by henigan

Created on: October 24, 2008   Last Updated: October 30, 2008

Six Ways to Prevent OnLine Identity Theft

Identity theft is rampant and a threat to everyone. Anyone can be a victim. People with terrible credit records can have their identity stolen n so someone else can get a phone line. Anyone who spends time on the internet should learn the basic rules for preventing online identity theft.

For the purpose of preventing online identity theft, personal information is anything more than your first and last name or your e-mail address. Giving out both your name and your e-mail address is something that should start you wondering.

There are some simple tips to begin with. The first of my six internet tips is the same as a phone call tip. Do not give any personal information to anyone you did not contact. Any e-mails that you get which ask for personal information are suspect. There are many e-mail scams out there, including one which is supposed to be an e-mail from the IRS. No. The IRS is not sending you an e-mail that they owe you money. In fact, this is a scam run by a Russian 'syndicate'. Avoiding online identity theft means being suspicious.

The second online identity protection tip is to block all pop-ups on your computer. Only those web sites which you allow will be able to 'pop-up' on the screen. This will stop you from being tempted to respond to the ads that you could see this way. Even the most secure web sites with the most responsible web masters cannot guarantee the trust-worthiness of their advertisers.

Another important part of protecting you online identity is passwords. Do not use the same password for everything. If you use the same one for some sites, remember to use a different, more complicated one for banking or PayPal. Do not use your birthday, your last name or even your mother's maiden name. To protect your finances, make up a password, then figure out a way to remember it.

Speaking of security, you should have spyware protection that alerts you when personal information is being transmitted. Most web sites use a company called VeriSign to protect themselves and their customers. Make sure there is some kind of security certificate before entering your personal information.

Another good idea to avoid online identity theft is never to use your credit card number or debit card number on the internet. If you enjoy online shopping, you can get a pre-paid credit card and use that for shopping or any other internet interests. A pre-paid credit card is not a credit card at all. It is a debit card that is not linked to your bank accounts. Their is a fee to buy the card and a fee to re-fill it but it is money that is well spent when it is protecting your bank account. Some sites also have a bill me later option. Use this if it is possible.

And the most important and easiest way to prevent online identity theft is cookies. Anytime you transmit personal information via a website, delete your cookies. Cookies are how your computer communicates with other computers. You need them to use the internet but once you are finished with each transmission, you need to be rid of them.

The internet is a useful tool and a necessary one in this new century. It is up to you to protect yourself online as much as it is up to you to protect yourself walking on the street. Follow these tips and protect your online identity!

Learn more about this author, henigan.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.