Identity Theft and Your Computer

Identity theft can be one of the most devastating crimes that a person can have to deal with. Criminals only need a few pieces of personal information (date of birth, social security number, or address) to ruin a persons credit and financial future. W2 tax forms are the perfect piece of information to have, as it contains all of the information needed for the crime (Greenspan). Once a victim of identity theft, it can take months and sometimes even years to correct the problem and rebuild your credit.

With identity theft on the rise, it has become very important for people to stay up to date and informed about preventative ways to protect your financial future. According to the FBI statistics, identity theft is "one of the fastest growing crimes in America" (Hamilton). As technology improves everyday, it should come as no surprise that computers are becoming an easier target for this type of criminal.

Every year there are lots of people that choose to upgrade or replace their current computers for newer models. Many times when people do this, their old computers are either thrown out with the garbage donated to charity or re-sold. What one does with their computer before getting rid of it, can sometimes determine their financial fate.

Most people think that deleting all of their personal files before getting rid of their computer is all one needs to do to protect their identity. Deleting the files is typically done by using the mouse or the keyboard. What many people don't realize is that all this really does is make more room for storage in which ever file the information was deleted from. The area of storage needs to be over written with new data in order for it to be literally removed from the computer. The data that one thought was deleted can still be retrieved if it is not over written (NASA).

Selling a computer that is not properly protected is not the only identity theft threat that people need to worry about. According to what the Federal Trade Commission informed Congress, it has become a lot easier for someone steal another person's identity through use of the internet.

Now with the improved technology that we have today identity theft has gotten out of hand. Recently identity theft criminals have started bugging public computers in libraries and businesses. These criminals use a device called key logging software otherwise known as system monitors. These devices, which are tiny plugs that are inserted between the keyboard and the computer, allow the criminal to monitor and retrieve any personal information that is typed on the computer.

One of the largest groups of people that fall victim to identity theft is that of the college student. College students are more vulnerable to this type of crime due to the fact that nearly half of them get credit card applications weekly or sometimes even daily. Another factor is that an estimated 50% of college students have their grades posted on the internet, with their social security number being their password. [1]

As the number of computer users is on the rise, it is safe to say that number of identity theft cases will also increase. As information and tips on prevention have become more readily available one can be optimistic that if the proper steps are taken, their identity won't be stolen.

Works Cited

Greenspan, Aaron. Perspective: Is Identity Theft Inevitable. 5 Feb. 2006 http://www.news.com/Is+identity+theft+inevitable/2010-1029_3-5648740.html

Hamilton, Richard M. Police Notebook, University of Oklahoma Police Department. http://www.uo.edu/oupd/inetmenu.htm

Protect Yourself and NASA Before Getting Rid of That Old Home Computer. NASA Office of Inspector General. http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/oig/hq/identity.html

[1] College students tend to have a higher chance of identity theft based on several different reasons. Approximately 1/3 of college students never worry about their checking or credit card balances. They are also at a risk if they participate in any activity such as banking on line, making on line purchases, the use of their cell phone, and if they have student loans.