1. Protecting Your Identity Anders Olson Computers III September 18, 2008

2. Identity theft has become a real problem in the real world and the virtual world online. Following are tips on what to do to prevent identity theft in both of them.

3. Real World What do identity thieves want? Where do they find these? How are these used? How do you defend yourself?

4. What do identity thieves want? To become you using: –Your social security card –Driver’s license –Account numbers –Passwords

5. Where do they find these? Purse/wallet –A lot of personal information stored there. Mailbox –Credit card bills, checking account statements, pre-approved credit cards, outgoing bills Glove compartment –Vehicle registration, insurance cards, old bills & receipts

6. Where do they find these? Trash –Dumpster diving for old bills, accounts statements, etc. You –Fake phone calls asking for personal information

7. What are they used for? To open credit card accounts To change mailing addresses on current cards Shopping sprees Use your name when arrested Apply for jobs File for bankruptcy under your name to avoid paying debts

8. How do you defend your self? Purse/wallet –Don’t carry social security cards, more credit cards than you need, or a list of passwords to different things like PINs. Mailbox –Take outgoing mail to post office and pick up mail as soon as possible Glove Compartment –Clean out unneeded material. Lock your car.

9. Virtual World What do they want? Where do virtual thieves find these? How do you defend yourself?

10. What do they want? Your information –Your banking information –Your passwords –Your personal information (name, address, etc.) –Anything that they can get their hands on and allow them to create a new identity to use for their own purposes

11. Where do the virtual thieves find these? Unless proper safeguards are in place thieves can and will access: –Bank account information –Electronic tax returns –Insurance information –Spreadsheets/word processing documents –Anything with information

12. How do you defend yourself? Passwords –Use unique passwords –Change regularly –Remember them, don’t write them down File-sharing sites –If you can get their files, they can get yours. Beware of Phising –Phising- emails luring people to give their logins, passwords, etc. to phony sites.

13. How do you defend yourself? Be careful of using public computers –Users can view list of previous sites users have visited Purchase Anti-Virus Software Keep Operating Software Updated Install a Firewall Don’t give our personal information over the internet.

14. Further Your Knowledge OnGuardOnline.gov Nationwide consumer reporting companies: –Equifax: 1-800-525-62851-800-525-6285 –Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742) –TransUnion: 1-800-680-72891-800-680-7289 FTC Avoid ID Theft PowerPoint

15. Bibliography “Deter. Detect. Defend. Avoid ID Theft” [Online Image] 18 September 2008 <http://www.onguardonline.com/ http://www.equifax.com/home/ http://www.experian.com/ http://www.transunion.com/ http://www.ftc.gov/idtheft