Month: July 2020

Here are five indicators that suggest someone else might have taken over your identity.

You possess personal information such as your age, date of birth, educational background, medical history, and other sensitive details. It is imperative that this information remains confidential and is not disclosed to unauthorized persons. However, this information may be stolen in some cases, putting you at risk of identity fraud. 

If this happens, you may wonder what you can do to protect yourself and how you can identify if your identity has been stolen. One way to detect identity theft is by regularly monitoring your finances. But what are the signs you should look out for?

1. Your credit or bank account bill stops coming

Once a month, your bills arrive either on your doorstep or in your mailbox, unless you have opted for paperless billing. However, one day you may notice that your bills haven’t arrived at all. You may find nothing on your doorstep or in your email inbox. This could be a sign that your bills have been diverted.

If someone has stolen your identity, they may try to take advantage of your financial situation. In order to avoid being caught, they may take steps to protect themselves. One way of doing this is to make sure that they intercept your credit card bill or bank statement. They can do this by taking the letters from your postman or mailbox, or even by informing the bank that you have changed your address.

2. A debt collector calls about an account you didn’t open

It’s common to feel anxious when debt collectors call you, especially if you haven’t borrowed any money. However, if your personal information has been stolen and used for identity theft, you should expect such calls. Unfortunately, you may not receive any call until after a few defaults have been made, meaning the thief has been benefitting from your hard work for around three months. But you don’t have to worry too much because debt collectors can take action in cases of suspected identity theft. The process of reclaiming your identity can be initiated, but it will take some time.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

3. You’re unexpectedly refused credit

Have you been saving money for a deposit on a house, a new car, or perhaps a new iPhone? And when you finally apply for credit, you are refused, leaving you puzzled and frustrated. This could be because the maximum credit available to you has already been agreed upon, and someone has been masquerading as you. Your identity has been stolen, and your financial life has been destroyed. Every penny you could borrow has been stolen, and you would not have known about it until you tried to apply for credit. This type of incident often leads to the discovery of identity theft, which is one of the most common and devastating situations to find yourself in. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to your bank statements regularly.

4. Your credit report refers to checks and loans you didn’t apply for

Regularly accessing your credit report is an excellent way to monitor your loans and debts. Doing so lets you know how much you still owe on each commitment, which can help you plan for future expenses.

Your credit report can also show you if any credit checks have been made in your name. However, it can be a cause for concern if you haven’t applied for anything. So, why would these checks have been made?

Sometimes, credit checks are innocent and referred to as “soft checks.” For example, when you switch to a new energy provider. While it may be surprising, it’s not unusual. But, if complete credit checks have been made, this could be a sign of identity theft. Someone may have stolen your identity and is using it to borrow money in your name. They could be buying a car or a house or even withdrawing a large sum of money to disappear with.

(Image credit: ElasticComputeFarm / Pixabay)

5. You’re billed for medical treatment you didn’t receive or need

Medical fraud is a growing problem, with con artists, scammers, and identity thieves taking advantage of vulnerable patients. If you receive a bill for a service you did not use, it is a big warning sign that something is not right. However, you may not think to check your medical provider’s bill if you have not been ill. But what if you have been sick or needed treatment for an injury? If you submit a medical claim and find out that you have reached your benefits limit, it may be because someone has used your insurance to pay for their own treatment before you. It is important to be vigilant and report any suspected cases of medical fraud to avoid being a victim.

What to do after a data breach

It’s important to be aware that data breaches are common and can result in millions of user records being leaked, including personal data that might belong to you. This information is often sold on the Dark Web, which is a cause for concern.

Many companies, such as banks, card companies, PayPal, and Facebook, have been targeted by hackers. While a data breach doesn’t necessarily mean that your identity has been stolen, it does indicate that your personal information may be at risk.

If you hear about a data breach, it’s a good idea to contact the company that has been affected and ask for assurances about the safety of your details. If there’s money associated with your account, it should be covered, but it’s essential to confirm this.

In addition, you can use the Have I Been Pwned service to check whether your data has been involved in any other breaches. This will enable you to take appropriate action to safeguard your personal information.

(Image credit: Shutterstock / Sapann Design)

How can I find out if someone is using my identity?

It’s possible to check if someone is using your identity by waiting for your bank account to be emptied, your credit card to be maxed out, or a new loan to be taken out in your name. However, it’s not wise to wait for that to happen. Instead, you can use credit monitoring tools provided by Experian and other credit reference agencies to check for unauthorized applications made in your name. You should also verify that your bank or credit card company offers SMS alerts for unusual spending patterns. It’s also important to check your social media accounts to ensure that you don’t have a digital twin.

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Using biometric authentication can provide protection against various scams and fraudulent activities.

With the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, people around the world are increasingly relying on e-commerce to purchase their day-to-day essentials. This has led to a rise in the sharing of personal information online, making individuals more vulnerable to identity theft. However, the use of unique biometric identifiers can help create verified digital identities for consumers, which can effectively prevent identity fraud. Self-sovereign identity technology can also assist in giving consumers ownership and control over their personal data. 

Unfortunately, fraud has become a common issue during the pandemic, and it looks like it will be a permanent fixture in the new normal. According to consumer reporting agency Experian, fraud has increased by 33% in the UK alone since April, with fraudulent credit card applications being one of the main infractions. On a global scale, phishing attacks – where attackers trick victims into revealing personal information – have increased by 600% in the first quarter of 2020. These attacks are often a precursor to credit card fraud, where attackers steal identification to use in fraudulent applications.

Data leaks and hacks are also on the rise. Last weekend, data belonging to 142 million guests of MGM Grand appeared online following a hack. With the personal information of millions up for sale on darknet markets, victims face the very real possibility of identity theft.

It isn’t just individuals being targeted either, retailers have also experienced their fair share of deception. Scams range from an uptick in targeted phishing activities with stolen credentials issued into the eCommerce payments chain to “friendly fraud,” which now accounts for 60-80% of chargebacks. Friendly fraud tends to increase in times of economic crisis. With people short of money and unable to pay bills, they turn to drastic measures such as deceptively claiming money back on purchased goods via credit cards.

The power of self-sovereign data

Identity theft isn’t anything new, of course. Even before the coronavirus, fraud statistics were scaling at pace. Per an FTC report, consumers reported losing more than $1.9 billion In 2019 due to fraud—a $293 million advance on the year prior. 

And it’s perhaps no wonder. As our data becomes ubiquitously tied to everything we do, identity thieves have more attack vectors than ever. And, to make matters worse, their techniques are becoming more sophisticated.

Per Javelin’s 2020 Identity Fraud Report, criminals are adapting to new technology devised to mitigate identity theft risk faster than consumers are adopting it. Fortunately, beyond the exploitable SMS-based two-factor verification techniques or dependence on enterprise-based legacy security systems, technology is quickly raising the bar.

Verified digital IDs will soon become the standard for individuals and businesses alike, outmoding passwords and other lackluster forms of authentication. Moreover, by linking to payment and interweaving the ideals of self-sovereign identity and decentralization, digital IDs can render ultimate control to the individual—leaving identity fraud in the past.

The importance of self-sovereign data and decentralization shouldn’t be undermined. Consumer concerns are mounting when it comes to data handling. In a recent survey undertaken by market researchers Opinium, 77% of respondents felt uneasy about multiple platforms holding personally identifiable information such as date of birth or their mother’s maiden name. And with ransomware attacks up some 900% this year and bad actors specifically targeting enterprise networks and their data, it’s perhaps no surprise.

While leveraging anomaly and malware detection can go a long way in mitigating attack vectors, these techniques don’t entirely target the issue at the root. Instead, we should be looking inward at how we, as individuals, can avoid becoming victims of fraud. Ironically, we can do so by quite literally looking inward—and harnessing our DNA.

Facing up to identity fraud

Biometrically validated personal IDs underlined by blockchain technology are the next logical step forward in fighting fraud.

By leaning on biometrics—something as simple as a fingerprint or face scan—we can bypass the need to provide passwords or detailed personally identifiable information to third parties and enhance our data security. And by storing any personal identity via an immutable, encryptable, and decentralized blockchain, we can both validate and secure data so it can be easily deployed while minimizing attack vectors. Tie this all together with payment, aBiometrically validated personal IDs underlined by blockchain technology are the next logical step forward in the fight against fraud. By relying on biometrics, such as fingerprints or face scans, we can avoid the need to provide passwords or detailed personally identifiable information to third parties, thus enhancing our data security. By storing personal identity information on an immutable, encryptable, and decentralized blockchain, we can both validate and secure data, making it easy to deploy while minimizing attack vectors. When combined with payment, this creates an impregnable verified digital ID that you-and only you-can control.

With this method, you’ll no longer have to worry about forgetting your password or losing your ID. Instead, your ID and critical personal data will follow you wherever you go because, essentially, it is you. The brilliance of this approach is that only the owner can use a biometrically verified ID. This eliminates any potential for fraud, while preserving privacy.

Digital identities verified by biometric authentication can protect people from many of the scams related to COVID-19, ultimately ending identity theft and enabling individuals to become more vigilant in protecting their private data.nd you get an impregnable verified digital ID which you—and nobody else but you—controls.

Those stomach-churning instances where you’ve forgotten your password, or even mislaid your ID will become a mere memory. Instead, your ID and critical personal data follow you wherever you go—because, essentially, it is you.

The brilliance of this method is, no one, besides the owner, can use a biometrically verified ID. This means that any potential for fraud is eliminated, and privacy remains preserved.

Digital identities, verified by biometric authentication, can protect people from many of the scams related to COVID-19, ultimately putting an end to identity theft and enabling individuals to become more vigilant in protecting their private data.

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Why pay for a password manager when Chrome has a free one built in?

The Chrome password manager (officially titled Google Password Manager) is a free password management tool available within the Chrome web browser. It keeps a record of all the usernames, passwords, addresses, and payment methods that you use online.

Why is this useful? Using a single password on multiple websites is a big security risk; if one of those websites is hacked, your password for all of them is revealed. This is why security experts encourage users to have a different password for each website, but this can quickly leave you with dozens or even hundreds of passwords to keep track of. A password manager, like the Chrome password manager, simplifies this task.

Alongside the best antivirus software and the best firewall software, a good password manager can really improve your security and privacy. This is particularly true given that employees reuse a password an average of 13 times – that means that a single breach could compromise a lot of accounts. A password manager helps to reduce this possibility.   

Let’s take a closer look at the Chrome password manager and how to use it.

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How to install the Chrome password manager

Google Password Manager is installed automatically with the Chrome browser. You can download Chrome for Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, and Mac OS for free. After downloading the installation file, run it and follow the instructions. 

You’ll be asked to create a new Google account or you can use an existing account. To create a new account, enter your full name, and choose a username that will be used as the basis for your Gmail email address. You can choose to supply a backup email address or phone number that can be used to recover your account if you lose access to it.

By default, the Chrome password manager will be enabled within Chrome. If you install Chrome on multiple devices, the usernames and passwords stored will automatically sync across all of them.

(Image credit: Google)

How to store passwords in Chrome

When you use the Chrome password manager, every time you enter a new username and password on a website, you’ll be asked whether you want to save them. You can even save multiple username and password combinations for each site, so you can use the Chrome password manager for multiple accounts.

Whenever you return to a website, the password manager will automatically fill in the login username and password for you. If you have multiple username and password combinations stored, you’ll be prompted to choose between them in a drop-down menu.

Managing your stored passwords in Chrome

You can add, edit, and remove any of the credentials stored in Chrome from within the browser. Click on your profile picture, which is near the top right of the browser interface. Then, click on the Passwords button, which looks like a key. There, you’ll find all your stored usernames and passwords.

You can also manage your passwords by heading to passwords.google.com.

Generating unique, strong passwords in Chrome

Creating strong, secure, unique passwords in Chrome is easy. When you sign up for a new website and are asked to create a password, click on the password text box and choose Suggest Strong Password. You’ll see the unique password that Chrome has generated for you, and it will be automatically filled in on the website and stored in the password manager.

If Suggest Strong Password doesn’t show up when you click the password box, try right-clicking on the password box and choosing Generate Password.

(Image credit: Google)

Checking the strength and security of your passwords

Chrome includes a handy tool that shows you if your current set of passwords is strong and secure. On Windows, choose Settings, click Safety Check, and select Check Now. This will scan all your current passwords and then generate a report on whether any have been exposed in a data breach. The report also advises when your passwords are weak or if you’ve reused the same password on multiple websites.

If any of your passwords have been exposed due to a data breach, change them at once. For maximum security, you should also replace any weak passwords or ones that you’ve reused across websites.

Is the Chrome password manager secure enough?

For many users, the built-in password manager in Chrome is quite secure. Your Google account can be protected with two-step authentication, making it difficult for anyone unauthorized to access your passwords.

But it does have a few limitations. It only works with the Chrome browser, so if you use other browsers, such as Firefox or Safari, then your passwords won’t autofill there. You can’t use the Chrome password manager to autofill passwords in desktop applications. There’s also no facility for securely sharing passwords with other members of your household. Most paid password managers include these features. 

Disabling Chrome password manager

If you use an alternative password manager, such as LastPass or Dashlane, you may want to disable the password manager in Chrome. You can do this by clicking on Settings, choosing Autofill, clicking on Passwords, and turning off the settings for Auto Sign-in and Offer to Save Passwords.

Included with Chrome

The Chrome password manager is a free password management tool built into the Google Chrome browser. While it doesn’t have some of the advanced features of our favorite password managers, it’s still a solid choice if you exclusively use Chrome as your web browser. It’s easy to use, works on virtually every website you’ll encounter, and requires no additional installation. It even has a password checkup tool that gives you a report on the security of your current passwords. Overall, Chrome password manager is a solid choice for keeping track of all the passwords you use online.

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Confused about which of these two types of hosting you need? This primer will help you make what can be a difficult decision.

There are various different types of web hosting and it is crucial that you choose the appropriate hosting package for your specific needs. Shared and WordPress hosting are two common types. How do you know which is best for you and your website? To help you figure this out, in this article, we are going to compare the two.

Overview

Shared hosting is most popular with smaller websites and blogs, and it’s one of the most common types of hosting because it is the most affordable and very user-friendly. If your website does not require a large amount of resources or server customization, shared hosting can be the perfect solution for your needs, and your gateway to the world wide web. 

The best WordPress hosting is designed to host websites which are using the WordPress content management system (CMS). Known for its speed, reliability, and increased security, WordPress hosting allows you to focus on your content while the host handles all of the technical server details. A subset of this is managed WordPress hosting which, as its name implies, is about helping time, knowledge or resource-poor organisations manage their WordPress installations better.

What are the advantages of shared hosting?

Shared hosting has many advantages, not only in terms of cost, but also in features. With most hosting providers, shared hosting offers unlimited storage space, so no matter how large your website may be, shared hosting can store everything.

Unlike WordPress hosting which is restricted to the WordPress CMS, shared hosting allows you to use almost any CMS. Whether you use Drupal, Magento, or a tool like DreamWeaver, shared hosting will support almost all content management systems and web development software.

Shared hosting is known to be the least expensive hosting, making it the most common.

What are the advantages of WordPress hosting?

WordPress hosting brings a whole new level of performance to your website. As it only houses WordPress websites, the server can be optimised in such a way as to allow for advanced server caching. This enables your website to perform at the highest possible speed. This speed optimisation can improve SEO which may ultimately boost your ranking on Google allowing you to be found by many more people.

Keeping your online home up to date is an important part of managing and running a successful website. WordPress hosting provides auto-updates, ensuring better security while giving you one less thing to worry about when it comes to your business’ website.

Also, with a managed WordPress provider, you get a support team that not only understands WordPress but are experts in it. Furthermore, the WordPress host will save you a lot of time and effort by taking care of basic site optimization on your behalf, so you don’t have to rely on a slew of plugins to achieve the same result. 

While plugins in themselves aren’t troublesome, it’s always a good practice to use as few as possible for better performance. And you can be sure that the WordPress hosting provider has carefully vetted the plugins to make sure they are of the highest quality and are fully secure.

Despite all these precautions, if something were to happen to your website, WordPress hosting generally provides free automatic backups. This gives you peace of mind, knowing that at any time you can restore your website to what it was in the past. The ease and worry-free features make WordPress hosting stand out from other hosting packages.

What are the disadvantages of shared hosting?

Shared hosting can host several hundred websites on one server, which can negatively affect the overall resources and speed of your website. If your website goes viral and you receive a huge traffic spike, due to resources being shared, your website may experience long load times, leading to downtime.

Another aspect of shared hosting is security. Because your website is on a server with many other websites, there is no way to ensure that all maintenance and security updates have been run across all websites. This opens a potential security threat to your website because you cannot manage other website’s security or content management systems.

Shared hosting does not allow server customization due to the effect it can have on other customers’ websites, thereby requiring you to use the default server settings configured by your hosting company.

What are the disadvantages of WordPress hosting?

WordPress hosting is restricted to only hosting websites built with the WordPress content management system, meaning that any other CMS can’t be hosted on WordPress hosting.

Due to server configuration, WordPress hosting generally restricts the overall amount of disk space that you can use. It can also restrict the number of websites that you host on your account. This can be a disadvantage if you have a website which is large in size.

Similar to shared hosting, WordPress hosting also restricts server customization, as the server is highly optimized to allow for the ultimate in loading speeds.

And finally, WordPress hosting typically costs more than shared hosting.

Which hosting type is the best for my website?

To answer this question let’s look at your needs and desires.

We recommend using shared hosting if:

You want to use a different CMS outside of WordPress. If you want to use Drupal, Magento, OpenCart, or any other CMS, shared hosting may be your best option. 

You have a modest or limited budget. Shared hosting is the least expensive, it can be a perfect hosting package if you are working on a restricted budget.

You want to start small and grow over time. Starting small with shared hosting can be a perfect way to begin, as most hosting companies will allow you to upgrade as your website grows.

We recommend using WordPress hosting if:

You are using WordPress as your CMS. Unfortunately, you cannot use other types of CMS with WordPress hosting.

You want to manage a medium-sized website or online store. WordPress hosting offers impressive speed and uptime for medium to larger-sized websites. This is perfect for e-commerce, business, intranet, and community websites. 

You want to manage your website content, but not your website’s server security. Providing auto-updates, free automatic backups, as well as increased server security, WordPress hosting allows you to focus on your content and not the technical server details.

Conclusion

Many website owners start off using shared hosting. This gives you the ability to get your website live and available for visitors to view. As the most affordable hosting in the market, shared hosting is usually the best option for small websites.

On the other hand, WordPress hosting has advantages. Whether you are a business owner trying to get started or you are an experienced website developer, WordPress hosting should definitely be given consideration when choosing web hosting. Its superfast speeds, as well as enhanced security features, allow WordPress hosting to stand above shared hosting in many areas.

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