While Your Fingers Advance Towards Mouse

It's very convenient to access e-mails, bank accounts, important documents and entertainment information by a few clicks on a computer.  However technology always comes with new problems.  The risk of identity theft which was not even in existence a few years ago has become a major trouble for even surfing on-line.

It may be a routine for everyone to log on to the computer for some reason or the other.  However you should not compromise your safety for the pleasure and convenience.  If you are vigilant about some easy precautions, you will certainly reduce the risk of identity theft to a great extent.

Ensure the following while your fingers advance towards mouse -

1.    Always install a firewall on your computer.  When you want to drive your car, you always ensure that all the doors are closed and locked.  The same principle applies to computer.  You should limit the attacks of potential hackers by installing a firewall. It filters all malicious elements which are trying to get access to your network and it also shows you timely warnings and flags to delete or discontinue a particular program or a link of a website.

2.    Turn of your computer when you are not using it.  The networks should always be inoperative when you are away.

3.    Never store passwords or information on accessing your bank account on your computers.  This is plain common sense but many people still create one word document to store all their passwords and other accessing information in order to refer instantly.  This is a foolish thing and should never be done.  If you want to remember your passwords, write them down on a sheet of paper and keep that paper in a secure place.  This is a much more secured way of storing your passwords.

4.    If you are using a wireless network, you should check that the users are provided with the private key so that there is no scope for a hacker is to log in to your system.

5.    You should purchase on-line with caution.  Some websites may resemble big names and if you are not careful, before you realize anything you may end up submitting your credit card details there.  Before you make any purchase, check the website carefully.  Never click on a link to order anything.  That is most dangerous thing to do.  If you want to purchase something, read the information about it carefully on the site itself as well as on Google.

6.    Install a good anti-virus as well as a spy-ware program on your computer.  And do not sit on it.  Scan your entire computer including your e-mails regularly with these two programs.

7.    Scan all your e-mail attachments before you download them.  There is a possibility of virus entering through e-mails compromising your personal details.  Many such viruses attack the e-mail addresses of your friends and contacts.  So you cannot take emails from your friends as safe.  Always ignore spam or junk mail because opening it may damage you more than its advantage.

8.    Erase all the information on your hard disk before throwing away your computer.  Never throw away computers or cell phones without wiping out information stored on them.  Erasing is very important because simply deleting the files will not delete the files from your computer.  Deleted files will go to the recycle bin from where information may be retrieved again.

9.    Do not give administrative rights on your computer to anyone.  Even if you are confident about your employees or colleagues, you should not give them these rights.  It is also advisable to change your accessing password frequently.

10.    If you are running your own business, there is a risk of identity theft from some of your employees.  Identity thieves may approach them for exchange of information for a consideration.  It is advisable to check the security systems regularly to find out whether there is any breach.

It is not possible to discuss all possible ways in which identity thieves will attack your computer or networking system to hack important information.  However taking more and more precautions will always frustrate identity thieves.  Your identity is yours and no one should steal it away from you and destroy your life. 

You get restless and annoyed when you realize that someone has accessed and misused your personal details. The financial pain which comes thereafter is unbearable. But have you ever thought about precautions to protect your computer? This may be a root of all the problems. How to 'secure' your computer? Chintamani Abhyankar provides useful tips in this article.

Chintamani Abhyankar, is an expert in the field of finance and taxation for last 25 years. He has written many books explaining inside secrets of the magic world of finance. His famous eBook Stop donating your money to IRS which is now running in its second edition, provides intricate knowledge and tips on personal finance.