‘Unlucky 13’ risks to your online safety and what you can do about it

Internet shopping is booming – every 20th pound is spent online. But while web shopping can mean great bargains, it can also lead to fraud and identity theft. A little time spent protecting yourself now can save a huge amount of upset and worry later on, as this guide from CreditExpert, the online credit monitoring and identity protection service from Experian, shows.

Account takeovers, where someone impersonates an innocent victim to take control of one or more of their accounts rose by 35 per cent in 2007 alone. Internet card fraud accounts for 80 per cent of all losses where the card is not physically present and the government is constantly reminding us to protect our identities and finances.

Simple, common sense precautions can keep you safe when you’re in cyberspace, allowing you to buy what you want and to manage your online bank and credit card accounts with confidence.

Making the internet safer

Here are some common risks internet-users face – and what to do about them.

1. Viruses and worms can wreck your data and shut down your machine, while Spyware and Trojan software can allow criminals to see what you are looking at or even what you are writing.

Some of these programs even store up your personal details and passwords for months before sending them back to the fraudster. Buy recognised anti-viral and anti-spyware programs and set them to auto-update regularly. Free software is also available but carries no warranty. Set your browser preferences only to accept cookies from sites you recognise and actively wish to install. You can often tell Spyware or Trojans from the name, which might contain words such as access, ad, tracker, backdoor, burrow or exe.

2. Other users access your PC while you’re connected to the Internet

Use a personal firewall. If your operating system already includes a firewall, make sure it is switched on. And if you use a computer at work to go web shopping, make sure others can’t access your PC.

3. Failing to update your operating system

Regularly install any operating system patches and fixes to keep your system security in place – you should be able to instruct your computer to check regularly. Cyber crooks target those who don’t bother.

4. Eavesdroppers tune in to insecure wireless networks

WiFi or Bluetooth are not entirely secure. Only use them to exchange information in places, and with devices, you trust. Many wireless networks are not encrypted, so anyone with a little knowledge could eavesdrop. Keep your device in non-discoverable mode when you are not using WiFi or Bluetooth and use a personal identification number (PIN) to keep the device secure. Do not connect to non-secure access points in public places. If you must, do not send any sensitive information, such as your login details. Blackberry owners – this applies to you, too.

5. Mobile phones and VoIP vulnerabilities

We all love our mobiles and mobile web browsing is becoming ever-more popular – but the criminals have noticed and are designing viruses and worms purely for the web on the move. The dangers of infection are just as great as for a PC, so ensure that you download the latest protective software. If you own an Apple iPhone, make sure you are protected when connecting to the Net by mobile or WiFi. Take care when using VoIP – the prospect of free calls might be great but they can be intercepted, which is called Vishing, so never talk about anything confidential to your VoIP pals.

6. Phishing

Do not reply to phishing e-mails, which are designed to look as though they come from your bank, an online service provider, or increasingly, a social or political site. They may ask you to confirm details such as account number and password or, in more sophisticated versions, just ask you to register – to gain your trust and find out a password – and later on ask for more details. They are always fakes: no reputable organisation will ever ask you to send this type of information. And never call the numbers on a phishing e-mail or visit the supposed website – those details will be false, too.

7. E-mails from unknown people

If you receive mail from people or organisations you do not know, delete them and, if possible, inform your e-mail supplier that they are spam. Do not open any attachments – these are likely to carry viruses. Your anti-viral software should alert you or automatically delete any virus-carrying messages. Never reply because that alerts spammers that the e-mail address is valid and you will be bombarded with more messages from more senders.

8. Revealing too much information on social networking sites

The more information about yourself you make public on sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Friends Reunited or BeBo, the easier it is for a fraudster to steal your identity, so don’t give your full name, date of birth, contact numbers or pet names. Play it safe – only people you know really well need to know details like that. If the site you use has privacy settings, use them. And don’t allow just anyone to join your group. You wouldn’t let strangers into your house, so get references for anyone inviting themselves into your online home.

9. Password forgetfulness

The average person now has 15 different passwords and codes to access online accounts and more than ten per cent use an astonishing 50 or more online accounts. It’s not surprising that many of us use the same password for several accounts or that a quarter of us keep a password list in our purse or wallet. But if a criminal gets hold of the list, your whole financial life could be at risk. Use as many different passwords as possible and try word association techniques to remember them. And never, ever give a password to anyone else, even your boyfriend, girlfriend or best friend. That’s just asking for trouble.

10. Deleting is not enough

Information does not disappear when you place it in your computer’s waste basket or recycle bin. Buy and use a clean-up utility to overwrite the disk space occupied by discarded information. Delete sensitive and personal information if you need to send your PC to a supplier for a health check or upgrade. And when it comes to replacing your computer, the only completely safe way of preventing others from recovering the data from your hard disk is physical destruction. Contact your local council recycling centre for safe disposal.

11. Portable storage devices

Portable storage devices, such as USB key rings, are not secure, so keep them as safe as you would your passport or credit cards.

12. You don't back up important documents

Most of us are dependant on our PCs now, so it makes sense to copy important documents on to a CD and keep it somewhere secure. But don’t record your passwords!

13. Not taking advantage of identity fraud protection services

Services such as CreditExpert.co.uk can help protect you from identity fraud. As well as allowing you to see what lenders see – such as your borrowings, any court judgments and credit applications – you will be alerted by SMS or e-mail whenever there is a change to your credit report that could indicate fraudulent activity.

Remember to regularly monitor your credit report to ensure you recognise the activity on your credit report and stay one step ahead of the fraudsters.

Click here for a 30-day free trial of CreditExpert.  Then click on the Credit Expert link at the top of the page.