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Written by: 10/8/2010 6:31 AM
We've all heard stories about someone having their identity stolen. About someone falling for a phishing scam. With all the personal information floating around in cyberspace, it's a wonder it doesn't happen to all of us. Why is that?
Consider this scenario: you come from a small town where everyone knows everyone and nobody locks their front door. You take a vacation to New York City. Would you use the same security tactics in the Big Apple that you would use in Mayberry? Of course not.
But when it comes to the data security, it seems like the real-world personal-safety common sense is evaporated. We’re too trusting. We want to believe that everyone is good at heart and people are not out to get us. But a healthy dose of paranoia can go a long way toward keeping your data out of the hands of the malicious.
Last year, DarkReading.com listed 5 vulnerabilities that make us susceptible to identity theft:
1. Following pre-established behavioral patterns: It is easier to fall into a rut than to be ever-vigilant.
2. Ubiquitous social networking: We are willingly putting sensitive data out there, unaware that our friends might not be the only ones accessing it.
3. Sophisticated online scams: Phishing has increased by an alarming 600% in the last year alone.
4. Data is already out there: Too many personal facts are obtained when we shop, visit a doctor, make financial transactions, and more.
5. Healthcare records: Our health records carry a staggering amount of personal data that can be exposed.
The last three in this list point directly to the Johns Hopkins identity theft scam earlier this month. $600,000 in credit stolen from patients who believed in the hospital’s staff and reputation to protect their personal information.
So what can we do? Be proactive. Protect your info. Stay educated.
Read more about the John’s Hopkins scam here:
http://darkreading.com/insiderthreat/security/government/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=227600057
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