It may be hard to wrap your mind around the nearly $50 billion experts say identity theft cost Americans in 2007. Until it happens to you . . . and you find yourself losing thousands of dollars and as much as 40 hours of your life trying to rectify matters.While identity theft still happens in traditional ways - unshredded financial documents pilfered from the trash or checks stolen from the mailbox - ID thieves know the big bucks come from online avenues. Criminals are increasingly using high-tech tools to steal identities online, including spyware, adware, malware, viruses and phishing.
If you rely on virus prevention software alone to protect your PC - and your finances - from identity theft, you're leaving yourself open to risk. It is possible, however, to protect your personal information - and bank accounts - from online predators. A good defense starts with the right kind of protection for your PC, says Igor Barash, Chief Product Officer of CyberDefender.
"You wouldn't get behind the wheel of your car without wearing a seatbelt," he says. "Never go online without the right combination of software protection and online monitoring."
Until now, you might have relied on one program to run antivirus checks for you, another to find and eliminate spyware, and an online service to alert you to possible fraudulent use of your social security number, credit card accounts, address or bank accounts. CyberDefender Early Detection Center 2.0 works in tandem with CyberDefender Identity Protection Services to streamline your defense against identity theft.
CyberDefender security software suite is an all-in-one weapon against serious Internet threats. The suite provides real-time security updates and the fastest possible response to online threats. A powerful first layer of defense, it is also compatible with other security suites.
You can get an idea of how the system works by downloading a free sample version that can scan your PC for security threats. Once you know what threats are present on your PC, upgrade to the full software and enroll in the CyberDefender Early Detection Center for just $29.99. Go to www.CyberDefender.com to begin protecting yourself against identity theft. Be sure your defensive software addresses the most common threats, and understand what those threats look like. Here’s a glossary: * Spyware – You visit a seemingly harmless Web site and download something as innocuous as a “free” game. Little do you know that the download also includes a spyware program that grabs personal and financial information from your PC. * Viruses – Delivered through unsolicited e-mails or by visiting certain Web sites. Some viruses can ferret out your personal information and send it back to the thieves who created the virus. * Malware – Malicious software, or “malware,” includes a range of programs specifically designed to create harm. The Internet and e-mail are the most common modes of transmission. * Adware – These programs, again often hidden in a seemingly harmless download, automatically dump ads into your browser window whenever you go online. Some even send your information back to the adware originator. * Phishing – You receive an alarming e-mail from your bank telling you your information has been compromised and they will freeze your accounts unless you click through to a link and “confirm” personal information like your social security number, account number or password. The e-mail is likely fraudulent and a ploy to get you to provide your information. Copyright 2008, ARAnet, Inc.
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