Like many other people these days, some of your employees might be concerned about identity theft. And with good reason. Identity theft, typically involving the use of stolen information about a person to gain access to his or her bank account, has become a big problem. Surveys indicate that 1 in 5 Americans has been victimized. To rectify the damage done to personal credit, the average victim spends $1,500 and many hours. In many cases, the money stolen is irretrievable.

Here's a look at the problem and some of the things you can do to protect your employees against becoming a victim of it.

Identity Thieves Feed on Computer Systems

Almost all of the information that identity thieves use to commit their crimes come from personal computers. Anyone who uses a computer to surf the Web is vulnerable. Unsecured computers are easy pickins for the viruses, spyware and countless other malicious programs used by hackers and identity thieves.

Hackers use such programs to wreak havoc and tie up your computer system; identity thieves use them to obtain personal and financial information from the compromised computer system. Not surprisingly, the same individual is apt to serve as both hacker and identity thief. In either case, victims are often unaware that their computer is hosting one of these malicious programs.

Seven Precautions to Take

The good news is that there are some practical and simple things you can do to secure your computer against identity theft. Here are seven tips. The first three are related to software; the last four involve how you use the computer.

1. Install a Secure Internet Browser

Some of the software used to surf the Internet are fraught with security holes. As a security consultant, I recommend that my clients use Firefox™. This free program is an excellent browser that features stellar functionality and scant security susceptibilities. For a free download, go to www.mozilla.com.

2. Run an Effective Firewall System

As you surf the Web, your computer encounters a host of threats designed to attack your machine and compromise or even ruin your operating system. A firewall filters them out. Make sure you use one on a continuous basis.

3. Use Anti-Spyware Software & Heed its Warnings

Anti-spyware programs scan your online activity for spyware that may be attempting to infiltrate your system. Use at least two anti-spyware programs simultaneously for effective protection. Free anti-spyware software is available for download over the Internet. Go to www.lavasoftusa.com and download the available adware/spy removal program. You can also conduct a search at www.download.com for "Spybot Search and Destroy™." One of the best anti-spyware programs, Spy Sweeper™ from Webroot™, is available for a modest retail price at a store near you.

4. Be Smart About Passwords

Carelessness with passwords is one of the main reasons so many people get burned by identity theft. For example, having only one or two passwords for all your online access makes the identity thief's job easy. Selecting an appropriate password is another big problem. Passwords should be a combination of letters and numbers that is relatively easy to remember. But don't use the names of your kids or pets, or the last four digits of your social insurance or phone number. Instead, use a combination of the name of your favorite restaurant or destination and a memorable date (other than birthdays). And don't store your passwords on a yellow sticky on the side of the monitor. Use an Excel file that's password protected and name it "kidstoys.xls" or "vacationspots.xls" - anything but "passwords.xls." Norton has a Password Manager that's helpful, too. (Although I don't recommend their auto-complete feature for banking, online broker accounts or any other sensitive websites.)

5. Enter Your Personal Information only at Trusted Websites

Exercise extra precaution when shopping online for the best deal and buy only from trusted vendors. You might, in fact, save yourself a great deal of money by spending an extra $2 for an item at a secure site instead of entering your credit card information at a site that turns out to be disreputable. Make sure the site features https - not simply http. The "s" means the site is "secure," greatly increasing the integrity of the transaction.

6. Use a Free E-Mail Address for Transactions

There are many free e-mail account providers. Using a free e-mail address that is not personalized makes it harder for thieves to trace your name back to financial information. As an added bonus, the practice protects against online stalkers.

7. Never Follow Links or Buy from Spammers

Spam could really be a message from phishers, those who send "spoof" e-mails that masquerade as legitimate messages. Links contained in them may install viruses or spyware on your computer. The messages may also request bank account access information or to update your account information at a website that is, in fact, a spoofed version of the legitimate site. Never respond to messages requesting financial information. No reputable financial institution will request such information via e-mail.

Conclusion

The computer is not the only tool of identity thieves. Next week, we'll discuss what safety precautions to follow when you're offline.

10 FACTS ABOUT IDENTITY THEFT

1. It's the fastest growing crime in the U.S.

2. The odds of being the victim of identity theft are about the same as having a piece of property stolen

3. 19 of the terrorists who participated in the 9/11 attacks used stolen social security numbers, credit card numbers and other forms of personal information

4. Losses due to identity theft in the U.S. during 2004 exceeded $52.6 billion, mostly to businesses

5. About 85 percent of identity theft victims don't learn that their identity has been stolen until they get turned down for credit or are notified by a collection agency or police

6. Identity thieves are hard to catch. Fewer than five percent of cases of identity theft reported to the police result in an arrest

7. Victims of identity theft report feeling the same emotions as victims of violent crimes such as rape and battery

8. On average, an identity theft occurs 13.3 times every minute

9. It takes the victim of an identity theft an average of 600 hours to recover

10. The 10 U.S. locations with the largest number of identity theft victims in 2002 in order are:

a. Washington, DC
b. California
c. Arizona
d. Nevada
e. Texas
f. Florida
g. New York
h. Washington
i. Maryland
j. Oregon

MEMBER REPLY

Ergonomics vs. Air Bag Safety

Editor's note: Our December 13 article on holiday ergonomics included the suggestion that drivers should "adjust the seat so you are as close to the steering wheel as comfortably possible." That suggestion prompted this comment from a SafetyXChange member:

While I don't disagree with the ergonomics of this position, there needs to be some qualification to the statement. Most vehicles these days have air bags and the possibility of injury from deployment is greatly increased when you are closer to the module. The NHTSA and Department of Emergency Medical Services in all states have said for years that drivers need to position themselves as far from the steering wheel as they can while still being able to safely operate the vehicle. The NHTSA's advice is "drivers sit with at least 10 inches between the center of their breastbone and the center of the steering wheel." They further state that "Being near or against an air bag module when it deploys can result in serious or fatal injury."

E. Lance Wheeler
Safety/Risk Management Coordinator

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