Cyber Attack Identity Theft
by: shutiL07@gmail.com
Total views: 94
Word Count: 670
Majority of security chiefs express belief taking the right
precautions will protect the average consumer from becoming a victim of
identity theft.
About 58 percent of the respondents say identity theft can
be prevented, 28 percent believe identity theft is inevitable regardless of the
precautions taken by consumers, while 15 percent are simply unsure. Of those
who believe precautionary steps will help, respondents, comprising the nation's
leading security executives, recommend 10 tips in safeguarding against identity
theft.
They are do not share passwords or PIN numbers with anyone
(95%); do not reply to, or click on links within, emails or pop-up messages
that ask for personal or financial information (92%); update virus protection
software regularly (91%); update security patches for web browsers and
operating systems regularly (90%); protect your social security number at all
costs i.e., do not give it out unless it is mandatory (90%); shred, or
otherwise destroy, all documents with personal information prior to disposal
(90%); monitor personal credit reports and statements from financial accounts
regularly (89%); install firewall software (88%); before transmitting personal
information online, verify that the connection is secure i.e., check for an
"s" after "http" in the URL, as well as a lock symbol in
the lower right-hand corner of the screen, which indicates the transmission is
encrypted (84%); and do not email personal or financial information (71%).
Only 2% of respondents recommend staying offline altogether
as a precautionary measure.
Majority, or 74 percent, of the respondents believe the theft of an average
consumer's identity is the fault of both consumers and organizations failing to
implement security precautions. Only 16% believe theft is more likely as a
result of organization's failure to protect personal information, while 8%
believe lack of security precautions among consumers is more likely to lead to
identity theft.
"Cybersecurity really requires cooperation of
individuals, companies and government, as these results indicate. The good news
is that the steps CSOs recommend for consumers are pretty straightforward. You
don't have to be a computer expert to greatly reduce your risk of identity
theft," says Derek Salter, CSO magazine editor.
Meanwhile, 45 percent of respondents anticipate a
"digital Pearl Harbor" i.e, a situation where a dedicated group of
cyber-terrorists or malicious hackers plunge America into chaos by using
computer-technology and the Internet to attack national critical infrastructure
in the future, with 32% anticipating an attack to occur in more than one year
and 10% anticipating it to occur within 7-12 months.
Although almost half of security executives responding to
the survey anticipate digital Pearl Harbor, 59 percent of the respondents are
not confident in the
government's ability to successfully secure the
respond to cyber emergencies. When asked how government could better safeguard
cyberspace for its citizens, the top answer from respondents is a tie between
establishing better communication with and among the private sector (71%) and
educating more people about cyber security roles and capabilities (71%). Other
high-scoring recommendations include: make cyber security a greater priority
(70%), educate the nation's critical infrastructure on cyber security risks and
how to respond to cyber emergencies (68%), and develop national cyber threat
and vulnerability evaluations and cyber security contingency strategies (64%).
Of note, 49% of respondents believe consumers, the private sector and the
are equally responsible for securing cyberspace.
CSOs are also facing cyber security threats on the home
front. Survey findings reveal the majority of respondents (and/or someone in
their household) experience spyware/adware (75%), virus or other malicious code
(71%) and phishing attacks (59%) at home. One in four (24%) respondents cites
exposure of private or sensitive information by a third party as something
someone in their household personally experienced. Only fourteen percent (14%)
of security executives and/or their household members have personally
experienced identity theft. Of those respondents who have experienced identity
theft in their household, the average dollar amount loss is $1,558.
Read more about <a href=" http://www.backgroundcheckrecordsearch.com/Cyber-attack-identity-theft.html">Identity Theft</a>
About the Author
Craig Keagan<br>Author of <br><a href=" http://www.backgroundcheckrecordsearch.com/Cyber-attack-identity-theft.html ">Identity Theft</a>
Rating: Not yet rated
Login to vote