Aug12
College Students Beware: Learn about Identity Theft before Heading Back to School
Technology has proven itself to be an evil necessity. Although it has afforded us many ways to communicate and to give and receive information almost instantaneously, it has also opened the door for thieves that nearly effortlessly get a hold of our personal information and use it to steal our money and our identity.
One area that appears to be a hotbed for identity theft is on college campuses.
The following list details the steps you can take to protect yourself and your personal information while you are away at college:
- Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes college students make is simply forgetting to lock the door to their dorm room or campus apartment. A good lock is the first step in preventing the theft of your personal belonging, as well as your computer and related equipment, which likely have stored, personal and financial information.
- Use password protection on both your desktop and laptop and change the password often. A simple password for your computer can prevent a great deal of damage to your personal and financial information; and luckily, every computer is equipped with this feature.
- Be very careful about revealing any personal or financial information on social networking sites or through email. Never, ever respond to an email claiming to be your bank or credit card company, and think twice before providing information, such as your address and birthdate, on social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.
- Consider installing a tracking device on your laptop. Tracking devices, which use GPS technology, are surprisingly affordable.
- Don’t underestimate the power of a good anti-virus and firewall program. This is one area that it pays to shop around and do your homework. Purchase the best and always remember to update it frequently.
- Beware of public places with Wi-Fi access. Using Wi-Fi services at your campus café is convenient and practical, but it may also not offer you a secure connection. Therefore, it is wise to never engage in personal or financial business (i.e., checking your bank account balance, paying bills, etc.) while connected to a Wi-Fi system.
