| In this article you will discover the most common types | | | | the cyber criminals to access your accounts. |
| of cyber crime that lead to identity theft fraud and | | | | Your identity theft security can be at risk form so |
| pose financial risks to computer users. You will also | | | | called spyware that cab be installed on your computer. |
| learn the best measures that you can implement to | | | | The spy ware can be installed from e-mail |
| increase cyber security on your computer. | | | | attachments or from internet downloads. In both |
| One of the biggest cyber security threats these days | | | | instances the installation is stealth and the user is |
| is the identity theft. Cyber thieves use all kinds of | | | | unaware. These spyware programs register user |
| sneaky methods (hacking, use of spyware for | | | | computer activities including passwords, usernames |
| intercepting information, etc.) in stealing personal and | | | | social security and account numbers and send them to |
| financial information from their victims, mostly from the | | | | the criminals. |
| computers. | | | | The following are some ways to minimize the risk of |
| The latest of these nefarious identity theft frauds even | | | | identity theft:o Do business with reputable companies - |
| sports a name: phishing (pronounced like ''fishing"). The | | | | be careful as attackers misled you to believe that you |
| cyber thief sends a an e-mail that looks like it came | | | | are visiting the real site, so always use your |
| from a genuine and reputable site (mostly from | | | | bookmarked web addresses instead from e-mail |
| financial institutions as Citibank, eBay, PayPal, Best Buy | | | | links;o Have a security mindset - always be skeptical |
| and others), telling you there is a problem with your | | | | of unfamiliar sites and links, suspicious e-mails and IM |
| account. | | | | messages;o Maintain up to date Anti-virus software |
| The e-mail will ask you to on a link in the e-mail, and | | | | and firewall- an anti-virus software and firewall will |
| you are taken to a site that looks exactly like that of | | | | protect your computer from attacks that may steal or |
| your bank. There, they will ask you to fill out again your | | | | modify data in your computer. Make sure to keep your |
| Social Security or credit card numbers, and/or other | | | | anti-virus program and firewall up to date. |
| confidential numbers. This information will be used by | | | | |