Stealing the identity of others by using their credit card, drivers license, social security or other personal identification numbers. With "true name" identity theft, the thief uses the information to open new accounts. With "account takeover" identity theft, the thief uses the information to access existing accounts.
Not only can the thieves run up bills for the victims, but they can commit crimes pretending to be the victim, who may have enormous difficulty proving otherwise. Although catalog shopping by telephone has been around for decades, it is possible that an order taker might find someone acting suspicious. However, the complete lack of human interaction on the Web has caused identity theft to increase. In 1998, the U.S. Congress made identity theft a federal offense.
Not only can the thieves run up bills for the victims, but they can commit crimes pretending to be the victim, who may have enormous difficulty proving otherwise. Although catalog shopping by telephone has been around for decades, it is possible that an order taker might find someone acting suspicious. However, the complete lack of human interaction on the Web has caused identity theft to increase. In 1998, the U.S. Congress made identity theft a federal offense.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Blink Personal 4.5.1 (Windows)
- Designed for personal, student, and home office use, Blink Personal Edition is the only solution that provides consumers with complete PC security for free. Blink Personal Edition is an internet security solution that protects users' systems and sensitive data from viruses, spyware, identity theft, malicious web sites, and other attacks...
- Software downloads 2009-11-22
- Google's Chrome OS: Will you give up desktop apps?
- I won't ntntI can'tI'm not online 24/7. I need local apps, as does everyone else. Say what you want. But network outages happen... Weather by forces of nature or human error, a network will eventually go down. It's only a matter of time. And knowing Google's past GMail outages, I...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-19
- ID Vault Free Edition 5.5.514 (Windows)
- ID Vault provides complete protection against identity theft and fraud for your online accounts. It encrypts your passwords, usernames and credit card information securely on your PC. ID Vault logs you in without typing so you don't have to remember any passwords, and creates a secure connection between your PC...
- Software downloads 2009-11-19
- Auto Hide IP 4.6.2.2 (Windows)
- Auto Hide IP is privacy-protection software which enables you to conceal your real IP address, surf anonymously, and automatically change your IP address every few minutes. With it, you are able to conceal your identity online by showing them a fake IP, blocking hackers and identity theft from knowing your...
- Software downloads 2009-11-17
- Identity Finder Free Edition 4.1 (Windows)
- Let us prove to you the power of our search capabilities for free. Simply download, install, and run the search. It will detect unprotected credit cards and passwords on your computer that are vulnerable to identity theft or fraud. Once found, you can permanently shred or encrypt the information with...
- Software downloads 2009-11-14
- Secure-Me 2.4 (Windows)
- The Secure-Me program offers customers security as a service SAAS as it secures internet browsing from the latest web threats, protecting users' privacy and preventing identity theft. Once installed, Secure-Me offers a secure browser that encrypts all internet traffic leaving from or coming to the user's machine, accelerates the user's...
- Software downloads 2009-11-12
- Real Hide IP 3.5.4.2 (Windows)
- Real Hide IP is easy-to-use privacy software which allows you to conceal your IP address, choose IP country and surf anonymously. It can clear cookies, protect your privacy, prevent identity theft, and guard against hacker intrusions, all with the click of a button. Using it, you can conceal your identity...
- Software downloads 2009-11-11
- AVG Internet Security 9.0.704 (Windows)
- AVG Internet Security 9.0 is faster, safer and easier to use. This is a complete solution for all the things you do online. Multiple layers of protection mean you don't have to worry about identity theft, spam or viruses. AVG Internet Security 9.0 gives you two vital extra layers of...
- Software downloads 2009-11-11
- ZoneAlarm Extreme Security 2010 9.1.008 (Windows)
- ZoneAlarm Extreme Security is a comprehensive suite protecting your PC, your browser, and your data. The OSFirewall monitors changes within your computer to spot and stop new attacks that bypass traditional anti-virus protection. The Advanced Download Protection analyzes browser downloads in three unique ways before they can infect your PC...
- Software downloads 2009-11-10
- IEWall 2.0 build 1012 (Windows)
- IEWall software is an award-winning, browser security utilities that gives safety advice about website BEFORE you click on a risky site, Support all web browser include IE6/7/8 Firefox Opera Chrome Safari. It will keep you safe from online scams, identity theft, spyware, spam, viruses and unreliable shopping sites. IEWall can...
- Software downloads 2009-11-09
- Auslogics Antivirus 13.0.16 (Windows)
- Auslogics Antivirus is a comprehensive security tool that will protect your computer against known and unknown threats. With its real-time protection all kinds of viruses, spyware, Trojans and identity theft will be stopped before they can do damage. To protect your computer against unknown threats, Auslogics Antivirus constantly analyzes the...
- Software downloads 2009-11-05
- Mirrapass Login and Password Helper 1.2.5 (Windows)
- Login to your favorite websites safely and securely with a single click. Save time, protect your identity and never forget a password again. Mirrapass can secure your online identity and manage your passwords to protect you against fraud and identity theft. Now you can automatically and securely save your login...
- Software downloads 2009-11-03
- ZapShares 3.2 (Windows)
- Using P2P file sharing software such as LimeWire, uTorrent, Azureus Vuze, BitTorrent, eMule, or Ares to share music, movies, or software can expose you to lawsuits by copyright holders and identity theft. ZapShares scans and monitors your computer, identifying potential security threats caused by file sharing software, and ensures that...
- Software downloads 2009-10-27
- LozaLock 3.1.1 (Windows)
- Anti-Theft Data Protection that collects and stores evidence about who has been trying to break into your computer. LozaLock will remotely alert you if your computer is under attack. Send e-mails to a predefined e-mail address at any unsuccessful attempt to unlock the computer. Take a Webcam picture of the...
- Software downloads 2009-10-22
- Mobile Safe Patrol Free Version 3.1.1 (Windows)
- Anti-Theft Data Protection that collects and stores evidence about who has been trying to break into your computer. Remotely alert you if your computer is under attack! Send e-mails to a predefined e-mail address at any unsuccessful attempt to unlock the computer. Take a Webcam picture of the person trying...
- Software downloads 2009-10-21
- Anonymous Web Surfing 2.3 (Windows)
- Your IP address is your online identity. It could be easily used by hackers to break into your computer, steal personal information, or commit other crimes against you. "Anonymous Web Surfing" allows you to surf anonymously, change your IP address, prevent identity theft, and guard against hacker intrusions, all with...
- Software downloads 2009-10-20
- In the aftermath of the T-Mobile Chernobyl
- Lazy people.Thats all I can think. Who, in their right mind, would entrust valuable data to >> someone elses system
- Discussion threads 2009-10-12
- Zone Alarm Extreme Security 2010
- Best known for its ZoneAlarm firewall, Check Point Software also publishes two full-featured security suites. ZoneAlarm Internet Security 2010 gives users a robust firewall, antivirus and antispyware, and parental control package for $49.95, while ZoneAlarm Extreme Security 2010 adds Web browsing protection, system tune-up tools, backup options, and anti-phishing technology...
- Product reviews 2009-10-08
- Web of Trust for Google Chrome 0.5 beta (Windows)
- Web of Trust is a free Internet security addon for your browser. It will keep you safe from online scams, identity theft, spyware, spam, viruses and unreliable shopping sites. WOT warns you before you interact with a risky website.
- Software downloads 2009-10-08
- Tizer Secure 2.1.1.2 (Windows)
- Tizer Secure, an all-in-one computer security solution that is Certified for Windows Vista, protects Windows PC users from known and unknown threats, defends against fresh attacks at the point of entry, stops system crashes, guards private information from hackers and prevents identity theft.Created by X-Wire Technology, a Microsoft Certified Partner,...
- Software downloads 2009-10-08
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