| You're traveling on business or vacation and you | | | | 1. Using a public computer at a hotel, library or |
| log into a public terminal to check email. You enter | | | | internet café that has spyware or a |
| your credentials and then answer a few emails, | | | | keylogger installed. Spyware and keyloggers are |
| delete some spam and fire a note off to a | | | | hardware or software that copy every single |
| colleague at work. You log out and think nothing | | | | thing you do on the PC |
| of it. Meanwhile your email account is hijacked and | | | | 2. Using your own laptop on an unsecured public |
| everyone in your address book receives an email | | | | wireless connection and your data is intercepted |
| from "you". | | | | via wireless packets in the air. |
| The email sent to your friends, family and | | | | 3. Logging into an "evil twin" which is a wireless |
| business associates states; "While traveling in | | | | network set up to look like a legitimate WiFi spot |
| Europe I was approached by what looked like a | | | | but is actually being broadcast via a router or |
| homeless man who bumped into me, then he | | | | computer set up by a criminal hacker who filters |
| apologized. A few minutes later I went to a | | | | all your data. The chance of someone hacking |
| café to have lunch. But when I went to | | | | your wireless laptop via a public WiFi is slim, but it |
| pay my wallet was gone. I was pickpocketed! | | | | does happen. Your best bet is to only log into |
| Now I'm stuck here without any money, can you | | | | websites that are secure. In the address bar its |
| send me money via a wire transfer? I promise to | | | | shows as [ Which means Secure. Otherwise |
| pay you back as soon as I get home!" | | | | download and install a virtual private networking |
| Of the 500 or so people in your address book | | | | software such as WiTopia. |
| your gullible Aunt Jules engages in an email | | | | If you use a public computer at a hotel, library or |
| conversation with who she thinks is "you" but is in | | | | internet café you are at the mercy of the |
| fact a scammer who jacked your account. Aunt | | | | administrator who set up the PC, or whoever |
| Jules falls for the ruse and wires $2000.00 to a | | | | was on it before you. Unless you make an |
| criminal somewhere in Europe. | | | | investment in a very cool USB drive called |
| Think it can't happen to you or anyone you | | | | IronKey. This is a combination of hardware, |
| know? I met someone this week that actually | | | | software and services built into one small secure |
| pulled the money out of his account and wired it. | | | | drive that allows for you to log into any PC |
| This was an educated person who knew better. | | | | anywhere that has an available USB drive. |
| But when the "cries for help" came, his maternal | | | | And protect yourself from identity theft. |
| instincts kicked in to help someone he loved and | | | | 1. Get a credit freeze. Go online now and search |
| did what good people do. | | | | "credit freeze" or "security freeze" and go to |
| How does this happen? It's easy, and it's | | | | consumersunion.org and follow the steps for the |
| happening more and more. I'm amazed that I'm | | | | state you live in. This is an absolutely necessary |
| not meeting a new victim of this crime every 10 | | | | tool to secure your credit. In most cases it |
| minutes. There are a few simple ways to hack an | | | | prevents new accounts from being opened in |
| email account. | | | | your name. This makes the SSN useless to the |
| | | | thief. |