Alpine Communications Blog
Prevent Identity Theft
A rise in identity theft cases in the past few years has drawn attention to the topic of prevention. As more people subscribe to high-speed Internet , criminals are finding more ways to get your information. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Here are some tips for tightening security on your PC and preventing thieves from stealing your identity:
-
Install an antivirus and anti spyware program, turn on automatic updates, and set up a regular scanning schedule. With Alpine Communications' SecureIT Live , it updates automatically. So, without any work, you can protect yourself.
-
Turn on Automatic Updates. Go to Settings, Control Panel, Automatic Updates. Select the first option to have each update download and install automatically. If you want more control over the process, use either option two or three.
-
Turn off the Windows Firewall. Go to Settings, Control Panel, Windows Firewall and click off under the General tab. Then, install a software firewall such as Alpine Communications' SecureIT Live . For less than $5/month, SecureIT Live can safeguard your computer from viruses, spyware and more. Since SecureIT Live automatically updates you can be assured you are safe from even the newest security threats and attacks.
-
Be wary of any files sent to you by strangers. If you open one of these files, you could be downloading a virus or spyware onto your computer that could collect your personal information.
-
Do not respond using any links or phone numbers in e-mails you get from strangers, even if they claim to be a well-known company. This e-mail could be part of a "phishing" attempt, in which thieves hope to trick you into divulging personal information. Instead, find the e-mail address or phone number for the company from a past bill or other outside source and contact them directly to verify the e-mail.
-
Before you enter any personal information on an Internet site, look for indicators that the Web site is secure. Though this is not a guarantee, one good indicator that a Web site is secure is if the site's URL begins with "https" as the "s" signifies that the Web site is "secure."
