In this modern era where you link all your private information to a lot of things, identity theft can really put you in serious trouble. It is a serious crime that you should never overlook. Even one hacking can escalate into much bigger problems. Below are 7 gaps that can be used for identity theft without you even realizing it!
Blatant identity theft through a data breach
A data breach is the most common identity theft to make into news headlines. Life Lock further divides the type of data breach into two: accidental and intentional. In an accidental data breach, the culprits deploy their attacks when an employee leaves a work computer containing their Personal Identifiable Information (PII), such as full name, Social Security number, address, and others, in vulnerable places. An intentional breach, on the other hand, is much more strategic. Criminals will deliberately find a way to steal needed identities. The simplest trick they often do is sending shady links to potential victims.
Your PII is your own responsibility. Life Lock also stresses that the less you share your PII, the better it is for you. While a lot of times it is inevitable to share them, always ask questions before you actually give your PII. Will they really need your information? If necessary, ask how will they protect the stored information.
Phishing trickery for identity theft
The intentional data breach that we discussed above is often the basis for phishing attacks. Phishers need their targets to open the link they sent to further access deeper and steal more information. Modern-day phishing oftentimes disguises themselves as official accounts of big organizations to make them look legit. The only way to avoid such scams is by being keen-eyed and avoid any reckless actions.
Unguarded Internet connections
If you think the public internet is safe, you are very wrong. Airport, coffee shop, and any other public spaces that provide free Wi-Fi is where culprits often commit their crimes. Not even password-protected Wi-Fi is any safe either. Life Lock suggests not to log into your private accounts or make any purchase while you are using the public’s Wi-Fi.
Always be wary of any type of identity theft, as it can lead to serious fraud in the future. Also, be very cautious in using your gadgets, and sharing your information. The smallest gaps can really be the chance for criminals to execute identity theft. Hence, avoid sharing your information to shady companies for a mere 10% discount!
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