Tham khảo tài liệu 'how to do everything with windows xp home networking- p8', công nghệ thông tin, quản trị mạng phục vụ nhu cầu học tập, nghiên cứu và làm việc hiệu quả | CHAPTER 12 Prevent Identity Theft and Protect Yourself 329 Protect Your Sensitive Data Online and on Your PC Identity thieves are using increasingly more sophisticated tools to steal information from your PC that will enable them to commit identity fraud types of crimes. From keystroke logging software to so-called social engineering attacks ID thieves increasingly are turning to technology to steal the data they need to rip you off. Keep Private Information about Yourself to Yourself Almost everywhere you go on the web you re asked to tell the world about yourself. Newspaper web sites commonly ask their online readers to register with the site. You might participate in message board discussions but as part of the signup process the board may have asked for your birth date what you do for a living your annual income your favorite hobbies or any of a dozen other bits of information an identity thief could use against you. Instant messaging programs which we covered in Chapter 10 also provide a venue for you to spill the beans to ID criminals in their personal profiles sections. When asked for sensitive data your mother s maiden name your SSN your birthday where you live or work your phone number or any other personally identifiable information don t be a pushover. You can and should vigorously question anyone who asks you for this kind of very sensitive information. Even the social security administration advises people who are asked for their social security 12 number to ask why it s needed what it ll be used for what happens if you refuse to turn it over and what law requires that company to ask you for it. It s not easy for some people to say no to these kinds of requests. In fact when asked by the folks who run cash registers in stores people give up details like their address so often that the clerks who ask for this kind of information are usually surprised when you just say no. Frankly when this happens I find the puzzled look on a cashier s face hilarious. .
