You may have heard the slogan, “Don’t worry. We’ll make more†used to describe Doritos chips. But you probably didn’t know that this can be just as easily applied to identity theft as to food. Despite a rash of recent indictments, identity thieves are stepping up their efforts to garner personal information from unsuspecting computer users.
According to Information Week, a trusted publication in the technology world, there has been a whopping 600% increase in computer users with personal-information capturing malware on their machines in the period of January through June of 2009, compared to the same period in 2008.
Despite increased public awareness of identity theft and measures to use to prevent it, it seems the thieves are still doing pretty well at their game, and they are getting more creative at the same time. Instead of sticking with phishing emails and low-tech methods, like dumpster diving, they are increasingly using Trojans, viruses and worms to do their dirty work.
They distribute these files not so much by using email, as before, but by sending files to their “friends†on social networking sites; targeting third party payer sites, like PayPal; and creating Web pages that contain malware that consumers may stumble upon simply by using a search engine.
One of the big scams right now is a group of pop-up windows that appears in front of a legitimate looking webpage. These windows are a spoof of virus scan windows. The consumer is told that there are viruses on his or her machine and that antivirus protection is needed to get rid of them. Luckily, the site that launches these windows happens to sell such a product for $50. If a worried consumer pays the money, he or she is rewarded with an “antivirus program†that is actually spyware. So he or she is not only out the cash, but his or her “private information†is now a thing of the past.
Some blame the economic downturn for the increase in ID theft. Others blame the sheer demand for personal information – especially as it relates to finances – on the black market. In the end, it doesn’t really matter why your information was stolen when you are faced with a loan denial due to a black mark on your credit report.
That makes this an ideal time to stop worrying and get a credit protection plan. Just like malware, these programs are readily available. The difference is that they are designed to have a positive effect on your life – and potentially your finances. If something happens and your computer gets infected with malware, a plan can help to keep your credit safe.
You can be notified if someone tries to open a credit account without your permission or if your information comes up on the black market for sell or trade. Many identity protection plans are sponsored by the three major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. These companies are in the business of protecting consumers, since identity theft can hurt their credibility. Think of them as the anti-identity thieves.
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