rightly concludes that keeping our communities safe doesn’t have to come at the expense of our fundamental freedoms. We should all be able to safely live our lives without being watched and targeted by the government.”
Governor Gavin Newsom must decide whether or not to sign it into law by October 13. If he does, it will go into effect in January. Law enforcement isn’t the only issue with the technology that is of concern. U.S. Customs and Border Protection in partnership with Delta have added facial scanning to the Atlanta airport’s Concourse E, its Detroit hub, boarding gates in Minneapolis and Salt Lake City, and this month to Los Angeles International Airport.
The use of this technology causes concerns about how much people are being watched and if hackers can access this data causing more harm than good. “Facial recognition really doesn’t have a place in society,” said Evan Greer, deputy director of Fight for the Future. “It’s deeply invasive, and from our perspective, the potential harm to society and human liberties far outweigh the potential benefits.”
With the vast number of concerns and privacy issues surrounding facial recognition software and its use, cities around the U.S. will face more dilemmas as they attempt to tackle these issues. AI and facial recognition technology are only growing and they can be powerful and helpful tools when used correctly, but can also cause harm with privacy and security issues. Lawmakers will have to balance this and determine when and how facial technology will be utilized and monitor the use, or in some cases abuse, of the technology.
Nicole Martin is the owner of NR Digital Consulting and host of Talk Digital To Me Podcast. She has worked in many different industries on customer journeys, website management, social…
There are more and more remote workers in the modern age. Companies are realizing how effective it can be to have their staff based at home and opening up the possibilities of employing people without having to worry too much about where they are based. Generally, most of the consequences that happen after your identity is stolen have some sort of financial gain for the criminal.
As a remote worker, it could be that someone is looking to steal your data to gain access to the company you work for. Organizations need to be especially careful. As an employee, this doesn’t fall solely on you, but it is important that you consider the best practices for keeping data safe.
How to Prevent Identity Theft
If you’ve found this article in advance of having to deal with the consequences of identity theft then there is still a lot you can do to hopefully ensure you never have to deal with it happening to you. If you are working for a large company or your data is particularly sensitive, it makes sense to outsource all of your online security. There are organizations that know exactly how to keep your ID safe and secure and can help both individuals and organizations, even large organizations might find that they are lacking in precautions.
The best thing to do for peace of mind is to work with the professionals and make sure that identity theft doesn’t become a big hassle for you in the future. Now, this might be a different story for business owners who work remotely. Many remote business owners get targeted for online identity theft. This can prove deadly for the business; many businesses fail right after they get their online security breaches.
It is essential for every company on the internet to implement security measures for it to succeed. This could be achieved either by outsourcing your identity security or, you can do it yourself. Even though it is advised to leave it to the professionals, you can still tackle this problem and be safe on the internet:The most important thing you should do is doing your research thoroughly regarding this issue.
It is essential because it not only involves buying software or implementing new technology. It also requires education and hours of reading and watching videos. Hence, it is more complicated than you think. You may find more information here.
There are some basic things you can do: Change passwords regularly and generate them rather than just use your cat’s name! People will find a way to get through basic and simple passwords so they should use a lot of different characters. Never automatically trust a link that is sent to you. Check if the website is secure and don’t put any details in on a site that you have even one doubt about. Things like online banking are prime examples.
Always visit their sites through your browser rather than just clicking on a link in an email. This is prime for someone to take advantage of phishing. Have a high-quality anti-virus on your computer. If you are running a big company then you should definitely ensure you have access to this for all of your staff. Don’t mix work and personal life. A working computer should be for work and your personal devices should be for your own accounts on things. If you log into work emails on a laptop that is yours, and you don’t take the right precautions, you could be accountable if anything happens.
How to Tackle Identity Theft When it Happens
If the worst does happen and you find yourself a victim of identity theft, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to try and minimize the damage. If you want to, you can contact the specialists. Again, there are specific companies who can deal with identity theft and help you to ensure that you deal with everything in the correct manner, rather than making mistakes along the way. You should look to get a fraud alert put on your credit report, this can limit the damage of any credit taken out fraudulently in your name.
Report to the FTC. This is one of the first steps you can take. There is a simple form that you can fill in on an FTC site, IdentityTheft.gov or you can call to speak to a member of staff. Try to gain as much evidence as you can when you are talking to them, ready to show exactly what is happening to your accounts. Go to your local police. Different police forces deal with the issues in different ways and the location where the offense happened might play a part, but authorities should be alerted straight away. Freeze credit cards and bank accounts. Stop anything negative from happening while you wait to establish what steps you are going to take.
Freezing lines of credit can allow you to ensure that you do not run up further debts without spending anything! Your credit card might be being used on the other side of the world. Change all of your passwords. One breach is enough to ensure that you should get new passwords for every account you have including social media. Alert your work if using a work laptop or if the ID theft is in any way linked. If you fear that these details could lead to issues for your workplace then there is no way you should keep it from them. If you need to, you can still contact specialists in identity theft who can walk you through all of the steps required to try to get your life back on track.
Conclusion
There is no denying that identity theft can have a huge negative impact on your life, and even on those close to you. If it isn’t properly dealt with then it could keep having an effect decades into the future. If you haven’t suffered from ID theft yet then you can take steps to ensure your security. If you are working with a company and are worried about their data then this is another reason to take security seriously.
Just a few simple precautions can make all the difference, and you need to know what techniques and tactics current fraudsters are using to try and steal your information.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
You need to have your guard up. Identity theft is becoming more sophisticated and people will always look for new ways to get your personal information. For a criminal, it can be very lucrative.
What Happens When Your Identity is Stolen?
Identity theft can lead to your data being sold. People sell it on the dark web, and this means that people all over the world could be using your data to borrow money, make applications, and even commit other crimes. Generally, most of the consequences that happen after your identity is stolen have some sort of financial gain for the criminal.
As a remote worker, it could be that someone is looking to steal your data to gain access to the company you work for. Organizations need to be especially careful. As an employee, this doesn’t fall solely on you, but it is important that you consider the best practices for keeping data safe.
How to Prevent Identity Theft
If you’ve found this article in advance of having to deal with the consequences of identity theft then there is still a lot you can do to hopefully ensure you never have to deal with it happening to you. If you are working for a large company or your data is particularly sensitive, it makes sense to outsource all of your online security. There are organizations that know exactly how to keep your ID safe and secure and can help both individuals and organizations, even large organizations might find that they are lacking in precautions.
The best thing to do for peace of mind is to work with the professionals and make sure that identity theft doesn’t become a big hassle for you in the future. Now, this might be a different story for business owners who work remotely. Many remote business owners get targeted for online identity theft. This can prove deadly for the business; many businesses fail right after they get their online security breaches.
It is essential for every company on the internet to implement security measures for it to succeed. This could be achieved either by outsourcing your identity security or, you can do it yourself. Even though it is advised to leave it to the professionals, you can still tackle this problem and be safe on the internet:The most important thing you should do is doing your research thoroughly regarding this issue.
It is essential because it not only involves buying software or implementing new technology. It also requires education and hours of reading and watching videos. Hence, it is more complicated than you think. You may find more information here.
There are some basic things you can do: Change passwords regularly and generate them rather than just use your cat’s name! People will find a way to get through basic and simple passwords so they should use a lot of different characters. Never automatically trust a link that is sent to you. Check if the website is secure and don’t put any details in on a site that you have even one doubt about. Things like online banking are prime examples.
Always visit their sites through your browser rather than just clicking on a link in an email. This is prime for someone to take advantage of phishing. Have a high-quality anti-virus on your computer. If you are running a big company then you should definitely ensure you have access to this for all of your staff. Don’t mix work and personal life. A working computer should be for work and your personal devices should be for your own accounts on things. If you log into work emails on a laptop that is yours, and you don’t take the right precautions, you could be accountable if anything happens.
How to Tackle Identity Theft When it Happens
If the worst does happen and you find yourself a victim of identity theft, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to try and minimize the damage. If you want to, you can contact the specialists. Again, there are specific companies who can deal with identity theft and help you to ensure that you deal with everything in the correct manner, rather than making mistakes along the way. You should look to get a fraud alert put on your credit report, this can limit the damage of any credit taken out fraudulently in your name.
Report to the FTC. This is one of the first steps you can take. There is a simple form that you can fill in on an FTC site, IdentityTheft.gov or you can call to speak to a member of staff. Try to gain as much evidence as you can when you are talking to them, ready to show exactly what is happening to your accounts. Go to your local police. Different police forces deal with the issues in different ways and the location where the offense happened might play a part, but authorities should be alerted straight away. Freeze credit cards and bank accounts. Stop anything negative from happening while you wait to establish what steps you are going to take.
Freezing lines of credit can allow you to ensure that you do not run up further debts without spending anything! Your credit card might be being used on the other side of the world. Change all of your passwords. One breach is enough to ensure that you should get new passwords for every account you have including social media. Alert your work if using a work laptop or if the ID theft is in any way linked. If you fear that these details could lead to issues for your workplace then there is no way you should keep it from them. If you need to, you can still contact specialists in identity theft who can walk you through all of the steps required to try to get your life back on track.
Conclusion
There is no denying that identity theft can have a huge negative impact on your life, and even on those close to you. If it isn’t properly dealt with then it could keep having an effect decades into the future. If you haven’t suffered from ID theft yet then you can take steps to ensure your security. If you are working with a company and are worried about their data then this is another reason to take security seriously.
Just a few simple precautions can make all the difference, and you need to know what techniques and tactics current fraudsters are using to try and steal your information.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
How Does Identity Theft Happen?
It is easy to assume that you have done the right things and won’t be a victim. Just changing your password from time to time isn’t necessarily enough. There are lots of ways in which people can steal your ID details online.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
You need to have your guard up. Identity theft is becoming more sophisticated and people will always look for new ways to get your personal information. For a criminal, it can be very lucrative.
What Happens When Your Identity is Stolen?
Identity theft can lead to your data being sold. People sell it on the dark web, and this means that people all over the world could be using your data to borrow money, make applications, and even commit other crimes. Generally, most of the consequences that happen after your identity is stolen have some sort of financial gain for the criminal.
As a remote worker, it could be that someone is looking to steal your data to gain access to the company you work for. Organizations need to be especially careful. As an employee, this doesn’t fall solely on you, but it is important that you consider the best practices for keeping data safe.
How to Prevent Identity Theft
If you’ve found this article in advance of having to deal with the consequences of identity theft then there is still a lot you can do to hopefully ensure you never have to deal with it happening to you. If you are working for a large company or your data is particularly sensitive, it makes sense to outsource all of your online security. There are organizations that know exactly how to keep your ID safe and secure and can help both individuals and organizations, even large organizations might find that they are lacking in precautions.
The best thing to do for peace of mind is to work with the professionals and make sure that identity theft doesn’t become a big hassle for you in the future. Now, this might be a different story for business owners who work remotely. Many remote business owners get targeted for online identity theft. This can prove deadly for the business; many businesses fail right after they get their online security breaches.
It is essential for every company on the internet to implement security measures for it to succeed. This could be achieved either by outsourcing your identity security or, you can do it yourself. Even though it is advised to leave it to the professionals, you can still tackle this problem and be safe on the internet:The most important thing you should do is doing your research thoroughly regarding this issue.
It is essential because it not only involves buying software or implementing new technology. It also requires education and hours of reading and watching videos. Hence, it is more complicated than you think. You may find more information here.
There are some basic things you can do: Change passwords regularly and generate them rather than just use your cat’s name! People will find a way to get through basic and simple passwords so they should use a lot of different characters. Never automatically trust a link that is sent to you. Check if the website is secure and don’t put any details in on a site that you have even one doubt about. Things like online banking are prime examples.
Always visit their sites through your browser rather than just clicking on a link in an email. This is prime for someone to take advantage of phishing. Have a high-quality anti-virus on your computer. If you are running a big company then you should definitely ensure you have access to this for all of your staff. Don’t mix work and personal life. A working computer should be for work and your personal devices should be for your own accounts on things. If you log into work emails on a laptop that is yours, and you don’t take the right precautions, you could be accountable if anything happens.
How to Tackle Identity Theft When it Happens
If the worst does happen and you find yourself a victim of identity theft, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to try and minimize the damage. If you want to, you can contact the specialists. Again, there are specific companies who can deal with identity theft and help you to ensure that you deal with everything in the correct manner, rather than making mistakes along the way. You should look to get a fraud alert put on your credit report, this can limit the damage of any credit taken out fraudulently in your name.
Report to the FTC. This is one of the first steps you can take. There is a simple form that you can fill in on an FTC site, IdentityTheft.gov or you can call to speak to a member of staff. Try to gain as much evidence as you can when you are talking to them, ready to show exactly what is happening to your accounts. Go to your local police. Different police forces deal with the issues in different ways and the location where the offense happened might play a part, but authorities should be alerted straight away. Freeze credit cards and bank accounts. Stop anything negative from happening while you wait to establish what steps you are going to take.
Freezing lines of credit can allow you to ensure that you do not run up further debts without spending anything! Your credit card might be being used on the other side of the world. Change all of your passwords. One breach is enough to ensure that you should get new passwords for every account you have including social media. Alert your work if using a work laptop or if the ID theft is in any way linked. If you fear that these details could lead to issues for your workplace then there is no way you should keep it from them. If you need to, you can still contact specialists in identity theft who can walk you through all of the steps required to try to get your life back on track.
Conclusion
There is no denying that identity theft can have a huge negative impact on your life, and even on those close to you. If it isn’t properly dealt with then it could keep having an effect decades into the future. If you haven’t suffered from ID theft yet then you can take steps to ensure your security. If you are working with a company and are worried about their data then this is another reason to take security seriously.
Just a few simple precautions can make all the difference, and you need to know what techniques and tactics current fraudsters are using to try and steal your information.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
It’s easy to think that identity theft isn’t too much of a big deal or assume that nobody could impersonate you so there’s nothing to worry about. Actually, once they have your details people can take advantage in a lot of different ways. Identity theft crime statistics are scary. 16.7 million people in America suffered some form of identity theft in the year 2017. That figure is continuing to grow. Billions of dollars are stolen every year using identity theft methods.
If you find yourself the victim of identity theft it might be impossible to recover all of the assets you have lost or the damage to your reputation or the company you work for. This means that identity theft is a huge issue that can impact years of your life. Also, people can commit crimes and run up debts in your name. This can leave you facing a legal battle in the future, too. Make no mistake about it, identity theft is incredibly rife and can make an impact for a number of years in the future.
This is not something you will necessarily have out of the way in a matter of weeks. Even if you contact the authorities and explain that you have been the victim of identity theft, the onus might be on you to prove this. Cybercrime is on the rise. 3.2 million identity theft, cybercrime, and other forms of fraud were reported in 2019. As you can see from this article, almost half of the time when people stole someone’s identity, they applied for a credit card. This debt doesn’t automatically get written off. You will need to prove that you were a victim of fraud and take action if this happens to you. Until then the debts could be in your name.
How Does Identity Theft Happen?
It is easy to assume that you have done the right things and won’t be a victim. Just changing your password from time to time isn’t necessarily enough. There are lots of ways in which people can steal your ID details online.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
You need to have your guard up. Identity theft is becoming more sophisticated and people will always look for new ways to get your personal information. For a criminal, it can be very lucrative.
What Happens When Your Identity is Stolen?
Identity theft can lead to your data being sold. People sell it on the dark web, and this means that people all over the world could be using your data to borrow money, make applications, and even commit other crimes. Generally, most of the consequences that happen after your identity is stolen have some sort of financial gain for the criminal.
As a remote worker, it could be that someone is looking to steal your data to gain access to the company you work for. Organizations need to be especially careful. As an employee, this doesn’t fall solely on you, but it is important that you consider the best practices for keeping data safe.
How to Prevent Identity Theft
If you’ve found this article in advance of having to deal with the consequences of identity theft then there is still a lot you can do to hopefully ensure you never have to deal with it happening to you. If you are working for a large company or your data is particularly sensitive, it makes sense to outsource all of your online security. There are organizations that know exactly how to keep your ID safe and secure and can help both individuals and organizations, even large organizations might find that they are lacking in precautions.
The best thing to do for peace of mind is to work with the professionals and make sure that identity theft doesn’t become a big hassle for you in the future. Now, this might be a different story for business owners who work remotely. Many remote business owners get targeted for online identity theft. This can prove deadly for the business; many businesses fail right after they get their online security breaches.
It is essential for every company on the internet to implement security measures for it to succeed. This could be achieved either by outsourcing your identity security or, you can do it yourself. Even though it is advised to leave it to the professionals, you can still tackle this problem and be safe on the internet:The most important thing you should do is doing your research thoroughly regarding this issue.
It is essential because it not only involves buying software or implementing new technology. It also requires education and hours of reading and watching videos. Hence, it is more complicated than you think. You may find more information here.
There are some basic things you can do: Change passwords regularly and generate them rather than just use your cat’s name! People will find a way to get through basic and simple passwords so they should use a lot of different characters. Never automatically trust a link that is sent to you. Check if the website is secure and don’t put any details in on a site that you have even one doubt about. Things like online banking are prime examples.
Always visit their sites through your browser rather than just clicking on a link in an email. This is prime for someone to take advantage of phishing. Have a high-quality anti-virus on your computer. If you are running a big company then you should definitely ensure you have access to this for all of your staff. Don’t mix work and personal life. A working computer should be for work and your personal devices should be for your own accounts on things. If you log into work emails on a laptop that is yours, and you don’t take the right precautions, you could be accountable if anything happens.
How to Tackle Identity Theft When it Happens
If the worst does happen and you find yourself a victim of identity theft, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to try and minimize the damage. If you want to, you can contact the specialists. Again, there are specific companies who can deal with identity theft and help you to ensure that you deal with everything in the correct manner, rather than making mistakes along the way. You should look to get a fraud alert put on your credit report, this can limit the damage of any credit taken out fraudulently in your name.
Report to the FTC. This is one of the first steps you can take. There is a simple form that you can fill in on an FTC site, IdentityTheft.gov or you can call to speak to a member of staff. Try to gain as much evidence as you can when you are talking to them, ready to show exactly what is happening to your accounts. Go to your local police. Different police forces deal with the issues in different ways and the location where the offense happened might play a part, but authorities should be alerted straight away. Freeze credit cards and bank accounts. Stop anything negative from happening while you wait to establish what steps you are going to take.
Freezing lines of credit can allow you to ensure that you do not run up further debts without spending anything! Your credit card might be being used on the other side of the world. Change all of your passwords. One breach is enough to ensure that you should get new passwords for every account you have including social media. Alert your work if using a work laptop or if the ID theft is in any way linked. If you fear that these details could lead to issues for your workplace then there is no way you should keep it from them. If you need to, you can still contact specialists in identity theft who can walk you through all of the steps required to try to get your life back on track.
Conclusion
There is no denying that identity theft can have a huge negative impact on your life, and even on those close to you. If it isn’t properly dealt with then it could keep having an effect decades into the future. If you haven’t suffered from ID theft yet then you can take steps to ensure your security. If you are working with a company and are worried about their data then this is another reason to take security seriously.
Just a few simple precautions can make all the difference, and you need to know what techniques and tactics current fraudsters are using to try and steal your information.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
It’s easy to think that identity theft isn’t too much of a big deal or assume that nobody could impersonate you so there’s nothing to worry about. Actually, once they have your details people can take advantage in a lot of different ways. Identity theft crime statistics are scary. 16.7 million people in America suffered some form of identity theft in the year 2017. That figure is continuing to grow. Billions of dollars are stolen every year using identity theft methods.
If you find yourself the victim of identity theft it might be impossible to recover all of the assets you have lost or the damage to your reputation or the company you work for. This means that identity theft is a huge issue that can impact years of your life. Also, people can commit crimes and run up debts in your name. This can leave you facing a legal battle in the future, too. Make no mistake about it, identity theft is incredibly rife and can make an impact for a number of years in the future.
This is not something you will necessarily have out of the way in a matter of weeks. Even if you contact the authorities and explain that you have been the victim of identity theft, the onus might be on you to prove this. Cybercrime is on the rise. 3.2 million identity theft, cybercrime, and other forms of fraud were reported in 2019. As you can see from this article, almost half of the time when people stole someone’s identity, they applied for a credit card. This debt doesn’t automatically get written off. You will need to prove that you were a victim of fraud and take action if this happens to you. Until then the debts could be in your name.
How Does Identity Theft Happen?
It is easy to assume that you have done the right things and won’t be a victim. Just changing your password from time to time isn’t necessarily enough. There are lots of ways in which people can steal your ID details online.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
You need to have your guard up. Identity theft is becoming more sophisticated and people will always look for new ways to get your personal information. For a criminal, it can be very lucrative.
What Happens When Your Identity is Stolen?
Identity theft can lead to your data being sold. People sell it on the dark web, and this means that people all over the world could be using your data to borrow money, make applications, and even commit other crimes. Generally, most of the consequences that happen after your identity is stolen have some sort of financial gain for the criminal.
As a remote worker, it could be that someone is looking to steal your data to gain access to the company you work for. Organizations need to be especially careful. As an employee, this doesn’t fall solely on you, but it is important that you consider the best practices for keeping data safe.
How to Prevent Identity Theft
If you’ve found this article in advance of having to deal with the consequences of identity theft then there is still a lot you can do to hopefully ensure you never have to deal with it happening to you. If you are working for a large company or your data is particularly sensitive, it makes sense to outsource all of your online security. There are organizations that know exactly how to keep your ID safe and secure and can help both individuals and organizations, even large organizations might find that they are lacking in precautions.
The best thing to do for peace of mind is to work with the professionals and make sure that identity theft doesn’t become a big hassle for you in the future. Now, this might be a different story for business owners who work remotely. Many remote business owners get targeted for online identity theft. This can prove deadly for the business; many businesses fail right after they get their online security breaches.
It is essential for every company on the internet to implement security measures for it to succeed. This could be achieved either by outsourcing your identity security or, you can do it yourself. Even though it is advised to leave it to the professionals, you can still tackle this problem and be safe on the internet:The most important thing you should do is doing your research thoroughly regarding this issue.
It is essential because it not only involves buying software or implementing new technology. It also requires education and hours of reading and watching videos. Hence, it is more complicated than you think. You may find more information here.
There are some basic things you can do: Change passwords regularly and generate them rather than just use your cat’s name! People will find a way to get through basic and simple passwords so they should use a lot of different characters. Never automatically trust a link that is sent to you. Check if the website is secure and don’t put any details in on a site that you have even one doubt about. Things like online banking are prime examples.
Always visit their sites through your browser rather than just clicking on a link in an email. This is prime for someone to take advantage of phishing. Have a high-quality anti-virus on your computer. If you are running a big company then you should definitely ensure you have access to this for all of your staff. Don’t mix work and personal life. A working computer should be for work and your personal devices should be for your own accounts on things. If you log into work emails on a laptop that is yours, and you don’t take the right precautions, you could be accountable if anything happens.
How to Tackle Identity Theft When it Happens
If the worst does happen and you find yourself a victim of identity theft, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to try and minimize the damage. If you want to, you can contact the specialists. Again, there are specific companies who can deal with identity theft and help you to ensure that you deal with everything in the correct manner, rather than making mistakes along the way. You should look to get a fraud alert put on your credit report, this can limit the damage of any credit taken out fraudulently in your name.
Report to the FTC. This is one of the first steps you can take. There is a simple form that you can fill in on an FTC site, IdentityTheft.gov or you can call to speak to a member of staff. Try to gain as much evidence as you can when you are talking to them, ready to show exactly what is happening to your accounts. Go to your local police. Different police forces deal with the issues in different ways and the location where the offense happened might play a part, but authorities should be alerted straight away. Freeze credit cards and bank accounts. Stop anything negative from happening while you wait to establish what steps you are going to take.
Freezing lines of credit can allow you to ensure that you do not run up further debts without spending anything! Your credit card might be being used on the other side of the world. Change all of your passwords. One breach is enough to ensure that you should get new passwords for every account you have including social media. Alert your work if using a work laptop or if the ID theft is in any way linked. If you fear that these details could lead to issues for your workplace then there is no way you should keep it from them. If you need to, you can still contact specialists in identity theft who can walk you through all of the steps required to try to get your life back on track.
Conclusion
There is no denying that identity theft can have a huge negative impact on your life, and even on those close to you. If it isn’t properly dealt with then it could keep having an effect decades into the future. If you haven’t suffered from ID theft yet then you can take steps to ensure your security. If you are working with a company and are worried about their data then this is another reason to take security seriously.
Just a few simple precautions can make all the difference, and you need to know what techniques and tactics current fraudsters are using to try and steal your information.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
Identity theft used to require physical documents to commit this kind of fraud, but now, things have changed. Details can be stolen in a number of ways and networks and websites can be hacked to allow fraudsters to find PII.
How Serious is Identity Theft?
It’s easy to think that identity theft isn’t too much of a big deal or assume that nobody could impersonate you so there’s nothing to worry about. Actually, once they have your details people can take advantage in a lot of different ways. Identity theft crime statistics are scary. 16.7 million people in America suffered some form of identity theft in the year 2017. That figure is continuing to grow. Billions of dollars are stolen every year using identity theft methods.
If you find yourself the victim of identity theft it might be impossible to recover all of the assets you have lost or the damage to your reputation or the company you work for. This means that identity theft is a huge issue that can impact years of your life. Also, people can commit crimes and run up debts in your name. This can leave you facing a legal battle in the future, too. Make no mistake about it, identity theft is incredibly rife and can make an impact for a number of years in the future.
This is not something you will necessarily have out of the way in a matter of weeks. Even if you contact the authorities and explain that you have been the victim of identity theft, the onus might be on you to prove this. Cybercrime is on the rise. 3.2 million identity theft, cybercrime, and other forms of fraud were reported in 2019. As you can see from this article, almost half of the time when people stole someone’s identity, they applied for a credit card. This debt doesn’t automatically get written off. You will need to prove that you were a victim of fraud and take action if this happens to you. Until then the debts could be in your name.
How Does Identity Theft Happen?
It is easy to assume that you have done the right things and won’t be a victim. Just changing your password from time to time isn’t necessarily enough. There are lots of ways in which people can steal your ID details online.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
You need to have your guard up. Identity theft is becoming more sophisticated and people will always look for new ways to get your personal information. For a criminal, it can be very lucrative.
What Happens When Your Identity is Stolen?
Identity theft can lead to your data being sold. People sell it on the dark web, and this means that people all over the world could be using your data to borrow money, make applications, and even commit other crimes. Generally, most of the consequences that happen after your identity is stolen have some sort of financial gain for the criminal.
As a remote worker, it could be that someone is looking to steal your data to gain access to the company you work for. Organizations need to be especially careful. As an employee, this doesn’t fall solely on you, but it is important that you consider the best practices for keeping data safe.
How to Prevent Identity Theft
If you’ve found this article in advance of having to deal with the consequences of identity theft then there is still a lot you can do to hopefully ensure you never have to deal with it happening to you. If you are working for a large company or your data is particularly sensitive, it makes sense to outsource all of your online security. There are organizations that know exactly how to keep your ID safe and secure and can help both individuals and organizations, even large organizations might find that they are lacking in precautions.
The best thing to do for peace of mind is to work with the professionals and make sure that identity theft doesn’t become a big hassle for you in the future. Now, this might be a different story for business owners who work remotely. Many remote business owners get targeted for online identity theft. This can prove deadly for the business; many businesses fail right after they get their online security breaches.
It is essential for every company on the internet to implement security measures for it to succeed. This could be achieved either by outsourcing your identity security or, you can do it yourself. Even though it is advised to leave it to the professionals, you can still tackle this problem and be safe on the internet:The most important thing you should do is doing your research thoroughly regarding this issue.
It is essential because it not only involves buying software or implementing new technology. It also requires education and hours of reading and watching videos. Hence, it is more complicated than you think. You may find more information here.
There are some basic things you can do: Change passwords regularly and generate them rather than just use your cat’s name! People will find a way to get through basic and simple passwords so they should use a lot of different characters. Never automatically trust a link that is sent to you. Check if the website is secure and don’t put any details in on a site that you have even one doubt about. Things like online banking are prime examples.
Always visit their sites through your browser rather than just clicking on a link in an email. This is prime for someone to take advantage of phishing. Have a high-quality anti-virus on your computer. If you are running a big company then you should definitely ensure you have access to this for all of your staff. Don’t mix work and personal life. A working computer should be for work and your personal devices should be for your own accounts on things. If you log into work emails on a laptop that is yours, and you don’t take the right precautions, you could be accountable if anything happens.
How to Tackle Identity Theft When it Happens
If the worst does happen and you find yourself a victim of identity theft, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to try and minimize the damage. If you want to, you can contact the specialists. Again, there are specific companies who can deal with identity theft and help you to ensure that you deal with everything in the correct manner, rather than making mistakes along the way. You should look to get a fraud alert put on your credit report, this can limit the damage of any credit taken out fraudulently in your name.
Report to the FTC. This is one of the first steps you can take. There is a simple form that you can fill in on an FTC site, IdentityTheft.gov or you can call to speak to a member of staff. Try to gain as much evidence as you can when you are talking to them, ready to show exactly what is happening to your accounts. Go to your local police. Different police forces deal with the issues in different ways and the location where the offense happened might play a part, but authorities should be alerted straight away. Freeze credit cards and bank accounts. Stop anything negative from happening while you wait to establish what steps you are going to take.
Freezing lines of credit can allow you to ensure that you do not run up further debts without spending anything! Your credit card might be being used on the other side of the world. Change all of your passwords. One breach is enough to ensure that you should get new passwords for every account you have including social media. Alert your work if using a work laptop or if the ID theft is in any way linked. If you fear that these details could lead to issues for your workplace then there is no way you should keep it from them. If you need to, you can still contact specialists in identity theft who can walk you through all of the steps required to try to get your life back on track.
Conclusion
There is no denying that identity theft can have a huge negative impact on your life, and even on those close to you. If it isn’t properly dealt with then it could keep having an effect decades into the future. If you haven’t suffered from ID theft yet then you can take steps to ensure your security. If you are working with a company and are worried about their data then this is another reason to take security seriously.
Just a few simple precautions can make all the difference, and you need to know what techniques and tactics current fraudsters are using to try and steal your information.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
Identity theft is nothing new. People have been stealing identification via Social Security numbers and other details for a long time, usually by stealing wallets, but historically some people would go through mail to find details for identity theft. In the modern age of the internet, it is easier for people to find personally identifiable information. This is sometimes abbreviated to “PII”. This allows people to commit fraud and pretend to be you. They can sometimes steal money directly in this way, but they can also do things to impact upon your reputation or, in the case of employees they might be able to gain access to company servers or more.
Remote workers need to think about the impact of their identity being stolen, access to their online accounts, and more, but if you don’t take the right precautions you can even be responsible for issues regarding your work details.
Identity theft used to require physical documents to commit this kind of fraud, but now, things have changed. Details can be stolen in a number of ways and networks and websites can be hacked to allow fraudsters to find PII.
How Serious is Identity Theft?
It’s easy to think that identity theft isn’t too much of a big deal or assume that nobody could impersonate you so there’s nothing to worry about. Actually, once they have your details people can take advantage in a lot of different ways. Identity theft crime statistics are scary. 16.7 million people in America suffered some form of identity theft in the year 2017. That figure is continuing to grow. Billions of dollars are stolen every year using identity theft methods.
If you find yourself the victim of identity theft it might be impossible to recover all of the assets you have lost or the damage to your reputation or the company you work for. This means that identity theft is a huge issue that can impact years of your life. Also, people can commit crimes and run up debts in your name. This can leave you facing a legal battle in the future, too. Make no mistake about it, identity theft is incredibly rife and can make an impact for a number of years in the future.
This is not something you will necessarily have out of the way in a matter of weeks. Even if you contact the authorities and explain that you have been the victim of identity theft, the onus might be on you to prove this. Cybercrime is on the rise. 3.2 million identity theft, cybercrime, and other forms of fraud were reported in 2019. As you can see from this article, almost half of the time when people stole someone’s identity, they applied for a credit card. This debt doesn’t automatically get written off. You will need to prove that you were a victim of fraud and take action if this happens to you. Until then the debts could be in your name.
How Does Identity Theft Happen?
It is easy to assume that you have done the right things and won’t be a victim. Just changing your password from time to time isn’t necessarily enough. There are lots of ways in which people can steal your ID details online.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
You need to have your guard up. Identity theft is becoming more sophisticated and people will always look for new ways to get your personal information. For a criminal, it can be very lucrative.
What Happens When Your Identity is Stolen?
Identity theft can lead to your data being sold. People sell it on the dark web, and this means that people all over the world could be using your data to borrow money, make applications, and even commit other crimes. Generally, most of the consequences that happen after your identity is stolen have some sort of financial gain for the criminal.
As a remote worker, it could be that someone is looking to steal your data to gain access to the company you work for. Organizations need to be especially careful. As an employee, this doesn’t fall solely on you, but it is important that you consider the best practices for keeping data safe.
How to Prevent Identity Theft
If you’ve found this article in advance of having to deal with the consequences of identity theft then there is still a lot you can do to hopefully ensure you never have to deal with it happening to you. If you are working for a large company or your data is particularly sensitive, it makes sense to outsource all of your online security. There are organizations that know exactly how to keep your ID safe and secure and can help both individuals and organizations, even large organizations might find that they are lacking in precautions.
The best thing to do for peace of mind is to work with the professionals and make sure that identity theft doesn’t become a big hassle for you in the future. Now, this might be a different story for business owners who work remotely. Many remote business owners get targeted for online identity theft. This can prove deadly for the business; many businesses fail right after they get their online security breaches.
It is essential for every company on the internet to implement security measures for it to succeed. This could be achieved either by outsourcing your identity security or, you can do it yourself. Even though it is advised to leave it to the professionals, you can still tackle this problem and be safe on the internet:The most important thing you should do is doing your research thoroughly regarding this issue.
It is essential because it not only involves buying software or implementing new technology. It also requires education and hours of reading and watching videos. Hence, it is more complicated than you think. You may find more information here.
There are some basic things you can do: Change passwords regularly and generate them rather than just use your cat’s name! People will find a way to get through basic and simple passwords so they should use a lot of different characters. Never automatically trust a link that is sent to you. Check if the website is secure and don’t put any details in on a site that you have even one doubt about. Things like online banking are prime examples.
Always visit their sites through your browser rather than just clicking on a link in an email. This is prime for someone to take advantage of phishing. Have a high-quality anti-virus on your computer. If you are running a big company then you should definitely ensure you have access to this for all of your staff. Don’t mix work and personal life. A working computer should be for work and your personal devices should be for your own accounts on things. If you log into work emails on a laptop that is yours, and you don’t take the right precautions, you could be accountable if anything happens.
How to Tackle Identity Theft When it Happens
If the worst does happen and you find yourself a victim of identity theft, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to try and minimize the damage. If you want to, you can contact the specialists. Again, there are specific companies who can deal with identity theft and help you to ensure that you deal with everything in the correct manner, rather than making mistakes along the way. You should look to get a fraud alert put on your credit report, this can limit the damage of any credit taken out fraudulently in your name.
Report to the FTC. This is one of the first steps you can take. There is a simple form that you can fill in on an FTC site, IdentityTheft.gov or you can call to speak to a member of staff. Try to gain as much evidence as you can when you are talking to them, ready to show exactly what is happening to your accounts. Go to your local police. Different police forces deal with the issues in different ways and the location where the offense happened might play a part, but authorities should be alerted straight away. Freeze credit cards and bank accounts. Stop anything negative from happening while you wait to establish what steps you are going to take.
Freezing lines of credit can allow you to ensure that you do not run up further debts without spending anything! Your credit card might be being used on the other side of the world. Change all of your passwords. One breach is enough to ensure that you should get new passwords for every account you have including social media. Alert your work if using a work laptop or if the ID theft is in any way linked. If you fear that these details could lead to issues for your workplace then there is no way you should keep it from them. If you need to, you can still contact specialists in identity theft who can walk you through all of the steps required to try to get your life back on track.
Conclusion
There is no denying that identity theft can have a huge negative impact on your life, and even on those close to you. If it isn’t properly dealt with then it could keep having an effect decades into the future. If you haven’t suffered from ID theft yet then you can take steps to ensure your security. If you are working with a company and are worried about their data then this is another reason to take security seriously.
Just a few simple precautions can make all the difference, and you need to know what techniques and tactics current fraudsters are using to try and steal your information.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
One issue that a lot of people ignore, but one that is still utterly vital, is identity theft. A number of people simply don’t realize how much of a threat this can be to their life and the problems it can cause. As a remote worker, you might have to consider both your own personal information and that of the company you work for.
In this guide, we’re providing some of the information you need to ensure you are preventing and tackling ID theft. We also show you what steps you can take if you are unfortunate enough to fall foul of online fraudsters.
What is Online Identity Theft?
Identity theft is nothing new. People have been stealing identification via Social Security numbers and other details for a long time, usually by stealing wallets, but historically some people would go through mail to find details for identity theft. In the modern age of the internet, it is easier for people to find personally identifiable information. This is sometimes abbreviated to “PII”. This allows people to commit fraud and pretend to be you. They can sometimes steal money directly in this way, but they can also do things to impact upon your reputation or, in the case of employees they might be able to gain access to company servers or more.
Remote workers need to think about the impact of their identity being stolen, access to their online accounts, and more, but if you don’t take the right precautions you can even be responsible for issues regarding your work details.
Identity theft used to require physical documents to commit this kind of fraud, but now, things have changed. Details can be stolen in a number of ways and networks and websites can be hacked to allow fraudsters to find PII.
How Serious is Identity Theft?
It’s easy to think that identity theft isn’t too much of a big deal or assume that nobody could impersonate you so there’s nothing to worry about. Actually, once they have your details people can take advantage in a lot of different ways. Identity theft crime statistics are scary. 16.7 million people in America suffered some form of identity theft in the year 2017. That figure is continuing to grow. Billions of dollars are stolen every year using identity theft methods.
If you find yourself the victim of identity theft it might be impossible to recover all of the assets you have lost or the damage to your reputation or the company you work for. This means that identity theft is a huge issue that can impact years of your life. Also, people can commit crimes and run up debts in your name. This can leave you facing a legal battle in the future, too. Make no mistake about it, identity theft is incredibly rife and can make an impact for a number of years in the future.
This is not something you will necessarily have out of the way in a matter of weeks. Even if you contact the authorities and explain that you have been the victim of identity theft, the onus might be on you to prove this. Cybercrime is on the rise. 3.2 million identity theft, cybercrime, and other forms of fraud were reported in 2019. As you can see from this article, almost half of the time when people stole someone’s identity, they applied for a credit card. This debt doesn’t automatically get written off. You will need to prove that you were a victim of fraud and take action if this happens to you. Until then the debts could be in your name.
How Does Identity Theft Happen?
It is easy to assume that you have done the right things and won’t be a victim. Just changing your password from time to time isn’t necessarily enough. There are lots of ways in which people can steal your ID details online.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
You need to have your guard up. Identity theft is becoming more sophisticated and people will always look for new ways to get your personal information. For a criminal, it can be very lucrative.
What Happens When Your Identity is Stolen?
Identity theft can lead to your data being sold. People sell it on the dark web, and this means that people all over the world could be using your data to borrow money, make applications, and even commit other crimes. Generally, most of the consequences that happen after your identity is stolen have some sort of financial gain for the criminal.
As a remote worker, it could be that someone is looking to steal your data to gain access to the company you work for. Organizations need to be especially careful. As an employee, this doesn’t fall solely on you, but it is important that you consider the best practices for keeping data safe.
How to Prevent Identity Theft
If you’ve found this article in advance of having to deal with the consequences of identity theft then there is still a lot you can do to hopefully ensure you never have to deal with it happening to you. If you are working for a large company or your data is particularly sensitive, it makes sense to outsource all of your online security. There are organizations that know exactly how to keep your ID safe and secure and can help both individuals and organizations, even large organizations might find that they are lacking in precautions.
The best thing to do for peace of mind is to work with the professionals and make sure that identity theft doesn’t become a big hassle for you in the future. Now, this might be a different story for business owners who work remotely. Many remote business owners get targeted for online identity theft. This can prove deadly for the business; many businesses fail right after they get their online security breaches.
It is essential for every company on the internet to implement security measures for it to succeed. This could be achieved either by outsourcing your identity security or, you can do it yourself. Even though it is advised to leave it to the professionals, you can still tackle this problem and be safe on the internet:The most important thing you should do is doing your research thoroughly regarding this issue.
It is essential because it not only involves buying software or implementing new technology. It also requires education and hours of reading and watching videos. Hence, it is more complicated than you think. You may find more information here.
There are some basic things you can do: Change passwords regularly and generate them rather than just use your cat’s name! People will find a way to get through basic and simple passwords so they should use a lot of different characters. Never automatically trust a link that is sent to you. Check if the website is secure and don’t put any details in on a site that you have even one doubt about. Things like online banking are prime examples.
Always visit their sites through your browser rather than just clicking on a link in an email. This is prime for someone to take advantage of phishing. Have a high-quality anti-virus on your computer. If you are running a big company then you should definitely ensure you have access to this for all of your staff. Don’t mix work and personal life. A working computer should be for work and your personal devices should be for your own accounts on things. If you log into work emails on a laptop that is yours, and you don’t take the right precautions, you could be accountable if anything happens.
How to Tackle Identity Theft When it Happens
If the worst does happen and you find yourself a victim of identity theft, don’t panic. There are steps you can take to try and minimize the damage. If you want to, you can contact the specialists. Again, there are specific companies who can deal with identity theft and help you to ensure that you deal with everything in the correct manner, rather than making mistakes along the way. You should look to get a fraud alert put on your credit report, this can limit the damage of any credit taken out fraudulently in your name.
Report to the FTC. This is one of the first steps you can take. There is a simple form that you can fill in on an FTC site, IdentityTheft.gov or you can call to speak to a member of staff. Try to gain as much evidence as you can when you are talking to them, ready to show exactly what is happening to your accounts. Go to your local police. Different police forces deal with the issues in different ways and the location where the offense happened might play a part, but authorities should be alerted straight away. Freeze credit cards and bank accounts. Stop anything negative from happening while you wait to establish what steps you are going to take.
Freezing lines of credit can allow you to ensure that you do not run up further debts without spending anything! Your credit card might be being used on the other side of the world. Change all of your passwords. One breach is enough to ensure that you should get new passwords for every account you have including social media. Alert your work if using a work laptop or if the ID theft is in any way linked. If you fear that these details could lead to issues for your workplace then there is no way you should keep it from them. If you need to, you can still contact specialists in identity theft who can walk you through all of the steps required to try to get your life back on track.
Conclusion
There is no denying that identity theft can have a huge negative impact on your life, and even on those close to you. If it isn’t properly dealt with then it could keep having an effect decades into the future. If you haven’t suffered from ID theft yet then you can take steps to ensure your security. If you are working with a company and are worried about their data then this is another reason to take security seriously.
Just a few simple precautions can make all the difference, and you need to know what techniques and tactics current fraudsters are using to try and steal your information.
“Over The Shoulder” techniques. Someone can watch your input data. It’s as simple as that. If you are in a co-working space, for instance, you might be targeted by someone looking to steal your data.
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