Internet Fraud on the Increase—Source your Home PC
So far this year we have learned that millions of consumer personal data records have been compromised by numerous large creditors and processing companies. This information has been made available as a result of innovative legislation from several states. So far, however, it hasn’t dampened the increasing numbers of Americans who are victims of identity theft.
Bottom line, online criminal activity is increasing exponentially.
Why? According to a new report from Symantec Corp., there are huge software security flaws and home computers are being used without their owner’s knowledge. Sixty percent of the flaws are found in Web-based applications. The result allows hackers and computer “bots” to access vulnerable computers and their sensitive data. Whether it’s your home PC or the one at your office, your information is most likely a few clicks away from any internet thief interested in stealing it.
Arthur Wong, vice president for response and managed security services at Symantec, recently stated, “It’s more dangerous [today] than it ever has been.”
Even those who have installed security, firewalls and such are finding they are still prey to internet threats.
Is your computer safe? Has your identity been compromised? Vigilantly watching over your credit history and safeguarding your personal data is the only way to protect yourself until more thorough security measures at data sources and legislation for accountability are established. For every security measure taken, someone, somewhere is finding a way around it. Your best protection is to maintain as much control over your information as possible and to watch your credit history carefully. While many worry that checking credit too often can negatively impact their score, I believe it is better to risk a lower score than discover too late that my identity has been stolen.
For detailed article, see Washington Post’s Brian Krebs Hacked Home PCs Fueling Rapid Growth in Online Fraud.