Identity Theft Could Happen to Anyone
Internet identity theft is increasing with every passing day. The information that is stolen by identity thieves is obviously misused. The popularity of the Internet and online shopping has made ID theft more rampant. Using identity theft tools thieves extract personal data from naive computer users for illegal purposes. Identity thieves extract information like PIN numbers, bank account details, social security numbers and more.
Identity theft can be prevented with the help of some of the latest software tools. One can avoid being an identity theft victim by utilizing some useful software that helps prevents the same. Before knowing how to protect yourself from identity theft, you must know about the identity theft tools available as it will help you find a solution and beware of those tools. This article discusses 5 identity theft tools.
Spam/Phishy Mails
The most widespread method used to steal identities is Phishy and Spam mails.
One must be careful about getting trapped by “phishy” emails. In Phishy mails the sender pretends to be some genuine bank or any other organization or government body. The mail creates some genuine scenario to ask for or confirm your personal information. Another popular strategy used by ID thieves when phishing is saying that they are from some known anti- fraud cell and need to verify your information to protect you from identity theft. Sometimes the mail says that the mail recipient has won some lottery and asks for bank details to deposit money. So beware of such mails.
Spyware
Spyware is a kind of malware that gets downloaded and installed on computers on its own and collects important pieces of information about computer users stealthily. Usually the user is unaware about the spyware software on his PC as it gets installed discreetly. In certain cased spywares like key loggers are installed for monitoring or investigation. Some spywares are used collect info like surfing pattern of people, etc., but it is the privacy-invasive spyware that one needs to beware of. If your computer gets slow and you feel that your computer settings have been changed on its own, it can be due to spyware.
Key logger
A key logger is a tool or program that records the keystrokes of the computer user. The keystrokes that are logged are hidden in the PC and can be retrieved by the attacker or ID thief later. The logged info can be passwords, email content, etc. Even though key loggers are also used for legal purposes, illegal applications involve cyber criminals who use these tools to get sensitive information through fraudulent means. Spouses use key loggers to monitor their partner’s online activities. These programs usually get installed when you install some free software and keep a track of information that is misused later on.
Instant Messengers
Instant Messengers are also being used by ID thieves to collect personal information. This is done through IM viruses that are becoming quite common. Computer hackers use IMs these days as even anti-virus software is unable to detect IM viruses and worms.
Trojan
A Trojan horse is a tool or software used by cyber criminals to steals information or harms the computer. Trojans delete files, eliminate registry entries, ends running processes and does other similar activities. Trojan horses have become a severe threat. Computer users install Trojans themselves under the impression of installing some plug in, etc. When it gets installed, it sends out information to its control server.