The Technology Age:
Tips to Keep Your Information
Safe and Secure
National Crime Prevention Council
2007
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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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Crime Fighting Goes Online
As a result of the Internet, criminals
have found a new place to prowl.
Within the last five years,
cybercrime has really grown.
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In 2006, the FBI Computer
Crime Survey estimated annual
losses from all types of
computer crime at $67 billion a
year!
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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
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Identity Theft
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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
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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)
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Where and How Do Criminals
Get My Information?
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
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Where and How Do Criminals
Get My Information? (continued)
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
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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
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How to Protect Yourself From
Identity Theft (continued)
Protect your computer from online intruders
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•
•
•
•
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Install firewalls
Install antivirus software
Avoid free stuff
Keep your security programs up-to-date
Create complex usernames and passwords
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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
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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.
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Your
Internet
Service
Provider
(ISP)
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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.
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Newsgroups,
Personal Web
Pages, and
Web Browsing
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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What is
Spyware?
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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
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•
•
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Recording your keystrokes
Tracking the websites you visit
Stealing your online passwords
Burying you with pop-up advertisements
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Results of Spyware?
Loss of privacy
More advertising
Home page hijacking
Reduced performance
Security risks
System instability
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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
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Protecting Yourself
From
Spam and Phishing
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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.
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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.
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Email Protection Tips
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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
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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
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Shopping
Safely
Online
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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
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Online
Auction
Fraud
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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
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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
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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”
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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
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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
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General Safety
Tips
When
Computing at
Home
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Home Computing Safety Tips
Overview
Secure your computer
Use a website rating service
Safeguard private information
Turn on parental controls
Consider biometric security
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General Safety
Tips
When
Computing
Wireless
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Wireless Safety Tips Overview
Get wireless protection
Have complete, updated security suites
Obtain a virtual private network
Use computer locks
Obtain biometric security
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Risks
When
You’re
Remote
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Dangers of Wireless
No wires, no security
As easy as eavesdropping
Beware of rogue hotspots
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Safeguards and Solutions
Encryption is the key.
Avoid connecting to any Wi-Fi network unless
you either know it’s legitimate and secure or you
can set up a secure VPN connection.
Make sure your personal firewall on your laptop
is turned on and updated.
Avoid using websites that require password
access when using a wireless hotspot.
Look around when you are online.
Keep your laptop with you at all times.
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Resources
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Resources
National Crime Prevention Council
www.ncpc.org
NCPC has a comprehensive Identity Theft campaign.
Learn how you can keep your identity to yourself. Order a
copy of Preventing Identity Theft: A Guide for Consumers
or download it in PDF format.
Other resources include
Reproducible brochures—Identity Theft (PDF) and
Protecting Your Privacy (PDF)
Article—Evolving With Technology
Newspaper Mats—ID Theft (PDF) and Seniors and
Fraud
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Resources
National Crime Prevention Council (continued)
Public service campaigns that focus on cyber-security
and safety
Partners including the Forum to Advance the Mobile
Experience (FAME) and the Chief Marketing Officer
Council (CMO Council)
Download tip sheets and the publication Mind What You
Do Online, report Internet crimes, and visit the security
store
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www.bytecrime.org
National Crime Prevention Council
Resources
Identity Theft
Identity Theft Resource Center
www.identitytheft.org
Justice Department Identity Theft
www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
www.ncjrs.org/spotlight/identity_theft/summary.html
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Resources
Internet Safety and Ethics
CyberAngels
www.cyberangels.org
GetNetWise
www.getnetwise.org
Internet Keep Safe Coalition
www.ikeepsafe.org
Wired Safety
www.wiredpatrol.org/
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Resources
Telecommunications Fraud
Federal Trade Commission
www.ftc.gov
Federal Communications Commission
www.fcc.gov
National Fraud Information Center
www.fraud.org
National Consumers League
www.nclnet.org
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Resources
Safe Home Computing
About.com
www.netsecurity.about.com
National Cyber Security Alliance
www.staysafeonline.info
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The National Crime Prevention
Council
2345 Crystal Drive
Fifth Floor
Arlington, VA 22202
202-466-6272
FAX 202-296-1356
www.ncpc.org
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Presenter Contact Information
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