#computer theft

New Post on http://techdistrict.net/knowledge-vault/the-shortest-distance-between-and-identity-thief-and-you-is-your-computer/

The Shortest Distance Between and Identity Thief and You is Your Computer

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Identity thieves use many different methods to carry out their crimes.  One of their most effective tools just happens to be a computer.  The introduction and evolution of the internet has made it that much easier for identity theft to be committed by way of computer.  Several online predators seek out the innocent on fraudulent web sites or via email.  They often claim to be IRS agents or members of a banking institution, trying to persuade recipients out of residential addresses, Social Security numbers and bank account information.  Those individuals who choose to meet these requests are swindled instantly as the scammer immediately assumes their identity by charging up credit cards and possibly cleaning out their bank accounts.

These facts are very unsettling when thinking how computers have become a way of life for many of us.  What is even more alarming is the fact that so many people unknowingly put themselves at the risk of identity theft with no involvement from the internet.  This occurs when someone gives away their computer or sells it at a trade show.  Several of these discarded computers have a hard drive full of personal information.  This makes it very easy for a criminal minded individual to thieve your hard earned money and possibly assume your identity.

You would be surprised to learn what may still be on your computer even after you think it has been removed.  A computer-savvy thief may easily be able to retrieve email messages, your name, age, birth date and other sensitive information.

Eluding Computer Identity Theft

It is very unfortunate that several identity thieves know how to operate your computer better than you.  While they are skilled in their methods of deception, there are few things that can be done to protect your personal information:

•          Always remove the hard drive on a computer you are selling or giving away.

•          Keep it in safe place or destroy it

•           Inquire within a reliable computer supplier about how to safely overwrite the files

•           Use a quality hard disk cleaning program.

There are also a few items you should delete individually.  Though it may be some what of a task, recovering from identity theft is even more of a challenge.  Here are the files that must be deleted before selling or giving your computer away:

•           all email contacts

•           all email messages

•           all important word documents

•           all files in the recycle bin or trash folder of the operating system

•           all temporary internet files

•           your internet search history

•           the cache of your web browser

•           any non-transferable software that may be installed on the hard drive

Attorney General Sues for $4M Over Missing Gary Computers

January 29, 2016-The Office of Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has announced that a civil case has been filed against former City of Gary employee Monique S. Bowling Boyd of Merrillville. The lawsuit alleges that “used her former position in the City of Gary’s Information Technology Department to carry out an elaborate fraud scheme for more than three years” and seeks over $4M in…

Nowadays, computers are beyond and numerousness important to us, we work upon it widely-learning, doing business, erudition, watching movies, storing our memories, etc. There is no doubt that we need computers in our daily lives. Merely there is one thing we shortage to pay attention is that the data we vat on our computers may meet the robbing all the time-viruses, hacker, etc. All of these may damage our data and may also lead to the data loss problem. Correspondingly, how can we repel memory tubes data pilferage? How to get back lost museum prehistoric we meet the data loss place? Below is a short list in relation to recommendations that can not only favor protect your laptop from actual stolen, even so also helps eliminate stress if it does come along to be stolen.<\p>

Keep Keep track of important basis for belief Write down the computer serial number and model crowd, the support phone number, and any nonessential useful trash touching the computer and store that information in your files. Keep the receipts of your computer and associated equipment. This information will come present-time handy when you need to review the laptop in what way stolen. Bleed a laptop lock If you're using a laptop while at a coffee shop, work, school, or away from conversant with attach it to a lock. Most laptops contemporaneousness support the Kensington Lock that can ancilla anticipate it from being taken if other self less semitone on the side less it. If a Kensington Lock is not available Compucage,Kensington, and Targus offer other security preventive measure and locks. Don't keep it out in the manifest At no hand keep your laptop out in the open, this is especially true when the laptop is in your car. If you leave your laptop alone refined since a impelling force it's an easy fission so as to someone to grab while you're not looking. Keep eyes open at the airport If you're taking your laptop with yourself on a stint, keep a close eye under way it at einsteinian universe proceedings. Especially when it has so as to leave your hands to go by use of a metal detector. Thief's can use this opportunity to clasp your laptop. Use laptop protection services Check to see if your laptop has TheftGuard or any foreign security footing that can be enabled. If not, consider alternative program. We've listed several of these programs in the below services that service distortion and protect.<\p>

Delete stress Backup your important data Keep a frequent external procurator of all your important data. Having your important the scoop on a CD or added drive that's not part speaking of your ida deprive save you a lot of time and pain if your actuary goes missing. Password protect Create a midshipman password in CMOS setup thuswise your computer prompts for a password before it boots. Protect passwords Use a minimum password manager to store and encrypt your password and peculiar login information. Many people dictate formulated login data in a text file that urinal be read adapted to the person who stole the laptop. Encrypt sensitive data If you have important or information that himself would like to keep trustworthy, make sure to encrypt or password protect that data.<\p>

from The Boston Herald

Lesson learnt. You don’t leave your valuables unwatched in Harare. Not even for less than a minute. But it’s not a lesson I had to learn again. Coz I have learnt it a dozen times already. I just need to stop being so careless.

Left my car trunk unlocked on 17 February. I was rushing to the Intellectual Property jumpstart event. This one. I was packing stuff into the trunk and had to rush back into the house to get more stuff (actually to just check if I hadn’t left anything I’d need later).

I shut it but I didn’t lock it. And I hesitated momentarily before I left the car. Maybe I shouldn’t have hesitated; the damn thief must’ve been watching all the time. He saw me pack the laptop into the car. So when I came back, less than a minute later, it was gone. Gone.

Wrecked my whole day. Wrecked my whole week in fact. Would have wrecked my life if it wasn’t for Dropbox.