1. Identity Theft: Protect Yourself Ronald J. Leach

4. How to protect your computer records

13. on-line messages You really did not win the lottery You really did not win the lottery No widow of a foreign dictator wants to put illegal funds in you bank account No widow of a foreign dictator wants to put illegal funds in you bank account Can’t avoid taxes on these “earnings” Can’t avoid taxes on these “earnings”

14. on-line messages, cont. Don’t reply – it tells sender (a program) that this is a valid E-mail address Don’t reply – it tells sender (a program) that this is a valid E-mail address Don’t unsubscribe (same reason) Don’t unsubscribe (same reason) More about web sites later More about web sites later

15. How can you protect your computer? Password protect your machine Password protect your machine Use strong passwords Use strong passwords Hackers are ALWAYS running password matching programs Hackers are ALWAYS running password matching programs Different passwords for different web sites Different passwords for different web sites

16. How can you protect your computer? Update your operating system Update your operating system Have virus checking software Have virus checking software – update it – run scans often Have adware detection software Have adware detection software

17. How can you protect your computer? Watch where you go – don’t just click on a link – links can be spoofed easily Watch where you go – don’t just click on a link – links can be spoofed easily

19. How can you protect your computer? The code is as simple as: The code is as simple as: You think you’re going here You think you’re going here

21. Didier Stevens’ experiment Purchased Google adword “drive by download” Purchased Google adword “drive by download” Display ad: “is your PC virus-free. Get it infected here” Display ad: “is your PC virus-free. Get it infected here” Got 259,723 hits, 409 clicks Got 259,723 hits, 409 clicks Cost him $23 Cost him $23 6 cents per infected computer 6 cents per infected computer

25. Can’t protect computers completely Keep it in a locked room Keep it in a locked room Don’t install software Don’t install software No network access No network access

26. Can’t protect computers completely Seemed safe, but… Seemed safe, but… – I found a file named secretmail on a new machine – File not readable – Who put it there?

29. Copy machines

31. How to protect your portable data

33. Protect your computer Protect your laptop from theft Protect your laptop from theft Perhaps have separate laptop for travel, with very little personal stuff on it Perhaps have separate laptop for travel, with very little personal stuff on it Destroy hard disk, rather than giving it away Destroy hard disk, rather than giving it away – difficult to remove all traces of personal data

35. How to protect your paper records

38. Shred it!

39. How to protect your paper records When you recycle, remove address from everything. When you recycle, remove address from everything.

40. How to protect your old credit cards Shred them Shred them

41. How to protect your new credit cards Check statements, even the merchant descriptions! Check statements, even the merchant descriptions!

42. How much does an annual credit report cost?

43. Nothing! Nothing! Federal Trade Commission Federal Trade Commission

44. How much does an annual credit report cost? Nothing! AnnualCreditReport.com AnnualCreditReport.com

46. Thank you!