Make Sure to Use Secure Passwords to Prevent Identity Theft

David Weil, Director of Web, Systems and Departmental Services in Information Technology Services at Ithaca College wrote an article in the Ithacan College newspaper about how people open themselves up to Identity Theft by using common passwords.   He traces a connection between an Internet Cafe in Nigeria, to an internet Cafe in Israel (to hide their tracks) to Ithaca College Webmail.  Just spending a few minutes using usernames they obtained from Facebook or myspace, they access students webmail by using a simple password (like Ithaca, or IthacaCollege).  Once in, the hackers can then change everything and send out thousands of illicit messages under the students’ accounts.  They can also look through the rest of the mail and find order confirmations and such to obtain account information to access later.

The moral?  Do not use simple passwords.  While they may be easy to remember, they are also easy to hack. 

http://theithacan.org/am/publish/opinioncommentary/200802_ More_secure_passwords_prevent_identity_theft.shtml

Medical Identity Theft is Often an “Inside Job”

Beh Wilson, American Medical News correspondent, says in an article posted on amednews.com, that “when physicians look to protect their patients from medical identity theft, they may want to start by examining their office staff.”  That is scary to think that when you are visiting your doctor or the hospital and providing your information, that one of the staff may be selling this information!   Read the entire article here:  http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/03/03/prsc0303.htm

Illegal Card Readers- Caution!

Stephanie Gaskell of the New Your Post states that personal information from credit cards that you wave in front of a sensor can be stolen even as the plastic remains in your wallet.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12042006/news/regionalnews-/i_d__crime_wave_regionalnews_stephanie_gaskell.htm

Even the Government is Lacking in Identity Theft Protection Efforts

Investigators found that nearly two years after an embarrassing flap in which veterans’ personal information was put at risk of identity theft, federal agencies are still not doing all they can to prevent further lapses.

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/washington/index.ssf?/base/politics-14/12036986449190.xml&storylist=washington

Identity Theft Complaints Again Top the FTC List of Consumer Complaints

The Federal Trade Commission issued its annual report, “Consumer Fraud and Identity Theft Complaint Data” on fraud complaints consumers have filed with the agency. For the seventh year in a row, identity theft tops the list.   

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/02/topcomplaints.shtm