Watch out identity theives…there’s a new dynamic duo in town, and they’re out to fight fraud like never before. MarketWatch recently reported that AllClear ID, an award winning tech company specializing in identity theft protection, has partnered with the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance (NCFTA).
The NCFTA includes all kinds of good guys fighting the good fight, pulling together everyone from law enforcement to security researchers. Now they’ll be armed with cutting-edge technology, thanks to AllClear. The company has created a system that will securely alert consumers when their personal information is stolen and used illegally.
This groundbeaking fraud detection service is offered totally free of charge, and also comes with perks such as support from top security researchers, advancing internet scans to root out compromised personal data, and follow-up support if fraud is detected. To sign up, simply visit www.AllClearID.com or download the new AllClear ID iPhone application from the Apple App Store.
Other Ways to Steer Clear of Identity Thieves
Of course, it can’t hurt to do a little dynamic crime stopping yourself. Here are five straightforward ways to keep your identity, well, yours:
1. Buy a shredder—and use it. Shred everything: receipts, old bank statements, pre-approved credit card offers. Any document with personal information on it could be useful to an identity thief.
2. Check up on your accounts. Take the time to look over your purchase history, and not just when you get a monthly statement. Keep an eye out for weird charges or unauthorized use.
3. Look for the httpS. Make sure all of your online purchases happen through an encrypted, secure site. An easy way to check? Look for the “https” instead of the usual http at the beginning of the web address.
4. Read the privacy policy. Before you make an online purchase or register for something online, read the privacy policy. Understand how your personal information will be handled. Hint: you don’t want it shared with third parties.
5. Pick a good password. Please don’t use your mother's maiden name, your birth date, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Don’t even use a single word that would appear in a dictionary. Pick a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters instead.
SOURCES:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/allclear-id-partners-with-retailers-and-cyber-security-experts-to-alert-consumers-when-identity-thieves-have-access-to-their-bank-accounts-credit-cards-and-social-security-numbers-2012-03-14
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20020612a.asp
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/deter.html
PHOTO CREDIT:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:-_Padlock_-.jpg
