With the increased use of the Internet and social media, identity theft has become an extremely common problem in the digital age. Considered a crime, it affects millions of people around the world. Identity theft occurs when the criminal assumes the identity of another person who becomes his victim, in order to gain access to personal and financial information without any kind of authorization.
How does identity theft happen?
Identity theft can happen in many ways, including phishing, malware, social engineering attacks, through online publications, among other methods. Below is the difference between these 4 main types:
Phishing is a common method of online identity theft where criminals create fake websites or send fraudulent emails that appear to be from legitimate institutions such as banks, e-commerce companies and social media sites. These websites or emails may request personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers and bank account information, and the user may provide this information without realizing that he or she is being tricked.
Online publications is another method that attackers seek personal information posted by users on the Internet. They often share personal information such as name, address, date of birth, phone number and other information on social networks, forums and other websites on the internet. Users should be careful when disclosing personal information on the Internet, especially on social networking sites and other sites that may be accessed by many people.
Malware is another method used by criminals to steal personal information. They can infect the user's computer with a virus or malicious program that can capture information entered by the user, including passwords and other personal information..
Social engineering attacks are another method used by criminals to obtain personal information. They may impersonate someone else in a text message, email or phone call, and try to trick the user into providing personal information. Once criminals obtain this information, they can use it to carry out a variety of fraudulent activities, including opening new credit accounts, making purchases in the user's name, transferring money to other accounts, and even committing crimes in the user's name. .
The result is devastating, as the victim can lose money, have their reputation tarnished and still face the consequences of it for a long time.
Some protective measures
Fortunately, there are ways that can be applied to prevent crime and thus stay safe in the digital world. Some of them are:
Keep your personal information confidential: Avoid sharing this type of data online, especially your CPF number, bank cards and passwords, addresses, on websites and with unknown people. All private information needs to be only in extremely reliable places.
Attention to suspicious emails and messages: It is very important to be aware of this type of content in order not to become a victim of criminals. Do not click or open anything from untrue senders.
Security solutions: It is necessary that the computer and the device have antivirus and firewall and both are updated regularly for more security.
Use of strong passwords and two-factor authentication: For each account you have in the online environment, you need to have a password that is difficult for intruders to discover. When creating it, do not use common words or characters or use the same password for different accounts. Two-factor authentication, on the other hand, needs to be enabled, as this security measure adds an extra layer of defense by requiring an additional code for the account to be able to be accessed, in addition to the password.
Frequently check the accounts you have: Keep an eye on accounts, cards and bank transactions, and immediately notify the financial institution if you notice any unauthorized activity, such as improper charges and unsolicited credit requests.
Never provide anything private over the phone: Unless you have initiated a call with a reputable company, otherwise information about the victim can be used in favor of criminals.
By following the aforementioned security measures, the chances of being a victim of identity theft reduce significantly. If you suspect that you are being a victim, the authorities and institutions must be alerted urgently so that solutions can be put into practice.
Ultimately, identity theft is a major adversity that has long-lasting financial and emotional consequences for victims. However, with the existing forms of prevention, the risk is minimized regarding a possible identity theft of the victim.
Extra
Kaspersky published this video a few years ago explaining more about preventing identity theft, press play to find out more!
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