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Your computer may be a gold mine of personal information and the
hackers know it. So, even if you have taken all precautions, an
identity thief may still pick up personal information from your
computer without setting foot in your house.
Here are some tips to safeguard your computer:
- Update your virus protection software regularly. Without
regular updates - your virus protection software is incapable
of protecting your PC from latest viruses. Remember, viruses
can wreck havoc with your data including lifting your personal
files and distributing to all through e-mail.
- Be on the alert for security repairs and patches that you
can download from your operating system's website.
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Install a firewall system to stop hackers access
your computer while you are surfing the Net, more so if you
use high-speed Internet connection like cable or DSL that leaves
your computer connected to the Internet 24 hours a day.
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Never download files sent to you by strangers
or click on hyperlinks from people you don't know. Opening a
file attached to an e-mail expose your system to a computer
virus. Clicking at unknown hyperlinks may take you to compromised
sites with mischievous codes.
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Use a secure browser - software that encrypts
or scrambles information you send over the Internet - to guard
the security of your online transactions. Be sure your browser
has the most up-to-date encryption capabilities by using the
latest version available from the manufacturer. You also can
download some browsers for free over the Internet. When submitting
information, look for the "lock" icon on the browser's status
bar to be sure your information is secure during transmission.
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Try not to store financial information on your
laptop unless absolutely necessary.
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Before you dispose of a computer delete personal
information from its hard disk. Deleting files using the keyboard
or mouse commands may not be enough as any hacker can recover
so called 'deleted' files easily. Use a 'wipe out' or 'secure
delete; utility to overwrite the entire hard drive. That way
- deleted files can never be recovered.
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Similarly, carefully destroy old CD-ROMS, Floppies
and other computer media. Shred or tear off old/discarded print-outs
Internet Resources on Identity Theft:
Related Links:
Source: FAIDA
- Newsletter on Business Opportunties from India and Abroad
Vol: 3, Issue 46
March 13' 2003
Author :
Dr. Amit K. Chatterjee
(Amit worked in blue-chip Indian and MNCs for 15 years in various
capacities like Research and Information Analysis, Market Development,
MIS, R&D Information Systems etc. before starting his e-commerce
venture in 1997. The views expressed in this columns are of
his own. He may be reached at amit@infobanc.com
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