How to Protect Identity While Online

How many times have you heard on the news that someone had their identity stolen through the Internet? Someone takes over their bank account or opens a credit card in their name and before you know it they are in a world of trouble. Many people are paranoid about doing anything online because someone, somehow is going to find out all of their vital information and get them in a lot of trouble. It can happen, but if you take certain precautionary steps, it will severely limit the chances of you being taken to the cleaners. Read on to learn how to protect identity while onlne.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Do not use your real name on social networking sites such as MySpace or Facebook. If you use your real name, people can research and find out about you. The same goes for blogs--anywhere that is trafficked by a lot of people.

2. Avoid putting your picture online as well unless you have real reason to. Do not put anything concerning yourself online unless you don't mind the entire world looking at it.

3. Put a spyware detector on your computer. Spyware is a hidden program similar to a virus that is attached to some websites and email. Depending on the type of spyware it is, it can keep track and reports where you have visited on the Internet. In some cases, it can even record your key strokes so anything you type can be viewed by others.

4. Do not believe emails you receive from banks, Ebay or PayPal saying that they need for you to verify information online. Both Ebay and PayPal stopped asking for personal information through email a long time ago. These sites look exactly like the real thing but they are not. If you verify any information through the links in the email you are giving your information to a third party who intends to use it against you. If you think Ebay or PayPal sent you a legitimate email, do not click on the link in the email. Go to the site itself and log in that way so you know it's secure.

5. If you give any personal information about yourself online, make sure the site is secure. The way to tell is there will be a little lock that appears in the corner when you bring up the page. If you are not certain if it's a secure site, do not give your information until you know for certain.

6. Do not open any email that looks suspicious or if you do not know who it comes from. It could have viruses that could harm your computer as well as spyware to hurt your identity.

Tips & Warnings

• Go to Google and put in your name in quotation marks and see what comes up. If you find yourself, that is not a good sign because anyone else can find you too. Work on getting rid of your presence online. This is much easier said than done. It's much easier to prevent yourself from being an internet presence than erasing yourself once you are there.