These days, it's common to see teenagers glued to their computers and devices. They chat with friends, Tweet, snap pictures and “share” just about everything—including their identity information.
This is a problem since sharing this sensitive information could give the cybercriminals the clues they need to impersonate you or even steal your identity. Consider this—identity thieves used to search through trash cans, looking for pieces of paper that contained identity information, but now all they have to do is surf online, hoping that people will unwittingly give that information away. teens are good targets, because they already share so much. This means that a stranger could see their private information on social networks, or even engage the teen in a conversation to try to lure key information from them.
So, it's important that both parents and teens know how to protect identity information and prevent oversharing. Follow these tips to keep you and your loved ones safe:
- Be cautious with social networks—Social networking sites encourage us to share personal information about ourselves, but be careful not to share too much. Keep key details to yourself, including your home address, employer, phone number, and other information related to your identity.
- Research your apps before installing—There are a lot of risky apps out there, so make sure you do your homework and read other users’ reviews before installing and app. And, always read the app’s privacy policy to ensure that it’s not asking for more information than it needs to operate.
- Don’t talk to strangers online—Be wary of emails, or messages from people you don’t know in real life, especially if they ask for your personal details. Even if someone is a friend of a friend, be cautious about what you share.
- Use security software and keep it up-to-date—Comprehensive security can go a long way in improving your Internet security and protecting your identity information.
Information Provided By McAfee