Nowadays most people surf the Internet for necessity or pleasure, for work, education, social or entertainment purposes. However, in each of these activities there is a risk of becoming a victim of information theft and even online identity theft.
In this article we help you find out how to stay safe.
What is Identity Theft ?
In general terms, identity is something that defines a person and makes them unique. For the purposes of the nation, it is a benefit that the state provides to its citizens, through which they can exercise their rights and fulfil their duties. Among them, it is possible to highlight the legal documents that support the veracity of the data of each individual, such as birth certificate, ID card or others. Identity can be physical or virtual, which means that a person has a unique figure both in real life and on the web, the latter being vulnerable to being impersonated more easily than the former. In this sense, impersonating a physical identity would require impersonating another person by stealing their ID card, passport or other documents and presenting them as their own. On the other hand, usurpation in the virtual sphere refers to the violation of users, passwords, among others, in order to access information as if it were one's own.
Virtual identity theft or usurpation occurs when a person steals names, account numbers, addresses, social security numbers, accounts, passwords and more, in order to take advantage of them and use them to his or her advantage. This is a criminal offence punishable by law.
How to Combat Identity Theft on the Internet?
There are a number of ways to combat identity theft, including using a
SurfShark VPN, incognito browsing and others that we will mention below:
1. If you are going to use Internet on a public WiFi network or the network of a public establishment, it will be of great help to use a private browsing network. This will encrypt your data to prevent it being stolen by cybercriminals.
2. Use incognito mode whenever you browse, whether from your home, office or elsewhere. This will help keep your information secure.
3. Use passwords that do not include dates that are important to you or data that can be easily breached. Also, try to change these passwords periodically for greater security.
4. Do not open emails or links that look suspicious or whose origin is unknown, as they could be from a criminal with the intention of stealing or usurping your identity.
5. Be aware that no bank or government agency will ask for your details or private information by mail, as they know that this may pose a risk to you. Do not use your private data or information on public computers, such as internet cafes, libraries or others, as these often do not have security filters and can be easily breached to steal your identity. Do not share your private information over the internet with other users, regardless of whether it is a family member or friend, it is really difficult to know who is behind the computer.
An identity thief often uses their anonymity to target more potential victims. By making conscious and proper use of the Internet, you can take advantage of its benefits without compromising your security or becoming a victim of identity theft. However, at the slightest suspicion or evidence that you have been impersonated, report it to the relevant authorities to prevent any action being taken in your name.