Protect your computer – and yourself
August 8, 2011 – 11:26 amOne of the easiest ways for an identity thief to steal your personal information is through phishing. And one of the most common phishing scams are those cute little personalized electronic greeting cards.
Phishing is the practice of sending unsolicited e-mails to a victim in order to lure him into clicking on a link that will install malware on the victim’s computer. The malware will then provide personal and financial information to the thief.
Identity thieves are now using e-cards, particularly around the holidays. It works like this: you get an e-mail letting you know that a “friend” has sent you a greeting card. When you click on the link to open the card, you are either directed to a site containing malware, or you’ll be asked to install a video plug-in or some other software so you can view the card.
Remember: the best defense against unsolicited e-mails is to just delete them, and if you do open the e-mail, don’t click on any links contained within it or install any software or plug-ins. If the e-mail is supposed to be from a “friend,” contact your friend or friends and ask if anyone has sent you a card. Don’t assume anything.
To protect yourself, be sure to change your passwords frequently, and make sure that you make them difficult to figure out. Don’t tell anyone what your passwords are.
You should also make sure that your computer is loaded with the most up-to-date virus protection out there, as well as anti-spyware software. You can’t be too careful. Protect your computer – and ultimately, yourself.
Tags: computer hacking, computer protection, identity theft, LifeLock
