GerardoInvestigates

The necessity of avoiding cybercrime and identity theft has become more and more urgent as we continue into the information age. The popularity of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter make it easier than ever to glean sensitive information from public profiles. While being fun and making socializing online easy, these are a boon for identity thieves and hackers. It is important to limit how much information you place out in public for everyone to see. It may even be a good idea to use a nickname instead of your real name when setting up social network profiles. This makes it hard for identity thieves to scope out who they're dealing with.

It was recently revealed that a startling nine out of ten "apps" on Facebook were engaging in data mining (that is, collecting personal information in order to serve you with targeted ads, or occasionally something more criminal). Before downloading any apps, make sure they are from a trusted source. Many apps often require access to your wall, likes, and email address. Even worse, they often require the same information from your friends, who may not have even downloaded the app. Make sure you read the terms and conditions very carefully before downloading any app.

A more advanced tactic that cyber criminals use is to contact their victim directly, pretending to be a distant acquaintance in order to obtain more information. Before speaking with and giving information to anyone whom you do not recognize, it may be wise to run a background check first. Don't worry about the price; there are plenty of services online which offer criminal background checks. Even a basic "ground-level" background check will reveal quite a hefty sum of information. It would be difficult for an online scammer to fake out a certified background check.

Even outside of Facebook, it is still important to be aware of what information of yours is being released publicly. Forum profiles, Twitter "tweets", and other online discussion mediums are all popular trawling grounds for identity thieves. While you may think a comment about some personal matter is quite harmless, be aware that some of these theives are smart enough to use innocent blurbs like these and put them together into a detailed picture of your life. This information could easily be used to crack the security questions on your email address or even your bank account. For example, many security questions are "what is your maiden name?" or "what is the name of your first pet?" and the answers may be inadvertently revealed in a public "wall" conversation.

It may seem like a hassle to act like such a wet blanket when all your friends are having fun on the internet with Facebook and such, but keep in mind the inconvenience that would result from having your identity stolen. Think about if your finances or your credit score could survive such an ordeal. Preventing your information from falling into the wrong hands does not have to ruin your enjoyment of the internet, it simply requires situational awareness just like in real life.