Protecting Yourself From Online Computer Virus Attack and Personal Identity Credit Card Data Hacking

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protect your computer from online internet hacking and loss of data

If you are accessing internet from your laptop or PC, it should be protected from hackers. There is great need for protection from virus infection, spyware and malware. Malicious code will be used by hackers to get access to the resources of your computer. There might be loss of personal or business data as well. Instead of paying huge price after the destruction of your identity and privacy, you should invest in robust anti-virus software. The software should be updated at regular intervals so that latest and sophisticated attacks can be handled very efficiently.

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You should buy the best selling antivirus software so that your needs will be fulfilled in a very efficient manner.  You can prevent identity theft by installing and updating the antivirus software at regular intervals. The firewall should be turned on. The antispyware tool should be installed and updated at regular intervals. The operating system should be updated periodically so that security holes will be fixed. You should be very much careful about the software or information that you download into your computer. If you are not using the computer, it should be turned off so that the system will not be susceptible for attacks by hackers. 

You should opt for software from a reputed company. You can install antivirus software on 3 or more devices so that it will be feasible financially. If you go for Norton Security Deluxe, there will be protection from virus, spyware, malware, phishing and various online threats. The software comes with 100% money back guarantee. 

There should not be any confusion in the selection of the anti-virus software. As a matter of fact, Norton, Avast and McAfee are proven and reputed brands. You can go for Norton Security Deluxe as it can be installed on Windows as well as Mac platforms without any issues. You can use the software to protect Android and iOS gadgets as well. 

You can install the best selling antivirus software on your gadget so that there will be warnings when you visit unsafe websites. 


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If you go for Avast antivirus software, there will be protection from virus and you can also take advantage of the home network security function. The scanning will be done very quickly if you install the latest version. The greatest advantage with the software is that it is capable of scanning executable (.exe) files as well. Executable files will be scanned 2 times faster than other files. Documents and web pages will be scanned 10 times faster so that there will not be performance issues while browsing. The software will be updated on daily basis. 

With a single subscription to McAfee software, you will be able to manage multiple devices. Multiple licenses are not required. The additional advantage with McAfee is that it comes with 24/7 support throughout your subscription period. Unlimited number of devices can be added under the same license. There will be complete protection to PC as files of potential threat will be deleted permanently. 


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Onlinevirusprotection is a blogging site that renders viewers up-to-date information on several antivirus software applications that exists in the market space. It gives viewers an optimal advantage to read several spyware protection reviews, primarily the top-three best selling antivirus software.
 


protect yourself from online identity theft credit card data breach and hacking

How Can I Protect Myself from Identity Theft Online?
Article Source: WEBROOT
 
Identity theft is any kind of deception, scam, or crime that results in the loss of personal data, including the loss of user names, passwords, banking information, credit card numbers, Social Security Numbers and health ID’s, that is then used without your permission to commit fraud and other crimes.

Up to 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year according to the FTC1 , and at least 534 million personal records have been compromised since 2005 through attacks on the data bases of businesses, government bodies, institutions, and organizations2. If those breaches were spread evenly across the U.S. population of 310 million, everyone would have had their identities stolen one and two-thirds times.
For some consumers, identity theft is an annoying inconvenience and they can quickly resolve their problems and restore their identity. For others recovering their identity can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars, take months to resolve, cause tremendous damage to their reputation, cause them to lose job opportunities, even influence the rejection of loan applications for school, homes or cars because would-be employers or loan companies see the damage on your credit scores. Some consumers have even been arrested for crimes committed by someone using their identities and have had to prove that they were not guilty.

How are identities stolen?

Consumers become victims of identity theft through many types of exploits. These can happen the old fashioned ways when crooks (including family members!) steal mail from your mailbox, rummage through your trash for bills and bank statements, steal wallets and purses, or make an extra copy of your credit card - perhaps when your waiter or clerk walks off to process your payment.
Online identity theft occurs when users fall for tactics like phishing and confidence scams; or download malware onto their computers or smartphones that steals their information; use wireless networks that are insecure; take out money from an ATM that has been rigged with a skimming device that collections your information; share their passwords with untrustworthy people, or by having their information stolen when data records are breached on companies, government, and educational sites.

7 key steps to preventing identity theft online:

  1. Protect your computer and smartphone with strong, up-to-date security software. If your computer or phone is infected with malicious software, other safeguards are of little help because you’ve given the criminals the key to all your online actions. Also be sure that any operating system updates are installed.
  2. Learn to spot spam and scams. Though some phishing scams are easy to identify, other phishing attempts in email, IM, on social networking sites, or websites can look very legitimate. The only way to never fall for phishing scam is to never click on a link that has been sent to you. For example, if the email says it’s from your bank and has all the right logos and knows your name, it may be from your bank - or it may not be. Instead of using the link provided, find the website yourself using a search engine. This way you will know you landed on the legitimate site and not some mocked up fake site.
  3. Use strong passwords. Weak passwords are an identity thief’s dream - especially if you use the same password everywhere. Once the thief knows your password, they can log you’re your financial accounts and wreak havoc. You need passwords that are long (over 10 characters), strong (use upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols), and that have nothing to do with your personal information (like name, age, birthdate, pet)
  4. Monitor your credit scores. By law you have the right to three free credit reports per year; from Experian, Transunion, and Equifax.
    These three credit bureaus work together through a website called AnnualCreditReport.com so you can quest all three reports at once in one of the following ways:
    1. Go to the Web site. Through this highly secure site, you can instantly see and print your credit report.
    2. Call toll-free: (877) 322-8228. You’ll go through a simple verification process over the phone after which they’ll mail the reports to you.
    3. Request by mail. If you live in certain states, fill out the request form and mail it to the Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. (Get more details.)
    Note: Remember that after you request a report, you will have to wait a year to get it free of charge again from the same credit reporting company. (Of course you can pay for a copy of your credit report at any time.)

  5. Review your credit score. Look too see if there are new credit cards, loans or other transactions on your account that you are not aware of. If there are, take immediate steps to have these terminated and investigated.
  6.  Freeze your credit.Criminals use stolen ID’s to open new lines of credit. You can thwart their efforts to use your identity by simply locking (called freezing) your credit so that no new credit can be given without additional information and controls. Many states have laws giving you the right to a free credit freeze, but even where states don’t provide legal mandates, the large credit bureaus provide a voluntary security freeze program at a very low cost.
    To determine whether there are any costs associated with placing a security freeze on your credit, and for temporarily lifting that credit freeze when you do seek credit, see State Freeze Requirements and Fees.
     
  7. Only use reputable websites when making purchases. If you don’t know the reputation of a company that you want to purchase from, do your homework. How are they reviewed by other users? Do they have a strong rating with the Better Business Bureau? Do they use a secure, encrypted connection for personal and financial information? (You should see an Https in a website’s URL whenever they ask for personal or financial information).
  8. Stay alert.Watch for common signs of identity theft like:
    • False information on your credit reports, including your Social Security number, address(es), name or employer’s name.
    • Missing bills or other mail. If your bills don’t arrive, or come late, contact your creditors. A missing bill may indicate that an ID thief has hijacked your account and changed your billing address to help hide the crime.
    • Getting new credit cards sent to you that you didn’t apply for.
    • Having a credit approval denied or being subjected to high interest rates for no apparent reason.
    • Receiving calls or notices about past due bills for products or services you didn’t buy.
Consistently applying these eight steps to both defend and monitor your credit score will reduce the risks of having your identity stolen, and alert you instantly if such a problem arises.
Provided by Linda Criddle, Founder of iLookBothWays.com  

Resources:
1About Identity Theft http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/about-identity-theft.html
2 Privacy Rights Clearinghouse http://www.privacyrights.org/data-breach
 

How to avoid identity theft and credit card hacking


Article Source: http://www.usatoday.com/
After scaring everyone two weeks ago with my predictions of the dangers you will face in cyberspace in 2016, it only seems fair to provide you with a guide to some of the steps you should take to protect yourself from identity theft in the new year. Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself from identity theft.

1. Never give personal information to anyone who contacts you by phone, text message or email unless you have confirmed that the request is legitimate. Caller ID can be fooled to make it appear that a call is legitimate and emails and texts can be sent from hijacked accounts or addresses that may appear legitimate, but are slightly different from the real email address or phone number.

2. Sign up for the Federal Do Not Call list at donotcall.gov to avoid telemarketing calls. Here is the link to sign up for the Do Not Call List. donotcall.gov It is important to remember, however, that the Do Not Call List does not apply to charities so you still may receive telephone calls from people collecting on behalf of legitimate charities, however, you can never be sure when you receive a call purporting to be from a charity whether it is legitimate or not so never give personal information or credit card information over the phone to someone who calls you soliciting for a charity. If you are feeling charitably inclined, go to the real website of the charity where you can safely make your donation.

Read: How to protect yourself against Cyber fraud, Cyber-attack and Virus Computer Data Breach  Hacking on http://onlinevirusprotection.blogspot.com/2016/05/protect-yourself-against-cyber-fraud.html

3. Consider opting out of pre-approved credit card offers. These can be stolen from your mailbox by identity thieves who can then apply for credit in your name. You can opt out of these offers by going to optoutprescreen.com.

4. Check your credit report at each of the three credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion at least once a year. Often people first become aware of becoming a victim of identity theft when they find fraudulent charges on their credit report and the earlier you become aware of the problem, the easier it is to fix. Because federal law provides the right for you to get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies annually, you should stagger your requests to each of the credit reporting agencies so that you get one report every four months. Get your free credit reports at annualcreditreport.com.

5. While the credit reporting agencies and others tout the use of fraud alerts on your credit reports as a way to help protect you from identity theft, the truth is that fraud alerts by which someone issuing credit in your name is supposed to notify you before issuing credit in your name are not terribly effective and there is no penalty for a company issuing credit to someone in your name without notifying you even if there is a fraud alert on your credit report. A far better choice is to put a credit freeze on your credit report. This will prevent someone from accessing your credit report for purposes of obtaining credit even if they have your Social Security number. Here is a link to a previous column I wrote about credit freezes that explains how to get one.

6. Limit your use of your debit card to use at ATMs. Don't use it for retail purchases because the law provides much more protection from liability when your credit card is illegally used than when your debit card is fraudulently used. In addition, even if your debit card company provides for zero liability, your bank will freeze the bank account you have tied to your debit card while they investigate any fraudulent use of your debit card, which can be tremendously inconvenient.

7. Get an EMV chip credit card, if you don't already have one and if the places you shop still haven't switched over to card processing equipment for the new cards, tell them that they should do so soon. Your shopping will be safer when everyone is using these new cards.

8. Use a strong unique password for each of your accounts. This is particularly important because if you use the same password for all of your accounts, you are more susceptible to identity theft if your password is stolen in a data breach at one of the companies with which you do online business. Having a strong, easy to remember password is not as difficult a task as it may seem. Start with a phrase, such as IHate2 UsePasswords. This is a good combination of capital letters, small letters and a number. Now make it even stronger by adding a couple of symbols such as exclamation points at the end so it now reads IHate2 Use Passwords!!!. This is now your basic password which you can customize for each account by adding a few letters to identify the particular account, such as Ama for your Amazon account so your Amazon password would read IHate2Use Passwords!!!Ama.

9. Security questions are an important part of your online safety. Armed with the answer to your security questions, a hacker can change your passwords and take over your online accounts. Unfortunately, the answers to common security questions, such as your mother's maiden name can be found with little effort by an identity thief. Sometimes, you may unwittingly provide that information yourself on social media where you may provide more information to the public than you realize. The key then is to make your answer to your security question nonsensical. So instead of the answer to your mother's maiden name being "Jones," change it to something like "Grapefruit." No identity thief will guess it and it is silly enough for you to remember.

Read: How to protect yourself against Cyber fraud, Cyber-attack and Virus Computer Data Breach  Hacking on http://onlinevirusprotection.blogspot.com/2016/05/protect-yourself-against-cyber-fraud.html


These are a few of the things you should be doing to protect yourself from identity theft and scams in 2016. In my next column I will give you more tips.

Steve Weisman is a lawyer, a professor at Bentley University and one of the country's leading experts in scams and identity theft. He writes the blog scamicide.com, where he provides daily update information about the latest scams. His new book is Identity Theft Alert.

Protect Yourself Against Cyber Fraud and Online Identity Theft

 
Fraud Awareness Month, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) offers its Top 10 tips to protect against cyber fraud and online identity theft.

SOURCE: Insurance Bureau of Canada.
 
"We all spend a lot of time on the internet, which has made everyday life more convenient. Now with the click of a button we can pay bills, check our bank account balances or connect with people through social media, which is why you must remain vigilant about what you share online and who sees it ", said Garry Robertson, National Director, Investigative Services, IBC. 

In recent years, identity theft has increased across Canada. Thieves are scanning the internet looking for personal information that will allow them to assume another person's identity. Using stolen information a criminal could use your name to secure a credit card, take out a mortgage, or even commit insurance fraud.

 
"You may not realize you have been a victim until it is too late, costing you time and money to rectify the damage", added Robertson. "Consumers need to ensure they are protecting themselves online, which is why we urge you to read 'IBC's top 10 ways to protect yourselves against cyber fraud and online identity theft', and share these tips with your family and friends." 

IBC's Top 10 Ways to Protect Against Cyber Fraud and Online Identity Theft are:
  1. Be cautious about sharing your personal information online, including your insurance policy number and birth date.
  2. Guard your financial information. If you shop, do insurance transactions or banking online, make sure you aren't saving personal financial information, such as credit card numbers, that someone could easily take.
  3. Change your login and passwords regularly, especially if you use a public computer. Make your passwords hard to decipher by using numbers and characters in addition to letters.
  4. Ensure that a website is trustworthy before clicking on a link in an email. If you have any doubt that an email is from the institution that it says it's from, contact the company to confirm that they sent the email. Criminals often use phishing, which uses an official-looking email to direct you to a website that looks legitimate, to steal personal information.
  5. Install security software and anti-spyware programs on your computer. Activate your firewall and use anti-virus software. Only download programs from reputable websites that you know are trustworthy.
  6. When making an insurance claim, regularly check the payments made by your insurance company on your behalf throughout the process.  Keep an eye out for any unusual activity.
  7. Be social media savvy. Set your social media profiles to the private setting and be careful what you post online.
  8. Make sure your Wi-Fi network at home is protected. When using public "hot spots," recognize that the data you share is vulnerable and do not conduct financial transactions, such as obtaining automobile or home insurance, on these networks.
  9. Never give personal information over e-mail or phone to someone who has contacted you to ask for it, without authenticating their identity. 
  10. If you use credit cards or borrow money, it is a good idea to periodically order a credit check on yourself to ensure everything is in order.  

Identity Theft and How to Protect yourself and your Digital World (PC, Laptop, iPad, Tablets and Smart Android mobile phones); simple guide being offered and updated.


Take the time to report the crime. If you fall victim to fraud, file a report with your local police, or the provincial or territorial branch of Crime Stoppers. Or, make an anonymous call to 1-877-IBC-TIPS (1-877-422-8477) or complete an online tip form

About Insurance Bureau of CanadaInsurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, auto and business insurers. Its member companies make up 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. For more than 50 years, IBC has worked with governments across the country to help make affordable home, auto and business insurance available for all Canadians. IBC supports the vision of consumers and governments trusting, valuing and supporting the private P&C insurance industry. It champions key issues and helps educate consumers on how best to protect their homes, cars, businesses and properties. P&C insurance touches the lives of nearly every Canadian and plays a critical role in keeping businesses safe and the Canadian economy strong. It employs more than 120,000 Canadians, pays $8.2 billion in taxes and has a total premium base of $49 billion. For media releases and more information, visit IBC's Media Centre at www.ibc.ca. Follow IBC on Twitter @InsuranceBureau or like us on Facebook. If you have a question about home, auto or business insurance, contact IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC.
If you require more information, IBC spokespeople are available to discuss the details in this media release.

SOURCE Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Identity Theft and bank Credit Card Fraud - How to Protect Yourself

Source: WSJ: Wall Street Journal

Identity theft occurs when someone obtains your personal information, such as your credit card data or Social Security number, to commit fraud or other crimes. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that 9 million Americans suffer identity theft annually. It sounds like a big number, but it isn’t.

For one, the hysteria has been stoked by much-publicized data breaches. In reality, identity theft only touches a sliver of the U.S. population each year (about 3%). One-quarter of those cases are credit-card fraud and not full-blown identity theft, according to FTC figures. The credit-card fraud occurs when a thief uses your credit card to make purchases. More serious is when someone uses your information to open accounts or take loans in your name. That’s when you’ll have to fight to get your credit restored and your name cleared, an arduous process that can take months or years to complete.
 Preventing online identity theft:

Identity Theft And How To prevent online identity theft http://onlinevirusprotection.blogspot.in/2016/03/identity-theft-and-how-to-prevent.html


In response to concerns over identity theft, numerous companies and financial institutions have stepped in with products that monitor your credit, reimburse you for lost wages or funds and guard your identity. Some employers also now offer ID theft insurance to help you reduce the amount of time and money spent resolving the crime, so check with your company’s benefits specialist about your eligibility.

Do You Need Identity Theft Protection? Before examining the services available, try these common-sense, no-cost measures to protect against identity theft and fraud:

Guard your information online. These days, many of us do most of our shopping and banking on the web. With all those account numbers and passwords floating around, it’s easy for someone to nab your information and go on a spree.

• Clear your logins and passwords. This is especially important if you’ve been working on a public computer. Change logins and passwords monthly.

• Pay for online purchases with your credit card, which has better guarantees under federal law than your online payment services or your debit card.

• Be alert for phishing, a trick in which spam or pop-ups mimic legitimate banks or businesses to obtain your personal information, which they use to access your accounts. Always verify that you’re on a familiar Web site with security controls before entering personal data.

Monitor your bank and credit card statements. Check your accounts regularly so you know when something’s awry. Purchases you didn’t make should be obvious—like a gas fill-up halfway across the country.

Verify your mailing address with the post office and financial institutions. Identity bandits may fill out change of address forms so that delinquent credit notices remain off your paper billing radar.

Monitor your credit report. By law, you’re entitled to a free report every year from each of the three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Request one every four months, changing bureaus each time. You can order the report directly through each agency, or at annualcreditreport.com. Use this URL—there are hordes of knockoff sites that will try to charge you for your report and other needless services. Scan it for abnormal activity, such as accounts or credit cards you didn’t open. (And don’t fall prey to faux free credit report advertisements.)

Shred sensitive documents. Buy a shredder and regularly shred outdated bank statements, credit card applications, bills, and anything with your personal information before tossing it into the trash or recycling. Junk mail often includes some of your personal details.

Does it make sense to pay for ID theft protection if you’ve taken all these precautions? It depends on your spending habits and overall level of caution. You might want to invest in an identity theft protection service if:

• You do lots of online banking or shopping. • You don’t have time to monitor your information on your own. • The thought of investing time and money into recovering from an identity theft sickens you.

Picking the Right Service Before you spring for identity theft protection, which, at a minimum, is likely to set you back at least $150 a year, consider the no-cost measures you can take to protect yourself. Remember, despite the hype, the odds of having your identity swiped are actually quite low. And no identity theft protection is bulletproof, so consider these factors before you buy.

First, decide whether you’d like to purchase the services of a dedicated identity theft protection firm or one of the products offered by your bank or insurer. Many banks now offer customers daily credit checks that alert them to fishy activity in their accounts. Some will also provide insurance to repay lost wages or legal fees incurred as a result of identity theft or fraud. Other plans assign you a caseworker to help restore your credit. You can also try to bundle identity theft insurance with your home or auto coverage. Be wary of this kind of insurance, however — these policies can be riddled with exclusions that may prevent you from ever collecting in the event of theft.
Preventing online identity theft:

Identity Theft And How To prevent online identity theft http://onlinevirusprotection.blogspot.in/2016/03/identity-theft-and-how-to-prevent.html


Then there are the specialty companies—LifeLock and TrustedID are two of the most prominent—that market themselves as identity theft protection experts. These companies offer a mix of preventive and reactive tools to maintain your identity and credit, the most common being fraud alerts and credit freezes.

Fraud alerts. Some identity-theft protectors will immediately place fraud alerts on your files with the three main credit bureaus, whether you’ve been victimized or not. In essence, it forces any bank or credit agency to balk before approving credit requests in your name. It’s not foolproof, though. The law only requires the creditor to take reasonable precautions before extending credit. This may only be a speed bump for a practiced thief, so don’t consider it a guarantee that your identity won’t be swiped.

Credit freezes. Freezes are far more effective than alerts. Icing your files prevents any company from accessing your credit unless you already do business with them, effectively sealing your records against any new creditor. Freezes can be a pain if you’re seeking a mortgage or student loan—or any form of credit. You’ll have to contact the bureaus to unfreeze your records, which can take up to three days. Plus, the credit bureaus normally charge a small fee whenever you freeze and unfreeze your files. Credit freeze rules vary by state.

Alerts and freezes are two measures you can take yourself, so consider whether you want to pay a company to do it for you.

If you’ve detected fraudulent activity, notify the financial institution where the fraudulent activity occurred first so they can freeze your account. Depending on the situation, you’ll need to file a complaint with the FTC and your local police department, as well as investigate all of your other accounts. And keep a vigilant eye on that credit report.
 

Preventing online identity theft:

Identity Theft And How To prevent online identity theft http://onlinevirusprotection.blogspot.in/2016/03/identity-theft-and-how-to-prevent.html

Source: WSJ: Wall Street Journal

Emerging Trends Impacting the Global Antivirus Software Package Market

BUSINESS WIRE
Source: Technavio
Technavio’s latest report on the global antivirus software package market provides an analysis of the key trends expected to impact the market through 2015-2019. Technavio defines an emerging trend as a factor that has the potential to significantly impact the market and contribute to its growth or decline.
 
Technavio announces top three emerging trends impacting the global antivirus software package market through 2019.
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The global antivirus software package market is likely to exceed USD 36 billion by 2019, growing at a CAGR of over 9%. The market is predicted to grow significantly during the forecast period because of increased use of the Internet, which is giving rise to malware threats such as viruses, Trojans, and worms.

“Malware threats have also become more complex and have found more channels for propagation in computer systems. Therefore, the adoption of antivirus software for protection against such threats has become important and will gain popularity in the future,” says Amrita Choudhury, lead analyst at Technavio for enterprise application research.

The top three emerging trends influencing the global antivirus software package market according to Technavio’s ICT research analysts are:

Popularity of cloud-based antivirus software

As the cloud is proving to be a convenient and cost-effective way of storing critical business data, its adoption is increasing among SMBs worldwide. This increases the need for cloud security solutions such as cloud antiviruses. Cloud-based antiviruses do not require any hardware or software and are controlled remotely, making them cost-effective for end-users.

Cloud-based antivirus software provides quicker response to new threats or malicious activities. Cloud-based antiviruses are updated on the central server in the cloud and immediately available to all end-users. The Internet is required for automatic updates to the virus signatures.

Some antivirus vendors like Panda Security, F-Secure, Sophos, ESET, and Kaspersky are increasingly incorporating cloud-based capabilities in their products.

“Although, cloud-based antiviruses are beneficial for end-users, they are not recommended as a full replacement for desktop antivirus protection. It is safer to adopt the cloud-based antivirus along with a traditional desktop antivirus to mitigate the deceleration of the computer’s performance and provide the best protection,” says Amrita.

Partnerships between antivirus software vendors and telecom vendors

There is an increasing number of partnerships among antivirus software vendors, smartphone manufacturers, and telecom services providers, which is supporting the growth of the global antivirus software package market.

Increasing number of applications, make mobile devices more vulnerable to virus attacks, which necessitates the need for antivirus software.

Antivirus software vendors such as Symantec and Kaspersky are entering into partnerships with smartphone manufacturers and telecom service providers to boost the sales of antivirus software and increase their customer base and geographical reach. These vendors are looking to incorporate antivirus software into smartphones and have planned to provide a subscription-based model through telecom companies.

According to Technavio, smartphone users are willing to pay for antiviruses, especially high-end smartphone users who prefer online banking payment transfers, mobile banking, and mobile commerce. Online transactions, therefore require a high level of security because they involve a customer's monetary and confidential financial data. Therefore, the demand for antivirus software is likely to increase significantly with the increased adoption of mobile commerce.

Increased adoption of BYOD

The introduction of mobile devices into the workplace is changing the way users access enterprise resources. With the adoption of bring your own device (BYOD) policies worldwide, employees are using their personal mobile devices for work. This has increased the demand for uninterrupted connectivity between a corporate network and its employees' mobile devices. Employees need to access and store confidential information on their mobile devices, which has increased the need to protect data.

However, these devices are not secure, and it is easy for hackers to gain unauthorized access to firewalls, VPNs, and corporate networks. This can lead to fraudulent activities with the misuse of business-critical data. As personal mobile devices are being used for professional purposes, it has become extremely important to protect the data being transmitted in order to reduce the chances of unauthorized access to data.

“Therefore anti-virus software providers have a huge potential market in reducing the security risks in the BYOD model and making it more sustainable for enterprises,” adds Amrita.

Some of the top six vendors in the global antivirus software package market, as researched by Technavio analysts are:

    AVAST Software
    AVG
    Avira
    Symantec
    McAfee
    Microsoft

Source:
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)
Source: Technavio on http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160323005040/en/Technavio-Announces-Top-Emerging-Trends-Impacting-Global

Identity Theft And How To prevent online identity theft: By Irem Bright C'mezie



What Is Identity Theft And How To Avoid It?
Identity theft refers to impersonation of your personal data by antisocial elements who try to steal your money in some way or the other. The internet is such a great tool that simplifies our life but it has also its downside. At various points of time, we share important information online thinking that they are insignificant. Some of the details we share online without thinking of the consequences are our full name, phone numbers, residential address, your date of birth, work place address, credit card details, policy numbers, debit card information and other such sensitive data. 

These might look like bits and pieces of information and individually they may not have any special significance. However when they are compiled, one can easily reconstruct your profile and misuse it robbing you of your money. Identity theft has become a sort of institutionalized crime with people systematically working on stealing information. Identity thieves also use your profile in other situations such as fraudulent transactions, job applications, terrorist activities, fraudulent driving licenses etc.
Ways to prevent identity theft
Are you scared to read about all these and wondering how to prevent identity theft? Here are few important tips that show you how to avoid identity theft. 

One of the important pieces of information that every identity thief will require is your social security number. You should not share your social security number randomly with people. Do so only when you think that it is necessary. It is not a good idea to carry your social security card in your wallet. It is also not a good idea to share them online. 
Invariably, all of us use computers and use them extensively to shop online. Make sure that your computers are fully secured. You should have the latest or the most up to date antivirus program installed in your computer and it should be enabled all the time. Keep your firewalls in your computer turned on all the time. Do not forget to install anti-spyware program in your computer. 

These security measures will help you save you from identity theft and it will also prevent credit card theft. Another important factor to remember here with regard to credit card identity theft is that you should check your credit card statements carefully for purchases or expenses that you have not incurred.

It is also a recommended good habit to get your own annual credit report. This will help you keep a tab on your identity and if there is something wrong, you will be able to take immediate action to rectify the situation. 
One of the major reasons for identity thefts is our own carelessness. We are reckless with our personal information. Basic precautions will go a long way in protecting your online identity and your credit card. Always access online shopping sites from a fully secured computer and use only trusted online stores to shop. Think twice before you share any sensitive personal information online.

How To Prevent online Credit Card Theft: By Irem Bright C'mezie



How To Prevent Credit Card Theft?
Are you scared of using your credit card online because of the increasing accounts that you hear about online credit card frauds, identity thefts and other scams? Yes, the situation could be really scary, but do not worry there are ways to prevent credit card fraud. Preventing credit card fraud is possible by following certain basic safety measures. Here are some of the important factors for your consideration.

Get into the habit of checking your monthly statements regularly
Many a time fraudulent credit card transactions take place for smaller amounts whereby the credit card owner is unlikely to suspect such fraudulent transactions especially if they use credit cards extensively. It is therefore important to check your credit card statements regularly and match with your expenses. If there are any items that do not match with your actual expenses then it is important to report it immediately.

Never share your credit card information in any instant messengers
It is highly recommended that you do not share your credit card information online even in your instant messenger chats such as Whatsapp or Google Hangout chats. If you are seriously looking for helpful ways on how to prevent credit card theft online or if you are keen on avoiding identitytheft, then this is one point that you cannot afford to make mistakes. 
You might have all the information available online on how to prevent credit card theft but if you do not follow them carefully then you are subjecting yourself to unnecessary risks. All that it takes is to keeping to few online security basics. Here are few such basics:
-        Shop only in trusted e-commerce websites.
-        Do not click on dubious links that come to your mail offering exceptional discounts or freebies.
-     Check whether the website you are using to shop is SSL protected. SSL protection prevents third party interception during the credit card transactions.
-        If the checkout page is not working, do not make multiple attempts, it is better to report the problem to the online store’s customer support and shop at a different time once the issues are resolved.
-        As much as possible type the website address of the e-commerce site that you want to use rather than clicking on links in your emails. The links may read one thing but the landing page will be totally something else.
-        Always shop only from secure computers that have antivirus, spyware and firewalls enabled.


     Rather than using credit cards online for every purchase, you could think of third party payment processing systems, which will reduce the number of times or the frequency at which you will be exposing your credit card details online. 

This will also minimize the risks of credit card frauds and online identity thefts. You need to however, identify the most trusted payment processors. 

There are number of trusted services such as Skrill, PayPal, etc. Abiding by these basic safety factors will go a long way in protecting you from online credit card frauds.


Two things to bear in Mind while we talk about Protecting yourself Online in order to Prevent Online Identity Theft and being Victim of Cyber-Criminals:

A. Keep in mind that antivirus software protects only your device, not your internet connection. It’s only Secured and Protected Virtual Private Network, VPN can securely protect your internet connection communications between your computer device, servers and websites.

B. A VPN is a must-have utility to protect your privacy and prevent hackers and snoopers from stealing your personal information.