Security Tips to Prevent Identity Theft at Your First Job This Summer

Protecting a corporate computer helps you prevent your own identity theft as well as safeguard your company from unfortunate data leakage incidents. "Parents teach us to 'look both ways before crossing the street' but most of us didn't grow up hearing, 'make sure your password contains a number' or, 'install the latest service pack,'" says Todd Feinman, CEO of Identity Finder, LLC -- a company whose software helps prevent both of these problems. Identity Finder (http://www.identityfinder.com) here provides ten simple tips to help you protect your computer at work:

     1. Your password is a form of your identity and can be used to access
     your computer and all the information on it. Make sure it is at least
     seven characters, contains numbers, and upper and lowercase letters. Do
     not simply pick a word from the dictionary and add a number.
     2. Peer-to-peer file sharing programs may allow people to access your
     company's data and steal personal and private information. Configure
     these programs not to expose personal folders.
     3. Microsoft releases Windows fixes weekly or monthly. Always update your
     computer as soon as possible after they are released and never wait more
     than a full month. These fixes plug holes that hackers know how to
     exploit to gain access to your files.
     4. If you set up a wireless network in your home or office, enable the
     security features to prevent people from joining your network.
     5. Don't leave your laptop unattended at the bar or coffee shop. Hundreds
     of thousands of laptops are stolen each year!
     6. Don't purchase anything online with your credit card unless the
     website is secured with SSL, as indicated by a padlock in your web
     browser.
     7. Don't click on email messages that contain hyperlinks to websites.
     Close the email and type the website address in manually. Phishing
     attacks are increasingly common and attempt to trick you into visiting
     false websites to steal your personal information.
     8. Never enter private company information on public computers such as in
     a hotel, library, or at school. These systems may be infected with a
     keylogger or spyware capturing everything you type.
     9. Never email or instant message private company information. Those
     communications are usually not secure and can be listened in upon by
     other people.
     10. Make sure you don't store any personal or confidential information on
     your computer unsecured. (You can run the free trial of Identity Finder
     to see what private information is unsecured and vulnerable to identity
     thieves.)

About:

The Identity Finder software searches through files and e-mails for personal information -- such as social security numbers, passwords, and credit card details -- and helps users securely shred or encrypt the data. Identity Finder, LLC is a leading niche innovator of security and privacy technologies. Founded in 2001 and headquartered inNew York City, the company specializes in developing software solutions that meet business and consumer needs. The company's products have been used by thousands of organizations in more than 40 countries.

    Contact:
    Fern Edison: fern@erichopr.com (845-679-6319)
    http://www.identityfinder.com

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Identity Finder, LLC

Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze, Daily News

Tags: Education and schools, High Tech, Internet, Computers and Electronics, new york

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