RSS Feed (xml)
01 July 2008
Security in the era of technology is critical issue particularly ones’ personal data.
Current software allows one to transfer data from networked computer to outside computer, thus providing flexibility especially to the corporate field. However, the same software creates breeches to the security. One of the most common crimes in the era of technology is identity theft. It is also a fast growing and a serious crime that has penetrated in the recent era.
Identity theft happens both online and offline. One of the ways that identity thieves collect personal and financial information about members of the public offline is to filter through carelessly discarded trash. Many people throw bank statements, utility bills and other potentially sensitive documentation away without shredding it first. An identity thief can find enough about someone - just from their dustbin or mailbox - to steal their identity. Identity thieves steal personal and financial information online more purposely, with phishing attempts for example but it is often because of carelessness or complacency, regarding personal and financial information.
Once an identity thief has obtained someone's personal or financial information identity thieves will steal your money from your accounts and savings, run up enormous credit card bills, and obtain passports and other official documents, empty bank accounts - even using their ill-gotten gains to fund other crimes, such as drug running and terrorism. The legitimate owners of the information identity thieves’ abuse can spend vast amounts of time and money trying to undo the damage to their finances and their reputations. This often raises the question of how safety is our personal data online. There are many ways of obtaining ones personal data. For example:
1) Email-Transaction Identification
2) Web-Transaction Identification
3) Location Extraction
4) Routinised Self-Identification
5) Dataveillance
The road to recovery after the identity has been stolen is a long one but it is not impossible to repair the damage. Because identity theft is such a high profile crime, it is easy to get help and support whilst one check their details and put measures in place to contain the threat. However, there are several ways to repair the damage as quickly as possible. Firstly, call law enforcement and report the identity theft. Make sure you get an incident number. Secondly, report all lost or stolen documents, such as passports, driving licenses, credit cards, chequebooks. Thirdly, notify your bank, credit card company and any other financial institution that holds you details. Tell them directly that you are contacting them about identity theft. You will need to close any accounts that have been compromised, which will be inconvenient but will prevent an identity thief from stealing any more of your money (assuming they have not already emptied your accounts).
Cancel your checkbooks, credit and ATM cards and get anew PIN[s] besides notifying the postal service[s] if you think that your mail has been tampered with or redirected. Then, contact any companies where accounts have been opened in your name and tell them that you are a victim of identity theft. They will have a policy in place to deal with your inquiry. Finally, contact the main credit bureau, tell them that you have been a victim of identity theft, and ask them to monitor your credit activity. Ask them to send you a credit report that, when you receive it, study very carefully for discrepancies.
There are several steps to minimize the risk of ones identity being stolen. However, no matter how careful or what steps been taken to safeguard the information, it is a sad fact that as with all crime despite the best efforts, it can only minimize the risk. Being cautious is not the same as being invincible.
Current software allows one to transfer data from networked computer to outside computer, thus providing flexibility especially to the corporate field. However, the same software creates breeches to the security. One of the most common crimes in the era of technology is identity theft. It is also a fast growing and a serious crime that has penetrated in the recent era.
Identity theft happens both online and offline. One of the ways that identity thieves collect personal and financial information about members of the public offline is to filter through carelessly discarded trash. Many people throw bank statements, utility bills and other potentially sensitive documentation away without shredding it first. An identity thief can find enough about someone - just from their dustbin or mailbox - to steal their identity. Identity thieves steal personal and financial information online more purposely, with phishing attempts for example but it is often because of carelessness or complacency, regarding personal and financial information.
Once an identity thief has obtained someone's personal or financial information identity thieves will steal your money from your accounts and savings, run up enormous credit card bills, and obtain passports and other official documents, empty bank accounts - even using their ill-gotten gains to fund other crimes, such as drug running and terrorism. The legitimate owners of the information identity thieves’ abuse can spend vast amounts of time and money trying to undo the damage to their finances and their reputations. This often raises the question of how safety is our personal data online. There are many ways of obtaining ones personal data. For example:
1) Email-Transaction Identification
2) Web-Transaction Identification
3) Location Extraction
4) Routinised Self-Identification
5) Dataveillance
The road to recovery after the identity has been stolen is a long one but it is not impossible to repair the damage. Because identity theft is such a high profile crime, it is easy to get help and support whilst one check their details and put measures in place to contain the threat. However, there are several ways to repair the damage as quickly as possible. Firstly, call law enforcement and report the identity theft. Make sure you get an incident number. Secondly, report all lost or stolen documents, such as passports, driving licenses, credit cards, chequebooks. Thirdly, notify your bank, credit card company and any other financial institution that holds you details. Tell them directly that you are contacting them about identity theft. You will need to close any accounts that have been compromised, which will be inconvenient but will prevent an identity thief from stealing any more of your money (assuming they have not already emptied your accounts).
Cancel your checkbooks, credit and ATM cards and get anew PIN[s] besides notifying the postal service[s] if you think that your mail has been tampered with or redirected. Then, contact any companies where accounts have been opened in your name and tell them that you are a victim of identity theft. They will have a policy in place to deal with your inquiry. Finally, contact the main credit bureau, tell them that you have been a victim of identity theft, and ask them to monitor your credit activity. Ask them to send you a credit report that, when you receive it, study very carefully for discrepancies.
There are several steps to minimize the risk of ones identity being stolen. However, no matter how careful or what steps been taken to safeguard the information, it is a sad fact that as with all crime despite the best efforts, it can only minimize the risk. Being cautious is not the same as being invincible.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment