Avoiding Identity Theft 

Consumer magazine Which? recently published findings that one in four British adults is affected by identity theft today so it is essential to guard against potential frauds committed in your name. Without thorough protection systems in place your business could be seriously stalled if you fall victim to identity fraud.

Paper Records
Office shredders are a basic item, and should be used to dispose of paper records. Don’t leave photocopies of your passport or driving licence lying around and, if you must show important documents, be vigilant about who is asking for this information, and take out document/card insurance to further guard against theft.

Protecting Your Digital Identity
By far the more dangerous threat is theft of your ‘digital identity’. If you do banking online, use email as your main form of communication or use wireless internet connections, you could be at risk if you don’t take the appropriate precautions in the following four key areas.

Personal computer Make sure that you have a personal firewall and up-to-date antivirus software. If you use a windows firewall you should not need to run other firewall software on your PC.

Wireless network Secure your connection with good passwords and ensure that your Service set identifier (SSID), the unique identifier code which you received with your wireless connection, does not identify you or your location. Make sure that your wireless network uses encryption so that hackers cannot easily find your data.

Passwords and pins Use passwords and pins that are hard to decipher, using a combination of numbers, letters and different cases. Always shield your pin, and always read the warning messages on your bank logins. Use password safes to store your passwords and logins, rather than storing them in a text file on your PC.

Email Use email wisely. Your bank will rarely ever email you, will never send you an email asking for verification of your personal details and you will never be asked for your full password and pin. Don’t click on links from emails posing to be emails from banks, as you will be redirected to websites which will put you at risk. If you want to verify information in an email like this then use your web browser to find your way to the website, rather than using a link. Always scan email attachments for viruses before opening, and simply don’t open emails from people you do not know.

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• Made Simple Group