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Online safety links A - Z
Cell (mobile) phone safety
Safety for mobile phones, regardless of whether they have Internet capability or not.
Chat rooms
Staying safe when chatting online, including information about IRC (Internet Relay Chat)
Downloading music safety
What the law says and how to disable P2P technology on your computer.
E-mail safety
How to deal with and protect yourself and your computer against spam, phishing, spoofing, scams and chain letters.
Hacking
What is hacking and what do you do when your computer has been hacked?
Identity theft
How safe is your personal data?
Instant messaging safety
How to get the best from your Instant messenger and chat safely
Online dating
How to have fun but be aware fo the dangers and stay safe.
Online discussion safety
Safety tips for using forums, bulletin boards and newsgroups.
Online gaming safety
Online shopping and auctions
Advice on safe online financial transactions.
Phishing
What phishing is and how to recognize a phishing attempt.
Pop-ups
What they are and what you can do about them
Scams and fraud
How to recognize online scams, fraud, hoaxes, rumors and urban legends and what you can do about them
Spam
What the law says, deal with and protect your computer against spyware.
Spoofing
What spoofing is and how to recognize a spoofed e-mail.
Spyware (Adware and Malware)
How to detect, deal with and protect your computer against spyware.
Text messaging (SMS) safety
All about sending text messages and how to understand text lingo.
Viruses
How to detect, deal with and protect your computer against viruses.
Web site safety
How to build a safer Web page or Web site.
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Identity theft
What is identity theft?
Explanation :: Detection :: Solution :: Prevention
Once an identity thief has obtained someone's personal and/or financial information they can assume that person's identity (in other words - they steal your identity, using your personal and financial information without your knowledge or permission). Then they steal your money; emptying your accounts and running up credit in your (previously) good name.
Identity theft is a fast-growing, serious crime
Identity theft happens both online and offline. One of the ways that identity thieves collect personal and financial information about members of the public offline, is to sift through carelessly discarded trash. Many people throw bank statements, utility bills and other potentially sensitive documentation away without shredding it first. An identity thief can find enough about someone - just from their dustbin or mailbox - to steal their identity. Identity thieves steal personal and financial information online more purposely, with phishing attempts for example - but it is often as a result of carelessness and/or complacency, regarding personal and financial information.
Identity thieves will steal your money from your accounts and savings, run up enormous credit card bills, obtain passports and other official documents, empty bank accounts - even using their ill-gotten gains to fund other crimes, such as drug running and terrorism. The legitimate owners of the information identity thieves abuse can spend vast amounts of time and money trying to undo the damage to their finances and their reputations.
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