Identity crisis on the web

Phishing is the process of acquiring personal information Ãï½ï½ usernames,passwords and credit card/bank account details Ãï½ï½ using communication purporting to be from popular websites,banks,online payment processors or even IT administrators. Carried out through email or instant messaging,it often directs users to enter personal details on webpages that look extremely genuine.

Ãï½ï½Phishing emails are dangerous since these sites are online only for 3-5 days,Ãï½ï½ explains Ibrahim. So if any email or message,say from a bank or shopping site,asks for your personal information,call the respective company and confirm if such an email has indeed been sent out. Ãï½ï½Never respond to any mail or message asking you to reveal your personal information,Ãï½ï½ says Ibrahim,advising users not to click URLs or call unknown phone numbers in the mails.

Moreover,when visiting banking,credit card or service provider websites,type the URL directly into the browser instead of clicking on an emailed link.

Hackers use the stolen information to impersonate as the person concerned to pilfer data or money from their credit card or bank accounts. To prevent identity theft and maintain information integrity,Ibrahim suggests users enable the right privacy settings on social networking sites. Moreover,it is better to share personal information and photographs only with a close group of friends.

Statistics show a third of the Internet users in India donÃï½ï½t use any security software while browsing. Ãï½ï½Safe surfing of the Internet is mostly about common sense,Ãï½ï½ says Ibrahim,adding that the first essential step is to install genuine security software.

It is not just about getting the right software. Users can also surf more responsibly to protect themselves online. In fact,most cybercrime is easy to avoid. Online criminals are trying to make a quick buck and the more difficult you make their job,the more likely they are to leave you alone and move on to easier targets. Here is how:

• Be discerning with the information you share-think twice before logging on to suspicious sites and sharing information on online communities like Facebook.

• Dont respond to pop-ups asking for your password or other information

• Dont add anyone you dont know to your ‘friend’ list. Dont add anyone to your trusted list unless you know exactly who they are

• Never reveal your passwords to anyone

• Parents must monitor web activities of their children to ensure their safety and privacy. Norton,for instance,has launched a free online tool (http://onlinefamily.norton.com) for parents to control and manage access to what their children are browsing on the Internet

• It is just as important for parents to educate their children on online safety

• Enable privacy features within social networking sites to limit personal posts to people you know and trust

• Unless you can confirm exactly who they are,never agree to meet online friends in person. And even if you can confirm their identity,take precautions by meeting in a public,group setting

• Dont post pictures or images that might give strangers clues about your identity or location. Such pictures can compromise your security

• Install,configure and use a personal firewall

• Make sure your computer is configured securely

• Choose strong passwords,a mixture of alphabets,numbers and symbols,and keep them safe

• Review bank and credit card statements regularly for unfamiliar transactions