Preventing Identity Theft

Every now and then the nightly news will lead with a story detailing how millions of bank patrons or healthcare provider policyholders had been victimized by criminals who illegally gained access to their private information, including social security numbers, medical history, financial information, etc. Whether the offenders were able to acquire the information through the hacking of a firm's digital database, or something as simple as stealing a laptop, these days almost every American has reason to worry that their confidential information, stored on file, is not adequately protected. Unfortunately, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies readily admit that these crimes are occurring with a greater frequency than in years past, and the methods thieves are using to carry out their crimes are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Yahoo has this article on identity theft describing risky practices that leave individuals vulnerable to having their personal data fall into the wrong hands.

7 Surefire Ways to Become an ID-Theft Victim

"Experience the hassles of being defrauded firsthand! If you love bureaucracy and the thrill of waiting in line to talk to government and bank employees again and again, becoming an identity theft victim might be right for you. Want to be vulnerable to identity theft? When you purchase a new computer, go online naked -- without activating the firewall, or purchasing protective software..."