This document discusses protecting personal privacy and securing online information. It outlines how personal information can be disclosed on many websites and used for identity theft or other crimes. Simple steps are recommended to help protect privacy such as using strong passwords, updating security programs, and installing antivirus software. The document also notes that while identity theft is punishable by law, apprehending violators can be difficult.

1. PROTECTING PERSONAL PRIVACY
Securing Your Online Information
http://www.life123.com/career-money/credit-
debt/identity-theft/common-identity-theft-
scams.shtml

2. How safe is your
information on the web?
• As technology
advances, information
becomes easier and
faster to send between
locations. This
convenience is
nice, but security
becomes paramount
in guaranteeing that
private information is
not accessed by
unauthorized viewers.
https://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=4
13846952130

3. Personal information can be disclosed
on all kinds of websites
• Social Media Sites:
Facebook, Twitter, Myspa
ce, etc.
• Purchasing Websites:
Amazon, E-Bay, etc.
• Any other website that
requires creating an
account
• Other parties may not
even have to put in any
effort to gather
information. Depending
on settings, the user may
have all their information
already displayed.
*This is a fake profile

4. What can they do with
your information?
• Use it to access
other personal
accounts
• Identity
theft, reputation
damage
• Sell your
information to
other parties
• Blackmail, bribery http://www.wikinvest.com/concept/Identity_Theft

5. Some information should never be given out unless
you know the source is completely trustworthy
• Social Security Number
• Credit Card Numbers
• Account passwords
• Addresses and Phone
Numbers
http://issbs.com/how-to-find-the-best-option-in-
credit-cards-2/

6. Methods used to access
personal information
• Phishing
• Spyware/
Malware
• Hacking
• Simple searches
http://ant.sillydog.org/blog/2004/000293.php

7. You may not even know your information is
compromised until its too late
• Universities have been
targets for ID thieves
• One attack went
unnoticed for over a
year
• No U.S. law was
implemented requiring
the university to notify
individuals that their
information had been
stolen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_University

8. Apprehending violators is
difficult
• Anonymity adds to
difficulty
• Victims must spend time
and $$ to attempt to
correct the situation
• Law
enforcement, governm
ent and credit industries
add complications to
resolving the situation in
a timely manner
http://appraisalnewsonline.typepad.com/appraisal_n
ews_for_real_e/identity_theft/

9. However, there are punishments for
those caught committing these crimes
• State laws vary, but
federal laws have
begun to crack down
on identity theft related
crimes
• Identity Theft Penalty
Act raises max
sentence from 3 to 5
years in prison with
additional years
depending on the
specific crime http://www.cybercrimesunit.com/?p=374

10. Simple Steps to Protect
Your Online Information
• Never give out your
information to people you
do not know or trust
• Be sure to have all your
essential programs
updated to their current
release
• Use secure passwords for
accounts
• Have antivirus and
spyware/malware
programs installed and
enabled
• Keep other electronic http://simpleit1.tech.officelive.com/ProtectionSoftware.aspx
devices with links to
personal accounts secure

11. Useful Computer
Programs
• CCleaner: http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
• MalwareBytes: http://www.malwarebytes.org/
• NoScript(If using Mozilla Firefox browser):
http://noscript.net/
• Antivirus Programs and more:
o AVG: http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage
o Nod32: http://www.eset.com/us/
o Avast!: http://www.avast.com/en-us/index
o Aviria: http://www.avira.com/en/index
o Comodo: http://www.comodo.com/
o Norton: http://www.symantec.com/index.jsp