Protect Yourself From Identity Theft on the Internet

By digital identity theft, we mean the deliberate use of your identity, your personal data, that is to say, your name, address, access, and online identifiers or your bank details for criminal purposes. You only need access to some of the data for a thief to take your online identity or hack your bank account. Sensitive data can fall into the wrong hands faster than you think. 

How Can Cybercriminals Access My Data?

There are different ways for thieves to access your sensitive data. The fault is not always attributable to the carelessness of certain Internet users. Hacker traps are sometimes so elaborate that even the most vigilant users can be fooled.  

Hacker attacks: It is easy for hackers to access online accounts protected by a password that is too easy to decrypt. The risk is also increased if you use the same password for all your services on the Web. For example, a hacker can easily hack your profile on a social network and subsequently access secure and sensitive data such as your online banking details. But even the most cautious Internet users are never immune to vulnerabilities caused by online services or companies in the area of ​​data security.

Phishing: One of the favorite maneuvers of hackers is to collect personal information by sending emails supposed to come from telephone operators or banks. This is a form of spamming, which usually leads victims to fake sites (online payment, for example) that look like the sites of big, well-known companies.  When users enter their usernames and passwords there, hackers have direct access and intercept them.

Trojan Horse: While downloading free software or other data, your computer may be infected with a Trojan horse. The downloaded software may collect your sensitive data and transmit it to a third party. The same goes for email attachments which can be spammed.    

 

Social engineering: social engineering is a maneuver with the objective of extracting information from people by manipulating them. For example, the hacker can pretend to be a relative or a friend by using a fake profile to obtain information such as passwords, usernames or addresses. This type of maneuver often takes place on social networks, where the usurpers pretend to be someone else (distant cousin, person lost to follow-up…).

The Consequences of the Misuse of Data

The main purpose of online identity theft is often to defraud internet users. Nothing is impossible for a cybercriminal when he manages to hack your access to an online store or even your bank details. Whether it's placing a colossal order on your behalf, making expensive PayPal purchases, or emptying your bank account: accessing these accounts is like stealing your wallet including your credit and ID card.

Spam Under Your Identity

Not all cybercriminals care about your bank details. Sometimes all they need is access to mailboxes or communication channels such as Skype or Facebook to establish botnets, or “zombie networks”. The goal is to establish a powerful remote attack network by taking control of thousands of computers and sending spam, computer viruses, or mass emails. It is often too late when the user of the hacked computer or infected email address notices the damage. 

Reputation Damage and Cyberstalking

Cyberstalking is another cause of identity theft online. If a third party steals a person's identity on social media, for example, their reputation can be seriously damaged. Slanderous comments can be made on behalf of the person whose identity has been spoofed, as well as the publication of false rumors or even compromising comments. Reputation damage can also have serious consequences for the victim's professional life. Cyber-harassment is punishable by French law and punishable by three years' imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros. However, the legal process takes a long time to get started, especially given the difficulty of providing evidence.

Create an Online Store on Your Behalf

One technique that is spreading among hackers is to steal your data and then set up an online store in your name. Subsequently, the cybercriminal can use this online store to fraudulently sell counterfeit items, for example, and generate profits. If your identity has been stolen to create an online store whose activity is illegal, you risk being sued because the site is in your name. Most hackers operate from abroad and hardly leave any traces of their criminal activity. This is why it is particularly difficult to prove one's innocence in court and most of these cases of Internet identity theft go unresolved. 

Protect Yourself From Identity Theft on the Internet

Each internet user can take preventive measures to protect and manage their personal data:   

Choose More Secure Passwords

Choosing a strong password is essential to protect your data and prevent identity theft on the Internet. A strong password should be at least eight characters long and combine numbers, letters, and special characters. It is also important to make sure that you use a different password for each online service and that you change them regularly. To generate more secure passwords, different tools like password managers can be of great help.

Two-step Validation

Many online services such as Google or Dropbox allow you to perform a two-step verification. When trying to log in, the user receives an activation code by SMS. Access to the service is only authorized after entering this code. It is also now possible to disconnect suspicious devices connected to your account via the security tab. Several operators support applications and services that offer this two-step validation. This is a simple but effective method of preventing a third party from being able to log into your account, even if they have your username and password.    

Regular Update of Your Software and Devices

Many users mistakenly ignore the update setup windows that automatically appear on their screen. Browsers, operating systems, and anti-virus software need to be updated regularly. Some security vulnerabilities are constantly being discovered, and updates can fight against all benefiting from improvements before hackers can not exploit these vulnerabilities.

Risks Incurred on Public Networks

Whether in a cafe, at the airport, or in a library, there are many public wifi networks. But this freedom comes at a price because it is a real boon for hackers: indeed, these networks are not secure and your data traffic can be intercepted by a cybercriminal. To protect yourself from this risk, use an HTTPS protocol to encrypt your communications. Virtual private networks (VPNs) also allow you to encrypt your data. This type of connection should systematically be used to secure your sensitive transactions, in particular your online transfers, and to avoid unnecessary risk-taking on public networks.      

Avoid Data Collectors

Your vulnerability to hackers and cybercriminals depends on how you protect your data on the Internet. It is important to question the origin of the site or the service provider when subscribing to a newsletter or when you have to identify yourself on a portal. For this, a glance at the general conditions of use or sale as well as reading the legal notices allow you to detect the sites of the crooks. Enter your data carefully, and if your bank details or other sensitive data is requested via a social network or via an email, it should alert you. The same goes for applications. Most of the free apps make a profit by collecting your data. So, if an application demands sensitive data from you, sound the alarm.

Know-How to Spot Misuse Of Data In Time

Many people realize they've been the victim of online identity theft too long after the fact. Because invoices, payment summons, and debts appear when it is too late. This is why we must remain particularly vigilant when carrying out online transactions and act with precaution. A good thing to do would be to create Google Alerts in your name. So you will automatically receive an email from Google Alerts whenever your name appears anywhere on the web. You can also search Google Images regularly to make sure that no one is using your photos without your knowledge. On the other hand, if your data has been hacked on the site of a large company, you will no doubt be alerted because these cases are often made public and are in the media. Usually, the company targeted by a hacker attack must notify you if your data has been hacked.

What to Do in Case of Digital Identity Theft

All of the provisions listed above greatly complicate the task of cybercriminals who aim to gain access to your sensitive data. However, there is no such thing as zero risks. If you are a victim of online identity theft, you should react as quickly as possible, making sure to follow the following points:

Reset your passwords (even those of accounts that have not been spoofed);

Inform the operators of the hacking of your data;

Block access to these affected accounts;

Prevent and alert those around you;

Check that the computer is not infected with a computer virus or a Trojan horse;

Monitor his banking operations.