Spam filters and secure email gateways are essential for preventing identity theft, as more criminals turn to online scams to steal personal information. It's important to understand the warning signs of phishing attacks, as they can be deceptively credible and customized specifically for you. Fraudsters are after account numbers, passwords, social security numbers and other sensitive information that they can use to loot your checking account or accumulate bills on your credit cards. In the worst case scenario, you could be the victim of identity theft, which can cause damage to your financial history and personal reputation that will take years to unravel. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from being a victim of a phishing scheme.
Installing and using appropriate Internet security software on your computer is one of the easiest ways to do this. Security researchers program antispam and antimalware software to detect even the stealthiest malware, and a password manager can help manage your online credentials. It's also important to use the latest version of your web browser and make sure all the most recent Internet security patches have been applied.
