Protecting Your Computer Against Identity Theft

Credit card identity theft is an ever present threat, as the FTC notes. As computers become increasingly common financial tools, it’s important that you make sure you computer is protected against credit card identity theft.

Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Finances Safe

When considering identity theft and computers, there is a wide range of actions you can take. No matter how careful you choose to be, you should at least be aware of some of the risks. Though this list is by no means all-inclusive, we’ve listed some of the top ways to protect against identity theft originating on a computer.

Be Careful Using Public Computers

One of the top sources of computer based credit card identity theft is on public computers. Consumers should recognize that public computers can easily be exploited, and anything you do on a public computer may be on record. It’s best to limit your financial business to a private computer.

However, in some situations, you may find it necessary to use a public computer for financial matters. If you have to do this, you can take a few precautions. Make sure you do not save any passwords to the computer, and always double check that you have logged out. If you can, restart the computer as well. These actions won’t keep you completely safe, but they will help.

Watch Out For Unsecured Wireless Connections

As more and more consumers use laptops, wireless connections have become a more significant security threat.

When using a wireless connection, you should be aware that you don’t know exactly what is happening to your information. A secured connection is safest- if you use an unsecured connection, you do not know if anyone is intercepting your financial information. Secured connections with trusted sources can be safer. Usually, the name and information about the connection will let you know if it is secured or unsecured. No matter which connection you access, you should always be hyper-aware when accessing any financial information in a public place.

Clear Cookies, Saved Passwords, and Other Stored Information

Whenever you use a computer, it is important to periodically clear and reset all the information. You can do this by clearing cookies (usually, this stored information will be accessible and modifiable from within your internet browser). You should also consider changing your internet passwords regularly in order to protect your security.

Use Antivirus Software

Unfortunately, viruses remain a security threat to anyone using a computer. Every virus varies, but some are well known for seeking out credit card and other financial information. Regular use of antivirus software can help protect your computer against the most well known threats.

Being Aware To Protect Against Identity Theft On Your Computer

The above list explains only a few of the ways to protect yourself and your credit cards against computer identity theft (the Better Buisiness Bureau has a slightly more comprehensive list). However, by understanding general principles of security, privacy, and computer safety, you can modify your lifestyle to ensure your credit card and other financial information is safe from identity theft.

You can read more here about identity theft and credit cards, credit card safety, and what to do if your credit card is stolen. This article is part of TakingCredit.com’s credit card tips. You can learn more about credit through our credit card glossary and our credit card blog. Photo by D70Focus.

Tags: consumers, credit card, financial business, financial information, financial matters, identity theft, laptops, passwords, private computer, protecting your computer, public computer, public computers, security threat, tips and tricks