Internet identity theft is vastly different from common identity theft in several ways, and it is also more difficult to detect. Whereas common identity theft often involves physical stealing, such as credit cards, mail, checks and identification cards, internet theft steals confidential documents, such as receipts and tax returns, from individuals’ computers without their knowledge.
Personal home computers collect and store all sorts of personal information, like cache, browser history, temporary internet files, and passwords, deep within individuals’ hard drives. These files can be used by internet thieves and hackers to reconstruct confidential information, including credit card and social security numbers, addresses, and login ids.
Malware is uploaded onto individuals’ computers through emails, unsecured websites, downloads and by clicking on links. Internet identity thieves and hackers primarily harvest confidential information through malware subtypes, such as:
How to Protect Against Malware
1) Do not click on every link that is received through email or instant messages. Oftentimes, malware is embedded in links and emails. It is important to not open any sort of suspicious links or emails, even if they are from a familiar person.
2) Do not download free applications over file sharing networks, such as LimeWire. Malware, such as spyware, adware and Trojans, may be embedded in the downloaded programs. Only download software from a trusted, secure website.
3) Do not use internet explorer as a default page. Instead, internet users should use Firefox, which is more secure and protects against potentially hazardous websites. Users should also use Firefox’s No Script add-on, which blocks malicious Javascripts and Flash programs.
4) Use a firewall. Users should turn on their Windows firewalls and any firewalls that they have in their home routers.
5) Upgrade any software applications. All software programs, including Quicktime and Acrobat Reader, should be updated on a consistent basis to protect against program vulnerabilities.
6) Apply patches. Users should apply patches to their computers to also protect against vulnerabilities.
7) If users use peer-to-peer sharing programs, they should save their important files in file folders other than “my documents”. P2P sharing programs have access to contents in the “my documents” folder by default, and can share confidential files with thousands of users.
Summary
Hackers and internet thieves primarily use various subtypes of malware to infiltrate and compromise users’ computers, thereby harvesting confidential information. This information can then be sold or used to commit identity theft and other types of fraud. It is important for all computer users to safeguard their computers and confidential files by exercising commonsense and by installing protective software.