Below are the top five tactics used by hackers to steal your identity
One fine morning you wake up and you have suffered what we call “identity theft.” Although stealing someone’s identity is not legal, there are several sneaky, but legal ways that scammers and hackers can use to make you suffer from so-called “identity theft.” The first step to stopping this alarming scenario is to be aware of the most common data collection schemes that could leave you vulnerable.
Below we will look at five tactics you need to know so you can have "control" of your identity.
Social media spying
People have started sharing more about their personal lives online than ever before with the advent of social media. While you can essentially reconnect with old friends and family, it also makes it easier for a scammer or hacker to get their hands on your personal information, which could lead to identity theft. In general, if you decide to reveal personal information, such as birthday or any other personal information, it is recommended that you keep your profile settings private and consider the consequences of anything you post. For example, posting your vacation everywhere could give a thief the idea that your home is unattended or that you don’t have access to your email.
Social engineering
Some scammers and hackers will create traps that rely primarily on human interaction to gain access, rather than spending their time trying to guess or track down your personal information. This tactic is known as “social engineering.” Often, these hackers will pose as a friendly person or company looking for information. Social engineering tricks rely on people’s curiosity and trust. You may want to be wary of “urgent” emails trying to verify your login information or dodgy friend requests on social media.
Hacking from your old hard drive or computer
Don't just give away your old computer with the existing hard drive intact if you're looking to sell or get rid of it. You could inadvertently hand over the keys to your personal information to someone looking to steal identity . Make sure the hard drive is replaced and wiped before you throw it away or upgrade an old machine.
Malware-based phishing
You are more likely to be vulnerable to scams that are disguised as "fixes" to your problem when you feel like your computer is running malware. If you feel like your computer is infected or has downloaded illegal content and you are offered a quick fix, think twice. You could actually end up installing malware instead.
Vishing or "voice phishing"
Voice phishing or “vishing” scams are voicemails or robocalls placed by scammers and hackers posing as businesses or government agencies with the sole purpose of getting your attention. They’ll want to get you to reveal important identifying information like your social security or credit card quickly over the phone. A word of advice: A reputable organization doesn’t operate this way.
