Identity Theft Is Real » Computer Security

Guarding Against Online Identity Theft, by Using a Router

jnewell — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:36:29 +0000

Many computer users today are connected to the Internet via an always on connection; many of those users leave their computers on 24/7. Doing so allows automatic downloading and updating of operating systems and other software you may be running. This has proved to be a good strategy for staying up to date on virus and security programs. There is however the issue of hackers or others gaining access to your personal information.

Fortunately there is a relatively inexpensive piece of hardware called a router that, when set up correctly, will make your computer virtually invisible. Routers are typically used to set up and control networks. These can be very large or very small networks, in fact the Internet is really just a very large network and it too is controlled by routers.

The router in a typical network is placed between the cable or phone modem and the computers and other devices being controlled. Information from online flows to the router and is then routed to the appropriate computer, it also takes information from the various computers and sends it out to the online world. In addition the router will control the flow of information within the network, such as a document to be printed on a printer that is hooked up to another computer, or possibly to retrieve a document scanned on a network scanner.

These routers can either be hardwired or wireless or of combination of both. The router itself has its own IP address (kind of like a street address) that will be found on the Internet which identifies it. If that router has all of the correct security set up, that is where the flow of information from the Internet stops, the router actually appears to someone surfing the Internet to be a computer and the end of the line. Even a single computer can have a router between the modem and the computer, in fact it would be set up the same way, and with all of the proper security in place it would appear to be the end of the line.

Installing a router right out of the box with no security set up will stymie the most amateur hackers, setting proper user codes and passwords will stop more, using the proper encryption array will stop more, and there are more settings that will stop even the most determined. All of these setting can be made in the software supplied with your router, what may be lacking it a clear explanation of why some settings and how they are defined is important.

Early in the development of the Internet becoming available to the general public, the need for security protocols was becoming apparent. In addition to the general public, retail and government entities were keeping more and more information in data bases, and they needed security. The first online security protocol was named WEP and went into wide usage, unfortunately it was hacked, and the info on how to hack it was spread all over the internet. That protocol is still in use today, even by some retail and government entities, and can by hacked in less than a minute. The next version call WAP was rolled out, but first it was released to the online community with the challenge to “break it, if you can”, that was about 8 – 10 years ago. To date is has not been broken. Most router software allows you to choose which encryption array to use. This exemplifies the importance of knowing how to set you security up.

For an excellent video covering all aspects of router security go to this link http://www.labrats.tv click shows, look for # 70.

Windows Lockdown!: Your XP and Vista Guide Against Hacks, Attacks, and Other Internet Mayhem (Absolute Beginner’s Guide)

Identity Theft Can Harm Businesses, As Well As Individuals

jnewell — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:51:59 +0000

The unauthorized use of confidential business communications and other sensitive information is becoming more wide spread. Most businesses have very strict policies and programs in place to protect their information from misuse, however getting their employees to strictly adhere to policy is sometimes an issue.

Loss of unsecured laptop computers, not using encryption on sensitive information, disgruntled employees giving out, or even selling, company information are all major risks.

Follow this link to read more; http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/145164/identity_theft_goes_corporate.html

When You Delete Hard Drive Files, Are You Sure They Are Really Deleted?

jnewell — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:25:44 +0000

By Jim Newell

If you sent a file to the recycle bin or used the delete button on your keyboard. Most people assume that this action will delete hard drive files, chances are that your file has just been changed so it is not viewable and can be recovered very easily.

Why this is an important issue?

Identity Theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in our society. This group of crimes often starts with someone using personal information they have found on an unprotected computer.

When a file is deleted via the keyboard or the recycle bin all that really happens is the attribute that calls for the file is changed so the file is not called. The entire file remains on your hard drive until it is overwritten by other data. Hard drives today hold huge amounts of data; it could literally be years before a particular file is overwritten. Until that file, which could contain sensitive or confidential material is overwritten, it can be found and resurrected quite easily, and doing so does not require a lot of technical knowledge.

Anyone who accesses your computer could access those deleted files, finding such things as passwords, credit card numbers, photos, records of websites visited and any other data you thought was deleted. Armed with this information they could compromise your identity quite easily, and you may not find out until it has cost you thousands. Recovering your identity and correcting the damage can take years.

A recent study of just over 100 discarded hard drives, some of which had been reformatted, found more than 5000 credit card numbers. Insuring that you delete hard drive files securely is a big part of protecting yourself from Identity Theft.

What can we do to protect against someone finding our deleted data?

There are programs available that have been dubbed shredder or evidence eraser programs. They use special algorithms to find all instances or mentions of the files you want deleted, remove them and then overwrite the deleted hard drive files with random data. Many of these programs are used by government agencies to insure that data is really deleted.

When you delete an email, no one else can ever read it and when you close your web browser, the sites you’ve been surfing disappear forever – right? WrongEvidence Eraser is the Protection You Need! This top rated program will permanently erase all deleted computer information, using the best available technology. Get Real Security, Real Protection!Do the Free Scan of Your PC, Instantly Download, Start Keeping Your Personal Information Personal

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You can defend against Identity Theft; however it does take vigilance and the discipline to protect your personal data. You need to be on guard against all of the email scams, phone scans, and you need be sure that when you delete hard drive files, they stay deleted.

Your defense against Identity Theft arsenal must include strong passwords, mechanical and software firewalls, a spyware, virus, adware, email scanner, suite that is updated regularly. Make and keep frequent automatic backups of crucial files, and use of a shredder or erasing program.

You may also subscribe to one of the many identity theft notification services that are available, however keep in mind that they are sometimes only called into action after someone finds and tries to use your personal information.

5 Reasons You Need to Use A Program That Will Permanently Erase Deleted Files.

jnewell — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:45:18 +0000

By Jim Newell

Your personal computer is often a starting point for the crime of Identity Theft, this is where the bad guys look for bits of your personal information, passwords or even credit card numbers. They often look through your deleted files, thats right the files that you though were no longer there could still be accessible. The good news is that there are software programs available that will permanently erase deleted files, One of these programs should be part of every computer users tool kit.

When you send a file to the recycle bin, use the delete button to delete a file a photo or anything else. All that really happens is that the attribute that calls that file is changed so that it does not load; the file itself is still intact and accessible on your hard drive. If the attribute is for some reason changed back to again instructing the file to load, it will. This is a simple explanation of what happens when you use the restore command.
Operating system software keeps lists of various files in a variety of places on your computer, while the actual file is stored on your hard drive, your backup hard drive, or even on removable media. Until all of those copies of the original file have been scrubbed and actually overwritten by other text they can be resurrected by simple, readily available data recovery software.
Many files that you would like to delete are sensitive in nature, you want them to be for your eyes only. Records of websites you have visited are retained in various places on your computer. Pass word files, credit card numbers, records of your online transactions. These are all things that when you finish with them, you do not want other people to see.
This should send a chill up your spine. A recent study of 129 old hard drives (many of them formatted) revealed more than 5,000 credit card numbers, medical correspondences, love letters, pornography, and banking information. These old hard drives could have been recovered from discarded computers.
Why should you be concerned? Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in our society. Many times the information needed to start an Identity Theft crime is gathered from an unprotected computer.

How does this information get found?

Anyone who has access to your computer; friend, spouse, boss, co-worker can find deleted information on your computer. They do not have to be a tech wizard.

Hackers constantly cruise the Internet looking for computers that they can gain access too. And with the proliferation of wireless hotspots there are thousands of vulnerable computers online 24/7. When they find one they will use software that will decode passwords, find user names, and look for any bits of information they want to use. The victim, could be you, may never know that their information has been compromised, until they start getting declined for credit or loans, or until they get a credit card bill with charges they did not make. Sometimes the thieves will even submit an address change to your credit card issuer; you will not even get a bill until it is too late.

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How do you protect your computer and permanently erase deleted files?

Here are 5 defenses every security conscience computer user needs to employ.

An updated virus suite, and this does not mean the free version included in your operating system. You need a commercial package that will update your computer automatically to new threats, scan your email, and include protection from spyware and adware.
You need to have the absolute discipline to never open an email message that is not from a trusted source, or that you do not recognize the sender.
You need to perform regular backups, some of the current security/virus suites also offer automatic scheduling of backups.
You should also be using software dubbed shredder programs that permanently erase deleted files. These programs will ferret out all mentions of the files and information you want to delete, and scrub them from your system, and even overwrite deleted hard drive file with random information.
And finally you need to stay abreast of developing threats to computer security, new ones are hatched daily. Occasionally read a computer magazine or at least search for articles that discuss computer security.

Is That File Really Deleted?…Guard Against Identity Theft…Permanently Erase Computer Files and All Personal Information from Your PC

jnewell — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:50:22 +0000

By Jim Newell

Your own personal computer is ground zero in the battle to steal your identity. Hackers cruise the internet looking for computers they can get into, they have the ability to find the holes in firewalls, they use special programs to discover passwords.

Every time you use your computer, all activity including all of your email, all Internet activity, anything you may have ordered online, your passwords, your credit card numbers are being recorded whether you realize it or not. If you do not employ a program that will permanently erase computer files, you are at risk.

Hackers are not the only group you should be concerned with. Others who have access to your computer, including friends, your boss, your spouse, your co-workers, can take a look at your history and view whatever you have been doing on your computer.

And far worse than that, if a hacker does gain access to your computer, they can pick and choose which information they want, and you will not know they have been there until you start getting turned down for credit, or worse start getting bills for stuff you did not order.

Data recovery programs, which are readily available online, are all that are needed to track your every move. Someone trying to see your information does not even need to know much about technology.

Information about all of the websites that you have ever visited is stored on your computer. Simply deleting a file or sending it to the recycle bin, or clearing your Internet history, temp files or cookies is not enough. All of those files can be found by data recovery software. Even re-formatting your hard drive will not completely do the trick.

Every image that you have ever viewed, sent or received over the Internet is stored on your hard drive. This includes personal pictures as well as confidential business charts, or forms. All of this information should be your business only.

The web sites you have visited your chat conversations, your usernames and passwords, the pictures you just browsed, the media files you just played, even the documents that you just read. These can all be recovered. The normal deletion and erasing tools provided with your standard software just do not permanently erase computer files.

People have been fired, divorced and even sent to jail because of the things other people have found on their computer hard drives. Forensic computer specialists have the tools and skills to find almost anything that was ever on your computer.

There’s no reason for anyone to risk these things happening to them. Adequate vigilance of the personal information on your computer requires the use of spyware, virus software, firewall software as well as a good evidence erasing program; these should all be part of every computer users tool kit.

When you delete an email, no one else can ever read it and when you close your web browser, the sites you’ve been surfing disappear forever – right? WrongEvidence Eraser is the Protection You Need! This top rated program will permanently erase all deleted computer information, using the best available technology. Get Real Security, Real Protection!Do the Free Scan of Your PC, Instantly Download, Start Keeping Your Deleted Information Permanently Deleted

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Among the advantages of using this type of program to find and permanently erase files are that it will restore wasted hard drive, improve your computers speed and have much more secure computer.

These special erasing programs use special algorithms to find and permanently erase all evidence of computer files, photos, movies, chat conversations, web sites visited, anything that you may want safely and completely removed from your computer. Look for a program that has been approved for use by the US Defense Department, if their program is good enough for them, it will more than do the job for you.