Use Technology to Help You Avoid Online Fraud
Online fraud and identity theft often start with deceptive e-mail that asks you to provide personal information, update your account, or make a donation. The e-mail may look like it was sent by your bank, your credit card company, a store where you have an account, or some other organization you trust-and it may contain links to a Web site that looks completely legitimate.
Don't be fooled by any attempts at online fraud. Internet criminals are clever, and the tricks they use to try to scam your personal information and steal your identity grow increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect.
Use Good Judgment and Good Technology
Knowledge, common sense, and your own good judgment are your best defenses against online fraud and identity theft. You can also use technology to help limit the amount of fraudulent e-mail you receive, reduce the risk of spyware on your computer, and alert you to phony Web sites masquerading as legitimate businesses.
Technology to Use:
- Phishing Filters — Phishing is online fraud where criminals use deceptive e-mail and fake Web sites to trick you into revealing personal information they can use to steal your identity. A good phishing filter-like the one in Internet Explorer 7 and the Windows Live Toolbar-can help to protect you by alerting you when you log on to confirmed or suspected phishing sites. Windows Phishing Filter also enables you to report suspicious sites that could be phishing scams in disguise.
Learn more at Phishing Filter: Help Protect Yourself from Online Scams - Spam Filters — Research shows that 80 percent of all e-mail is spam. Fortunately, spam filters provided by your Internet service provider (ISP) or included in your e-mail program can weed out much of the junk e-mail that may contain computer viruses, spyware, or scams that could lead to fraud or identity theft. You can adjust your spam filter to make it more or less restrictive, depending on your preferences.
Learn more at Good Habits for Fighting Spam - Firewalls — If your operating system comes with a firewall, as in Windows Vista or Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), make sure it is turned on and kept up to date. A firewall can help make your computer invisible to criminals looking for an easy way to steal personal information. It can also prevent spyware from sending your personal information across the Internet.
Learn more at Firewalls - Anti-spyware — Installing anti-spyware software helps to block, detect, and delete spyware programs that try to monitor your Internet use or collect and transmit your personal information. Keep your anti-spyware software effective by regularly updating the signatures it uses to screen for spyware.
Learn more at How to Protect Your Computer from Spyware and Adware - Operating System — Newer operating systems are more secure than older versions, and most can be updated automatically to make sure they are always at peak security and efficiency. Because your computer's operating system supports all of your other security programs, keeping it up to date is an essential part of helping to protect yourself from online fraud and identity theft.
Learn more at How to Keep Your Computer Security Up to Date
