The Holidays are right around the corner. The Mall will be packed. People will be using their credit cards more and more. Online shopping will hit its peak for the year. And many people will become victims of identity theft.
I was a police officer prior to my career as a geek. I know first hand that Identity Theft victims are desperate, frustrated and often times do not find the help they are looking for. It is a long road to repair the damage done by identity theft. What can you do this holiday season to make sure you aren't the low hanging fruit?
- Be very careful shopping online and be extra wary of any online store you haven't used before or unfamiliar with. Pay with something like Paypal when it is available. This prevents you from having to enter your credit card information.
- Turn bluetooth off on your mobile devices, especially in crowded places. It is the #1 way that electronic thieves get into your phone and walk away with your data.
- Pay very close attention to your credit card when you hand it over (think of it like watching a magician doing a card trick). Temporary holiday help are not always vetted as carefully, and they can easily capture your card information with a "skimmer" (personal swipe device) or by simply taking a photo of it.
- Don't use public/open Wi-Fi for any online shopping, transactions or banking. The best policy with these connections is to not use them at all unless you absolutely have to, and even then, turn it off as soon as you are done.
- Be on the lookout for viruses. Viruses that are designed to steal information or log your keystrokes aren't new, but the increase in credit card use online will increase your risk of identity theft by a large margin.
Stay safe out there! If you have any questions or concerns about identity theft during the holiday season, contact Jon at SuperGeeks! We offer a Safe Computing Seminar which covers more safe browsing habits as well as an affordable Identity Theft Protection Plan!
(806) 722 0770