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Remember way back when you were a kid and you were going on vacation? Our parents used to have the mail stopped and used to set up those timer devices to the lamps so that it would look like you were home when the lamps would turn on and off by themselves? Fast forward 20+ years and we have all forgotten those lessons and cybercriminals are cashing in!
I will never forget logging on to a hotel’s free wifi and within two minutes getting an alert from my firewall letting me know that “tiger1973” was trying to connect to my computer. I freaked out and slammed my laptop shut. Amen for a firewall, right? Had it not been there, I may never have known what had happened until I got my credit card or bank statement the following month!
Our parents only had to secure their home; we on the other hand have to secure both our home and our cyberworld.
Tips to keep in mind:
1. Secure your home, make sure it doesn’t look like you are away, have a trusted neighbor clear mail and stop newspaper delivery.
2. Never post that you will be away when you don’t personally know all your “friends”. Check privacy settings on your favorite social networking sites to make sure you aren’t sharing status updates with the world. Never post your home address in the info section of social networking sites!
3. Secure your belongings when at a hotel. Either use their safe or put the “Do not disturb” sign on the door if you cannot put valuables securely away and need to leave your room. Make sure valuables are hidden from view in your car as well. Keep tabs on your wallet, smartphone and iPod at all times.
4. Be careful using open wifi in hotels and hot spots. Avoid checking your bank account and entering any personal information online. When using public computers, always logout of email and make sure the box to remember your password is unchecked.
5) To ensure peace of mind before you travel—and year-round—subscribe to an identity protection service, such as McAfee Identity Protection, which offers proactive identity surveillance, lost wallet protection, and alerts when suspicious activity is detected on your accounts. To find out more, visit http://www.mcafeeidprotection.com
Have a great summer and stay safe out there!
If you would like to be alerted of the latest Consumer Threat Alert, sign up here.
Tracy
cybermom@mcafee.com
Follow me on Twitter at @mcafeecybermom
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Tags: identity theft risk, mcafee identity theft protection, travel risk
Thanks for the reminders. I actually still do use a timer for my lights! #4 is a particularly good reminder.
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