Protecting identity?

Obviously everyone is aware of identity theft etc etc.

Question 1 = is online banking/shopping safe?

Question 2 = Can we hide our static IP address when surfing websites?
I'm sure lots of personal information can be gained from IP addys.


ps I do like this new techy section

[Benny]

I don't have time for such long answers as my last post to you... ;-)

Originally Posted by Chatterbox

Question 1 = is online banking/shopping safe?

It can be, but there are lots of ifs:
- if you manage your details required to log in securely
- if your particular bank has a secure online service
- if the computer equiptment you use to access it is set up and secured correctly
...

Originally Posted by Chatterbox

Question 2 = Can we hide our static IP address when surfing websites?

Yes. If you need to, then use an anonymous proxy server.

Originally Posted by Chatterbox

I'm sure lots of personal information can be gained from IP addys.

Not really. With little effort the IP can be traced to the physical location (country) of whomever provided it to the user. With more serious effort the provider (not necessarily the ISP) can be found. Then it's up to someone to put serious pressure (i.e. legal threats) on the provider to give up the owner of the IP. Your IP might be recorded on many sites/services you visit/use, but these records are generally only available to the owner of the site/service.

[Hyno]

Originally Posted by Chatterbox

Obviously everyone is aware of identity theft etc etc.

Question 1 = is online banking/shopping safe?

Question 2 = Can we hide our static IP address when surfing websites?
I'm sure lots of personal information can be gained from IP addys.


ps I do like this new techy section

I do a lot of internet banking & as some of my family is overseas use a lot of online shopping, etc for presents (Amazon, etc). Stick to the big companies and get a good firewall for home (eg Nortons). I (so far) haven't had any problems.

If you don't want to be "identity thefted" keep all documents secure, in particular anything that can be used as identity proof. Shred old bills, etc.
It's all common sense.

[Benny]

One tip I just thought of... ALWAYS use different passwords for accounts at different sites. If one site gets hacked and they get your email and password from the site, the problem will be limitted to that one site and the site should take responsibility. Also, not all sites store your password securely and it may be possible for an insider working for that site to get your password. Using a different one for every site minimizes the risks involved. This kind of thing happens far more frequently than most people think!

To "remember" all the sites and their passwords I use a tool called Password Safe, which I know is secure, as the code for it is freely available for inspection (i.e. I know that the passwords I input are not being secretly sent to someone over the Internet). The basic idea is you "lock" all passwords in a "safe" that's protected by a master password, which is never used for anything else.

Using Norton Internet Security properly can really help the less technical stay safe. Although as with most things security is down to the user being sensible and aware of what they should, and, should not do :!:

Here are a few tips from Yahoo

Choose a long and memorable password. A password is like a toothbrush: choose a good one, don't share it with anyone, and change it at the first sign of problem. A password can be any length, and may contain spaces, symbols, or numbers. You should come up with something that's easy for you to remember but impossible for someone to figure out.

Banks etc will not ask for your password in an unsolicited email or phone call. If you receive such a request, assume it's a hoax and don't reply.

Be suspicious. Anyone, anywhere in the world, can register for an ISP account, and Internet email protocols allow anyone to send a message that appears to be from any other person. Don't assume an email from "Mom" or "Uncle Dave" was actually sent from someone you know, and don't assume that an unsolicited message from user@yahoo-inc.com was really sent by that account.

Scams abound. Scams are a popular way of getting your personal information. The most common scams are fake login pages and forged emails that ask for your password, credit card number, or other sensitive information. Ignore or report anything you see that strikes you as questionable or suspicious.

Know your software. Malicious software (e.g., viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and spyware) often masquerades as legitimate and even useful software. Think carefully before installing or running new software, especially anything unsolicited.

Use anti-virus software. This can detect many, but not all, forms of malicious software before they have a chance to affect your computer. Most notably, anti-virus software does not detect spyware.

Keep your software up to date. You can prevent many problems by regularly checking for and installing updates for your operating system, browser, messaging software, and other programs.

Clean up after using shared computers. If you share a computer, whether it's in a public or private setting, make sure to sign out when not using your account. You should also learn how to "clear the cache," if you use the computer to browse the Internet. Remember that using a shared computer is always riskier than using a computer to which you are the only person with access.

Contact account-security. If you think your account has been compromised or someone else knows your account verification information, contact the Yahoo! account security team for assistance as soon as possible.

Everyone has a role to play. By working together, understanding the risks and knowing how to protect ourselves, we can enjoy our online experience more and be less likely to run into trouble.

I've downloaded a anomymous proxy server, would anyone from admin like to confirm it works? I can't see any eveidence myself :-?

Thanks xxxx

[Benny]

Originally Posted by Chatterbox

I've downloaded a anomymous proxy server, would anyone from admin like to confirm it works? I can't see any eveidence myself :-?

Thanks xxxx

If you posted that through it, then it's not working.

:-? :-? :-? :-? :-?

Ok , I'll have another go.

Blondes do NOT have more fun

Now is it working? :-? :-? :-?

[Mike]

Originally Posted by Chatterbox

Now is it working? :-? :-? :-?

I looked up the IP Address of two of your posts

One address resolved to Rosyth, UK (Also told me your ISP)

The other resolved to ReykjavÃ*k, ICELAND

Does this answer your question :?:



Mike ...