Comments on: Post-April 15 Tips to Prevent Identity Theft http://www.geardiary.com/2008/04/15/post-april-15-tips-to-prevent-identity-theft/ Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:47:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: William Rodriguezhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/04/15/post-april-15-tips-to-prevent-identity-theft/#comment-32788 William Rodriguez Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:39:09 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=6684#comment-32788 Here's my biggest tip: Paranoia is your strongest weapon. Remember, no operating system is 100% secure, be it Windows, Mac, or even Linux. The only way you can keep your electronics truly secure is to encrypt them. Make sure anything and everything on your computer is as up to date as possible. When handling money and personal information on the internet, NEVER use an insecure browser. Internet explorer 7.0 and up is somewhat acceptable, but do not use 6.0 or older. If you use Mozilla Firefox, make sure you have the latest version (2.0.0.13 or 3.0 beta 5). You can never be too safe. Also, if you are using Windows Vista, unless you absolutely know what you are doing, NEVER disable User Account Control. UAC is designed to annoy you and thereby keep you from doing anything which might endanger your computer or your personal data (yes, it IS designed to annoy you). If you use Mac, make sure you are as up to date as possible, if you are, you should be fine... but as the market share goes up, so will your security risk. Never consider yourself safe because you don't use windows. Not even Linux or Unix users are 100% safe and don't forget, Mac OS is based on Unix. If you want tos tay secure, learn safe browsing habits. The general rule of thumb is: "if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is" Also, no administrator of any company will ever ask you for your password, credit card number, or social security number via email. If you get one like this, contact the company and ask if it's real. 99 times out of 100 it won't be. Indeed, paranoia is your friend. Here’s my biggest tip: Paranoia is your strongest weapon.

Remember, no operating system is 100% secure, be it Windows, Mac, or even Linux. The only way you can keep your electronics truly secure is to encrypt them.

Make sure anything and everything on your computer is as up to date as possible.

When handling money and personal information on the internet, NEVER use an insecure browser. Internet explorer 7.0 and up is somewhat acceptable, but do not use 6.0 or older. If you use Mozilla Firefox, make sure you have the latest version (2.0.0.13 or 3.0 beta 5).

You can never be too safe. Also, if you are using Windows Vista, unless you absolutely know what you are doing, NEVER disable User Account Control. UAC is designed to annoy you and thereby keep you from doing anything which might endanger your computer or your personal data (yes, it IS designed to annoy you).

If you use Mac, make sure you are as up to date as possible, if you are, you should be fine… but as the market share goes up, so will your security risk. Never consider yourself safe because you don’t use windows. Not even Linux or Unix users are 100% safe and don’t forget, Mac OS is based on Unix.

If you want tos tay secure, learn safe browsing habits. The general rule of thumb is: “if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is”

Also, no administrator of any company will ever ask you for your password, credit card number, or social security number via email. If you get one like this, contact the company and ask if it’s real. 99 times out of 100 it won’t be.

Indeed, paranoia is your friend.

]]> By: Mark Reidhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/04/15/post-april-15-tips-to-prevent-identity-theft/#comment-32663 Mark Reid Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:50:25 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=6684#comment-32663 Thanks for the tip about the free credit report. I've been curious before, but since I haven't had any problems I didn't feel like paying for a report. It was really easy to do too. :-) Thanks for the tip about the free credit report. I’ve been curious before, but since I haven’t had any problems I didn’t feel like paying for a report. It was really easy to do too. :-)

]]> By: Judie Lipsetthttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/04/15/post-april-15-tips-to-prevent-identity-theft/#comment-32648 Judie Lipsett Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:19:09 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=6684#comment-32648 I know it's not digital necessarily, but you should always remember to shred anything that has sensitive personal information or numbers on it. Putting something in the trash is an open invitation for identity theft. You should also store your checks, any credit cards you aren't carrying, birth certificates, social security cards, and passports in a locked home safe. I know it’s not digital necessarily, but you should always remember to shred anything that has sensitive personal information or numbers on it. Putting something in the trash is an open invitation for identity theft.

You should also store your checks, any credit cards you aren’t carrying, birth certificates, social security cards, and passports in a locked home safe.

]]> By: Wayne Schulzhttp://www.geardiary.com/2008/04/15/post-april-15-tips-to-prevent-identity-theft/#comment-32643 Wayne Schulz Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:46:44 +0000 http://www.geardiary.com/?p=6684#comment-32643 Here's another tip - my day job is accounting software and a LOT of smaller companies still print payroll check stubs with your social security number displayed... ..many of these stubs land in the trash bin at the bank...where they could easily be harvested for your name and social security number. We aren't seeing this as much anymore - some states have passed laws to disallow the number from being printed. Definitely something to watch for. Here’s another tip – my day job is accounting software and a LOT of smaller companies still print payroll check stubs with your social security number displayed…

..many of these stubs land in the trash bin at the bank…where they could easily be harvested for your name and social security number.

We aren’t seeing this as much anymore – some states have passed laws to disallow the number from being printed.

Definitely something to watch for.

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