| Gartner Research, a US based research company | | | | information? If so how do they execute that |
| estimated that 57 million Americans had | | | | responsibility?Where are the safeguards? |
| received spurious e-mail from hackers or | | | | What eventually happens when I send a copy of |
| cyber-thieves impersonating legitimate | | | | my bank statement to someone I don't know in |
| services.They further estimate that nearly 11 | | | | Malaysia and that company disappears a few |
| million have clicked on the link in a | | | | months later? Speaking from personal |
| phishing attack email and 3 percent of those | | | | experience, this happened to me with the |
| attacked remember giving personal information | | | | demise of a popular investment program. I |
| to the thieves.We are continually warned by | | | | wonder who now has that information. I have |
| banks, PayPal and others to avoid responding | | | | no way of knowing if it has been destroyed or |
| to these authentic looking 'lures', but how | | | | sold on to those constructing fake ID's. |
| do we prevent ourselves from swallowing the | | | | There were thousands of members who each gave |
| bait? And even when we know a site is | | | | names addresses, bank account details, |
| genuine, can we trust the operators with our | | | | passport and licence details. Why were we |
| details?From Gartner's figures and one's | | | | required to give them this level of |
| personal experience it is obvious that such | | | | information and proof of ID? The reason: |
| attempts at identity theft are undermining | | | | Because they were trying to prevent theft and |
| the confidence we place in our everyday email | | | | fraud by unscrupulous types. We never heard |
| and internet transactions.This has led to | | | | anymore from the company about our lost funds |
| greater pressure on services to provide | | | | - no refunds, no apologies and no assurance |
| improved security and more involved processes | | | | about the fate of our records!A cynic might |
| for users to authenticate themselves.Banks | | | | even be forgiven for thinking that some of |
| and financial services suffer direct losses | | | | the gold exchanges which seem to come and go |
| from ID theft that cost US banks and card | | | | with alarming rapidity, could be nothing more |
| issuers about $1.2 billion last year, | | | | than elaborate fronts for the collection of |
| according to Gartner. We might add that | | | | consumer ID's that could be on-sold who knows |
| these losses have to be met in the long run | | | | where.If I decide to join similar programs in |
| by consumers through fees and charges.Large | | | | the future and decide to give them false ID |
| organizations have the resources to devise | | | | as a form of protection, I have to join the |
| and implement sophisticated security measures | | | | shadowy world of secret offshore accounts |
| to protect the ID of their customers. Where | | | | complex and costly money transacting. I then |
| does that leave the 'small' operators, such | | | | leave myself open to the likelihood of |
| as the gold exchangers, merchant account | | | | increased scrutiny from authorities. I do |
| operators, online auctions, etc?Even where | | | | not believe this is an option for the average |
| sophisticated systems are in place, we may | | | | person with limited funds.In their response |
| still be vulnerable. Banks constantly warn | | | | to organised crime and potential terrorist |
| about replying to hoax emails asking you to | | | | funding, governments restrict the easy |
| verify your details or opening virtual | | | | transfer of cash from one place to |
| postcards.Harder to spot are emails that may | | | | another.Understandably, in order to comply |
| contain worms or Trojan viruses that can | | | | with regulations covering the tracking of the |
| place spyware on your PC which may transmit | | | | movement of money abroad, money exchanges |
| information or give control to a remote user. | | | | need to be able to identify users and exclude |
| Keystroke loggers, for example can record | | | | unscrupulous money launderers as far as |
| and send your passwords and logins to an | | | | possible, but without improved internal |
| invisible thief.Keeping up to date with | | | | security measures how can the average user |
| firewalls and virus protection programs that | | | | feel safe? The recent demise of such |
| YOU install, is obviously an essential step | | | | providers as Intgold and Stormpay does |
| that we can all take to improve our | | | | nothing to reassure us.Just to be clear, In |
| security.Technology notwithstanding, the | | | | general I have no problem with paying online. |
| ultimate security lies with human | | | | What should concern us is the (lack of) |
| actions.Already we have seen a number of | | | | security of our data once it has been given |
| online e-money exchanges develop new | | | | to a merchant. How well do they store your |
| procedures whereby we have to send them ID | | | | data? Do they restrict who sees it or copies |
| documentation often including photo ID, | | | | it? Even the credit card companies |
| before we can use their services. Even the | | | | outsource, so how can it be secure?When one |
| act of emailing scanned documents is not 100% | | | | considers the sheer volume of material |
| secure. If hackers can access email accounts | | | | transmitted every day, the probability of |
| and intercept such transmissions then ID | | | | several bytes of your information falling |
| theft can occur without either the sender or | | | | into the wrong hands must be considered |
| receiver being able to prevent it.This in | | | | extremely small.If sensible precautions are |
| itself raises further concerns.In an attempt | | | | taken at your end and you only deal with |
| to make payments to local and international | | | | people you trust and use large |
| merchants, a customer can be putting himself | | | | well-established intermediaries to make your |
| at risk by passing on sensitive bank and | | | | payments so you bring a level of protection |
| personal ID information to companies who may | | | | between you as customer and the seller, you |
| or may not have suitable safeguards in place | | | | should be able to feel comfortable in your |
| to protect that information.Can you be | | | | transactions. But you need to beware of how |
| certain what happens to that information you | | | | much information you give strangers - just |
| have given to numerous online companies?Yes | | | | because they ask you for it!Do you give up |
| the online webpage is 'encrypted' and you | | | | driving because people are injured or killed |
| feel it is 'secure', but who has access to | | | | daily in car accidents? No you maintain your |
| that information?Can that MLM company or | | | | vehicle, obey the road rules and keep your |
| money exchanger keep your ID secure? Do they | | | | wits about you! |
| have responsibility to limit access to your | | | | |