How To Avoid Identity Theft From Wi-Fi Hackers

With the ever increasing popularity of wirelesshackers computer. They can then simply snatch
internet connections, individuals are now oftenthe data they want as the info flows through
connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks to surftheir PC or laptop. Again this includes sensitive
the net instead of paying for their own accounts.data such as passwords, logins and account
Although jumping on somebody else's connectionnumbers.
doesn't seem like the crime of the century, theHow Can I Prevent This?
consequences can be very serious. When youHowever don't panic just yet! There is a very
connect to somebody else's account, yousimple but effective method we can all use to
automatically open up your PC or laptop and yourhelp avoid identity theft from Wi-Fi hackers. Your
personal information stored on it. This couldmost effective defensive strategy against all
actually be what the identity thief wants you totypes of hacking is to simply ensure you are
do!never connected to a wireless network that does
Why Would The Hacker Want Me To Connect?not have a password protection. If you are
The Wi-Fi account holder could be intentionallysetting up your own network, enable the
allowing you access to his/her wireless connectionpassword protection and make a note of it. You
so that they can harvest data direct from yourwill need this at a later date if you decide to
computer. By setting up a proxy server and usingaccess the connection with more computers in
it to capture your information. This may soundsyour home.
quite technical and involved, but to a hacker this isAdditionally, as always, an up to date Anti-Virus
an easy way they can steal all kinds of privateand active Firewall will work very well in tandem
details such as bank account logins, passwordsto keep thieves out. This three tiered security set
and browsing habits.up to protect your computer, the personal
On the other hand, there is also a danger for theinformation stored on it, and help you avoid
account holder. Perhaps the Wi-Fi account holderidentity theft.
has simply forgot to password protect hisBut dont forget Windows Automatic Updates too!
network, or doesn't feel it's necessary? This is aOnce you have your anti-virus installed and running
bad move. In this situation a hacker mayyou're safe to go online and update your update
piggyback the connection and commit illegalWindows operating system. Today's versions of
activities such as download music and movies,Windows comes with a handy 'Automatic
view banned sites or hack into secure accounts.Updates' feature which lets your computer update
By law, the account holder will be liable for anyitself as and when it's required, then simply let's
infringement or crime as it will be traced to themyou know it's ready to install. I strongly suggest
and not to the hacker!you always have this switched on!
What Can The Hacker GetIn this article we've discussed the implications of
Additionally allowing others to connect to your'Wi-Fi' attacks and how to avoid identity theft of
account is a very risky move as hackers findingthis kind. Awareness is the key to avoiding
your unsecured network will be able to access aidentity theft, but there are many more
wide range of information from your computeradvanced techniques thieves are using to steal
including histories, login details, passwords, privateyour identity! The tips in this article are taken
email and much more.from a new Identity Theft ebook The Max Black
A common technique used by identity thieves isReport which explains the new and emerging
known as the 'Middle Man' attack. This involvesthreats to your identity in 2008, then provides
the thief/hacker trying to fool the unprotectedeffective defensive strategies you can begin to
router into feeding all information through theuse instantly!