The Technology Age: Tips to Keep Your Information Safe and Secure

1. The Technology Age:Tips to Keep Your Information Safe and Secure National Crime Prevention Council 2007

2. Goal of This Presentation To inform communities of various types of online information theft and security risks and to provide safety tips to help adults have a safe and secure experience online. National Crime Prevention Council

3. Objectives of the Presentation • Describe identity theft and explore ways in which criminals access information • Learn tips to keep information secure from theft • Explore facts regarding Internet Service Providers and the security of your personal information • Examine how newsgroups, personal web pages, and web browsing expose and jeopardize personal information National Crime Prevention Council

4. Objectives of the Presentation(continued) • Understand how spyware, spamming, and phishing collect personal information and how you can protect yourself from them • Review tips for safe and secure emailing • Explore ways to shop safely online • Learn about online auction fraud and discover ways to recognize and avoid it • Review tips for secure wireless and home computing National Crime Prevention Council

5. The Internet The Internet is a powerful resource. Benefits of the Internet include being able to • Access and share information • Communicate with ease • Conduct financial transactions • Plan trips and vacations • Conduct business • Learn—it’s the world’s largest library • Shop • Have fun National Crime Prevention Council

6. The Internet "As the Internet [expands], more and more commerce takes place in it. It only makes sense that more criminal activity would take place, and it does allow this anonymous ability for criminals to do it.“ Greg Regan, U.S. Secret Service National Crime Prevention Council

7. How Much Information Is Truly Available? • There is an enormous amount of information available on the Internet. • Think about the type of business, transactions, and information-sharing you conduct online. National Crime Prevention Council

8. As a result of the Internet, criminals have found a new place to prowl. Within the last five years, cybercrime has really grown. Crime Fighting Goes Online National Crime Prevention Council

9. In 2006, the FBI Computer Crime Survey estimated annual losses from all types of computer crime at $67 billion a year! National Crime Prevention Council

10. The Numbers • 81% of our home computers lack basic protection. – AOL and the National Cyber Security Alliance, Online Safety Study, December 2005 • Each time someone is caught by a phishing scam, it costs about $850. – Consumer Reports, State of the Net 2006, August 2006 • Last year, identity theft hurt 8.9 million Americans and cost each victim an average of $6,383. – Javelin Strategy and Research, 2006 Identity Fraud Survey Consumer Report National Crime Prevention Council

11. Identity Theft National Crime Prevention Council

12. What Is Identity Theft? • Stealing the identity of another person and using it to conduct a variety of activities • The intent is to use that identity for personal gain, generally with the intent to defraud others by establishing credit, running up debt, or taking over existing financial accounts National Crime Prevention Council

13. Why Worry About Identity Theft? • One in 33 households discovered at least one instance of identity theft during the last 6 months. • Households headed by persons ages 18–24 and households with the highest incomes were the most likely victims of identity theft. • One in five victimized households spent at least one month resolving problems resulting from Identity theft. (Source: First Estimates from the National Crime Victimization Survey, Identity Theft, 2004, Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin) National Crime Prevention Council

14. Theft (or “borrowing”) of your wallet, purse, or personal files, most often by someone you know Telephone calls asking you to “update records” Theft of incoming bills showing account numbers Theft of outgoing mail and bill payments Where and How Do Criminals Get My Information? National Crime Prevention Council

15. Redirected mail Phishing Rummaging through trash Discarded or unattended credit card receipts Second impressions of credit cards If your mail is delivered to a place where others can easily access it Where and How Do Criminals Get My Information? (continued) National Crime Prevention Council

16. How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft • Do not give out personal information. • Shred all documents that contain personal information or keep them locked in a cabinet. • Minimize the number of identification cards you carry. • Protect your Social Security Number Don’t risk it, shred it National Crime Prevention Council

17. How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft (continued) • Protect your computer from online intruders • Install firewalls • Install antivirus software • Avoid free stuff • Keep your security programs up-to-date • Create complex usernames and passwords National Crime Prevention Council

18. How to Prevent Identity Theft(continued) • Be careful about phone card and ATM machine usage • Protect your credit card number(s) • Make a list or make a photocopy of all your credit cards, both sides. • Order your free credit reports at annualcreditreport.com National Crime Prevention Council

19. Steps to Take if You Are a Victim • Place a fraud alert on your credit reports, and review your credit reports • Close the accounts that you believe have been compromised or opened • File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, www.ftc.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338); • File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. National Crime Prevention Council

20. Your InternetService Provider(ISP) National Crime Prevention Council

21. Facts About Your ISP • People can find out details about your Internet presence by using an old UNIX command known as "finger.” • “Finger” allows people to ask your ISP who its customers are. • Check your contract with your ISP to make sure that it won't sell your information to others. National Crime Prevention Council

22. Newsgroups,Personal Web Pages, and Web Browsing National Crime Prevention Council

23. What Is a Newsgroup or Blog? • A newsgroup is a discussion group that focuses on a particular topic. • Blogs have replaced some of the uses of newsgroups. National Crime Prevention Council

24. Bloggers Beware • Posting a message to a newsgroup or blog lets everyone in the world know that you exist, as well as what some of your specific interests are. • If you have a signature file that includes your address and telephone number, everyone has access to that data. • These messages stay on the Internet for an indefinite period of time. National Crime Prevention Council

25. Personal Webpages • Many people have personal webpages that list details about their jobs, interests, email addresses, and their families. • Try to limit the personal information and pictures on your webpage. Remember, the information is available for the entire world to see. • Companies that want to spam you now have access to that information. National Crime Prevention Council

26. Web Browsing • Web browsing leaves tracks all over cyberspace, considered live “footprints.” Whenever you visit a website, the site records that you were there. • Consider configuring your web browser to ask you before accepting cookies. • Sometimes a site asks you to volunteer personal information. Should you give it, assume that the information is available to the world. • Web browsers maintain a cache file that keeps the recent images and text that you have viewed, similar to your history files on your personal computer. National Crime Prevention Council

27. What is Spyware? National Crime Prevention Council

28. What Is Spyware and How Does It Work? • Spyware, also called adware, is software that is designed to track your every move online through a variety of techniques including • Recording your keystrokes • Tracking the websites you visit • Stealing your online passwords • Burying you with pop-up advertisements National Crime Prevention Council

29. Results of Spyware? • Loss of privacy • More advertising • Home page hijacking • Reduced performance • Security risks • System instability National Crime Prevention Council

30. How to Protect Yourself From Spyware • Install a program to block spyware • Install a program to remove spyware • Avoid pop-ups • Avoid the “free” stuff • Take advantage of your Internet Service Provider’s free downloads National Crime Prevention Council

31. Protecting Yourself From Spam and Phishing National Crime Prevention Council

32. What Is Spam? • Spam is the abuse of electronic messaging systems to send unsolicited, undesired bulk messages. • The most common format of spam is via email. • Spam email topics include low-cost drugs, investment scams, and porn. • Phishing is email that steals. National Crime Prevention Council

33. Tips to Protect and Limit Spam • Maintain a spam email account. • Never reply to phishing emails. • Don't open spam emails. • Screen for spam. • Get a spam filter. • Get unlisted. National Crime Prevention Council

34. Email Protection Tips National Crime Prevention Council

35. How Many Email Addresses Should I Have? • Many… • Personal: For friends and family • Business: For coworkers and business associates • Secure: For secure information • Disposable: For spamming sites National Crime Prevention Council

36. E-mail Protection: Encryption If you want to prevent people from reading your email messages (and files on your computer), you can get an email and data encryption software package National Crime Prevention Council

37. Shopping SafelyOnline National Crime Prevention Council

38. Online Shopping Tips • Shop with companies you know and always initiate the transaction • Keep your password private • Use a secure browser • Pay by credit card • Keep personal information private • Save all transaction information National Crime Prevention Council

39. OnlineAuctionFraud National Crime Prevention Council

40. Facts About Online Auctions • Millions of people take part in Internet auctions every day. • According to the National Consumers League, online auction fraud is the number one fraud committed over the Internet, with an average loss of $1,331 per consumer. Source: National Consumers League, 2006 Survey www.nclnet.org National Crime Prevention Council

41. How Auction Fraud Works • Failure to deliver goods • Nonpayment for goods delivered • Misrepresentation of the merchandise • Hidden charges • Fake bidding • Credit card fraud • Black market goods • Bogus escrow services National Crime Prevention Council

42. Online Auction Safety Tips • Understand how the auction works • Check out the seller before you bid • Be careful if the seller is a private individual • Be cautious if the seller is from another country • Beware of “shills” National Crime Prevention Council

43. Online Auction Safety Tips(continued) • Be wary of claims about collectibles and other expensive items • Ask about delivery, returns, warranties, and service before you pay • Look for information on the auction site about insurance • Pay by credit card • Look for bonded sellers National Crime Prevention Council

44. Online Auction Safety Tips (continued) • Consider using an escrow service for expensive purchases • Try mediation to resolve disputes • Inform auction sites about suspected fraud Source: National Consumers League’s Internet Fraud Watch www.fraud.org National Crime Prevention Council

45. General Safety Tips When Computing atHome National Crime Prevention Council

46. Home Computing Safety Tips Overview • Secure your computer • Use a website rating service • Safeguard private information • Turn on parental controls • Consider biometric security National Crime Prevention Council

47. General Safety Tips When Computing Wireless National Crime Prevention Council

48. Wireless Safety Tips Overview • Get wireless protection • Have complete, updated security suites • Obtain a virtual private network • Use computer locks • Obtain biometric security National Crime Prevention Council

49. RisksWhen You’re Remote National Crime Prevention Council

50. Dangers of Wireless • No wires, no security • As easy as eavesdropping • Beware of rogue hotspots National Crime Prevention Council