BullGuard UK Survey Reveals: Millions Store Confidential and Sensitive Information Online / Online Identity Theft can affect all areas of life, not just online.

The risk of online identity theft is still not being recognized

September 14, 2011 - Those who use the Internet rarely worry about possible identity theft. Careless handling and publication of personal data can easily lead to online users becoming victims of fraud or reputational damage. Just a few details such as name, date of birth and address are sufficient to enable fraudsters to misuse identity in the form of criminal doppelgangers. Since passwords are very often related to personal data, this is particularly dangerous for bank access data and can quickly have financial consequences for the user. A survey of 2011 British people carried out by BullGuard in the spring of 2.000 points to precisely this problem - especially in social networks.

The changed communication behavior does not only affect young online users, older people also voluntarily publish a lot of personal data on social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, although this is not necessary for registration. In addition to the data already mentioned, these are often names of pets, names of your own children, photos of luxury goods such as cars or televisions or your own address.

"While sharing this type of information may seem harmless at first, it should be kept in mind that this information is often used as a security question in online banking or in confirming one's identity over the phone", says Claus Villumsen, Internet security expert at BullGuard. Malicious attackers can use this collected data to create a very extensive profile of the person and exploit this for their own purposes. Posting longer absences should also be avoided, according to Villumsen. This could be crucial information for potential intruders According to the study, 14 percent of those questioned also save their bank access data in their browsers. This gives burglars who steal their PCs or laptops the opportunity to empty bank accounts and cause further inconvenience for those affected.

Federal Minister Friedrich warns of dangers
At the end of May 2011, the Federal Ministry of the Interior presented the 2010 police crime statistics. An increase in internet crimes of 8,1 percent was ascertained here. Compared to 2009, this is the highest value recorded so far with 223.642 registered cases. At the presentation of the crime statistics, Federal Minister of the Interior Hans-Peter Friedrich stated that "the almost unrestrained possibilities opened up by the Internet also create more incentives and opportunities for their improper use." But "not only security authorities and the legislature are required. Especially providers and users of the Internet are called to use this medium safely and carefully. The Internet must not become a legal free space!", Continues Friedrich.¹

Risk potential through building a digital personality
The attraction of social networks apparently comes from the possibility of starting conversations by sharing information and thereby building a "digital personality". However, this is exactly what malicious attackers on the Internet are aware of, and it is therefore easy for them to copy individual profiles. While excessive caution may take the fun out of it, a series of simple protective measures can ensure that you do not become a target of an attack on the web.

8 points for safer surfing
BullGuard recommends the following safety precautions so that users can safely enjoy their social media fun:

1. Don't accept friend requests from strangers: Never accept friend requests from people you do not know or who are not easily identified through association with other friends.

2. Deal with privacy settings: Before using websites like Facebook, invest some time in learning the respective security settings of the respective platform to ensure that posts and images are not accessible to everyone. It is often very easy to limit the visibility of information to direct friends or friends of friends. Even if both sound safe, there is no guarantee who friends will allow to read the posts. Therefore, the first option, to only share information with direct friends, is the safest.

3. No personal data in public profiles: Delete all personal details from your profiles that are not really necessary there, such as names of pets, addresses, maiden names or even date of birth. This is especially important when you use services to confirm your identity. This often takes the form of security questions in case you forgot your password to login to a website.

4. Use secure passwords: Make sure that any passwords for important websites or services are unrelated to your hobbies or interests. A possible attacker could try to use common words to crack your password.

5. Log off after each session: Make sure to log out after each session and, where possible, always log in using a secure access if you are not using your own computer. Otherwise, with public computers, the next user could take advantage of your carelessness and access your account to collect information about you when it suits them.

6. Be careful when communicating with strangers: Be careful when you start communicating with strangers. This is especially true when they start asking you for personal and sensitive information. On social networks, it is usually pretty easy to block these users so as not to be harassed by them further.

7. Do not save sensitive data: Avoid storing bank account numbers, credit card information, and passwords in email accounts or documents on a computer. While this could be a reminder, it could also be devastating if it got into the wrong hands.

8. Use a pseudonym: Wherever possible on the Internet, use a pseudonym to identify yourself. Many sites do not require a real name when registering. This prevents third parties from searching for information about you.

¹Source: BDI press release of May 20, 2011 "Lowest number of criminal offenses and highest clear-up rate since the introduction of all-German crime statistics", http://www.bmi.bund.de

About BullGuard
BullGuard is a leading security software provider specializing in computer and mobile security solutions for consumers and small businesses. The focus is on mature technology, user-friendliness and customer service. BullGuard offers cost-effective, integrated security solutions that guarantee the user first-class protection against malware for both his computer and his mobile device. BullGuard has offices in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Romania, Australia, the USA, France, Sweden, Denmark and Germany.

(mh)

Source: Press Release