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Warning: Hackers Using Spyware Steal Identity And Intimate Photos From Computer

Written by oneself on 7:25 PM

As we journey more into the world of technology, we cringe at the thought that someone somewhere is on a very expensive shopping spree with credit cards and identification under your name. Warning: 27.3 million Americans identities have been stolen!

A nightmare indeed, but federal authorities recently unraveled a scheme by a man using file sharing software to get into other user's computer system. Gregory Thomas Kopiloff of Seattle, allegedly used P2P Software to steal the personally identifiable information of at least 83 people. Kopiloff stole $73,000 worth of merchandise using user's personal data.

You probably have used or know someone that has used software like BearShare.com, Limewire.com, Kazaa.com, Soulseek.com, Fastrack.com. These type of software actually shares a particular folder on the hard drive of your computer with potentially thousands of users utilizing the software and that are part of this so-called "file-sharing network." The users of this file sharing are in danger of having the computer hacker having access to sensitive data such as social security numbers, tax information, credit information and other personal information. With this type of software, a hacker can even have access to individuals personal digital pictures, music and all types of documents. According to the National Research Council, "Computers at Risk," 1991, "The modern thief can steal more with a computer than with a gun. Tomorrow's terrorist may be able to do more damage with a keyboard than with a bomb. Can we stop this?

Monster.com was also hit by hackers not too long ago. 1.3 million monster.com users personal information were exploited. Later on, those same crooks that broke into Monster.com vault of personal data went on to hit USAJOBS.com, the federal government's official job search site and stole over 150,000 user's information. Credit Card companies have also been hit.

It's time to secure your computer with your life. The luxury of the internet is a two edge sword. We can indulge ourselves in all the information that we want, explore the world with a few clicks of a button, communicate instantly and we can shop through all the multitudes of stores and hundreds and thousands of products. We are the ruler of our own internet kingdom!

But can we manage our internet castle, or does the evils of the outside world can control and destroy us. It's a digital world, my friend. Billions of bits of information cross our little technological planet. From thieves, to child molesters and to your boss - we are more vulnerable now than 20 years ago. A sacrifice for all the goodies we can get from our "lovely" internet? Definitely.

Here's a few simple things to do to avoid a fatal intrusion into your life:

1. Don't have personal info stored in your computer. (easier said than done, most people have their whole lives inside that little box). But limiting such things, as social security numbers, tax info and identification numbers from your files can help tremendously.

2. Don't file share. (Good luck on that one.) And don't give out any personal information from an unsolicited email! Sadly, many people do this.

3. Always keep in mind that whatever you have in your computer, anyone can possibly get. For example, those special valentine pictures of your intimate other. It happens more than you think. A couple from Virginia had intimate pictures on their personal computer and were shocked to see those same pictures on the web on a adult website. Who would've' known, huh?

4. Powerful Anti-hacking software. For example, The Nuker at www.stop-hackers.com is a super software that can stop hackers to get into your system. Best of all, it's free to try.

5. Keep laptops out of prying eyes. Oh, yea -don't lend out your computer to anyone! Let's be stingy with this, you guys. Nothing personal.

Anti-hacking/Anti-spy ware is mandatory. But don't rely on those fake software, you got to use a legitimate software. Remember 9 out of 10 pc's are infected with spy ware or ad ware. Be wise. Your computer and your life depends on it!

To stop any type of hacking or for more information please review www.stop-hackers.com. With new hacking software and creepy crawlers all over the internet,you need a good anti-spyware product.

To fight back against identity theft, go to ftc.gov. Learn more. Be wise. If you want to know what real hackers are doing today then check out www.attrition.org. This is one of the places on the Internet where hackers "gloat" about their attacks on innocent individuals.

About the Author:
Jesse Castaneda, Jr is the author of the novel Cringe (fiction) and also a non-fiction writer and a business owner. For more information regarding this article, take a look at http://www.stop-hackers.com

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Identity Theft Through Computers and the Internet

Written by oneself on 1:00 PM


by: Deborah Carraro

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes. My days as an Information Security technician occurred at a time when identity theft was still in its infancy. The victims of identity theft are actually a surprisingly young group, demographically speaking. The highest rate of identity theft is occurring in individuals aged from their mid twenties to their mid thirties. And identity theft through computers and the internet accounts for a portion of these incidents annually. About one in every eight Americans experience Identity theft on computers and the internet each year. Identity theft on computers and the internet can occur through fraudulent requests for personal information and through online buying services that are not secure sites and by having your personal computer compromised by someone you know and trust. More recently, identity theft has been connected to the use of social networking sites like Facebook. Read on to learn how to protect yourself from this fast rising crime.

There are safeguards you can implement to reduce the chance of identity theft through computers and the internet. A majority of identity theft that is going on is by means of offline activities, like stealing wallets, checkbooks, credit cards, mail and other personal items that contain critical identification information. Identity theft that occurs through computers and the internet tends to happen very often when your own personal computer is breached.

You can reduce your chances of this happening to you by using passwords to log into your computer, even if you’re the only one using it, by changing your passwords on a regular basis and by not leaving your laptop open when unattended. These days, almost everyone has personal information stored in their computers. If you have selected "remember password" on a web site and someone goes to history and visits your frequently or recently visited sites that are linked to credit cards, other banking information and or electronic tax records, then you could be an easy mark for identity theft on your computer and the internet.

Although online identity theft is an ongoing threat to personal security, there are many companies developing and marketing software to counteract the threat called, anti-phishing software. Phishing is when someone uses the internet and sends an e-mail (spam) to a user making false claims to be a legitimate and recognized business entity in an attempt to scam the user into giving certain private information that can be used for identity theft through computers and the internet. Anti-phishing software may help, but is not a guarantee for protection, so make it your practice to keep your personal information secure to reduce your chances for identity theft on computers and the internet.

Another technique that malicious hackers and criminals use for identity theft on computers and the internet is spyware that gets into your computer and grabs lots of stored information including financial accounts, passwords and other critical information that will allow this individual access to your money and identity. So along with all the wonderful benefits that computers and the internet offer us in our daily lives, there is always, lurking out there in cyberspace, the possibility of identity theft on computers and the internet.

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Deborah Carraro is an internet marketing consultant who escaped the Corporate Banking world to launch several successful online businesses including the File Recovery Pros. Visit

http://www.filerecoverypros.com and http://www.smallbusinesswebpromotions.com

source:searchwarp.com

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