How can you protect yourself from online identity theft?

 Learning Objectives ◦ Learn about the benefits of sharing information online, but also about the safety and security risks of sharing certain types of information. ◦ Understand what type of information can put them at risk for identity theft and other scams. ◦ Distinguish between personal information, which is safe to share online, and private information, which is unsafe to share.

 What types of information is okay to share publicly online, on a profile that others will see? ◦ Interests & Activities ◦ Opinions about games or movies ◦ First Name  What are some examples of websites where you must register in order to participate? ◦ Social Networking sites ◦ Video-sharing sites ◦ Youth discussion sites ◦ Ask-an-expert sites ◦ Game sites  Key Vocabulary ◦ Register (online): to enter your information in order to sign up and get access to a website.

 1) What information is required and why do you think it is required?  2) What information is optional, and why do you think it is optional?  3) Why do you think websites ask for this kind of information?  Note: when registering online for anything only the boxes marked with an (*) are required, everything else is optional.  1) This may include first name, user name, password, password hint, birth date, gender, the state you live in, parents permission, etc. Information may be required because it helps distinguish one person from another, or the website is keeping records of who uses it.  2) This may include parents , birthday, state, country, gender, etc. This is optional because the website does not require it for payment, distinguish one person from another.  3) Answers may vary, but typically they want to get people to pay for use, so they can send messages to registered users, or try to sell add- ons.

 Key Vocabulary ◦ Personal Information: info. that can’t be used to identify you, such as your age, gender, how many siblings you have, your favorite food, etc. (safe to share online) ◦ Private Information: info. that can be used to identify you, such as your social security number, street address, , phone number, etc. (unsafe to share online) SAFE – Personal Information UNSAFE – Private Information -Favorite Food -Your opinion (done respectfully) -First Name -Gender -Mother’s maiden name -Social Security # -Date of Birth -Parents’ credit card info. -Phone #

 Why would someone want to steal someone else’s identity on the internet? ◦ To steal money ◦ To do something bad or mean ◦ To hide their real identity  Key Vocabulary ◦ Identity Theft: when a thief steals someone’s private information in order to pretend to be that person  An identity thief uses private info. to pretend to be the person whose identity they stole.  They use the stolen identity to get a driver’s license & credit cards. (even if the original person is not old enough)  Identity thieves often target children & teens because they have clean credit and many parents are unlikely to be aware their child’s identity has been stolen.

 What kinds of private information could an identity thief use to find out and steal your identity? ◦ First & Last name ◦ Postal Address ◦ address ◦ Phone # ◦ Passwords ◦ Credit card #’s ◦ Social Security # ◦ Mother’s maiden name  What kinds of personal information could you share about yourself without showing your identity? ◦ Age ◦ Gender ◦ # of siblings ◦ Favorite band, food, or movie ◦ Pet type & name ◦ Your opinion (done respectfully)