Hack Proofing Your Identity (Paperback)

by Teri Bidwell (Editor)
Key Phrases: external firewall device, advertising cookies, outbound filtering, Internet Explorer, Social Security Number, Frequently Asked Questions (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
If you’re like most people, your day includes writing checks or using a debit card at stores, using credit cards at the gas station, or using an ATM terminal to get cash. If you’re among the growing numbers of Internet users, you’ve probably also bought a thing or two online, and might even do your banking or trade stocks online.

If more than half of the following statements are true, you are at high risk for identity theft:

. n You receive at least one loan solicitation or preapproved credit offer each week.

· n You usually toss preapproved credit or loan solicitations in the trash without shredding.

· n You usually toss old banking or credit documents in the trash without shredding.

· n Mail is delivered to you in an unlocked mailbox.

· n You send mail by placing it in an unlocked mailbox.

· n You carry your Social Security or Social Insurance card in your wallet.

· n Your Social Security Number is printed on the health insurance card in your wallet.

· n Your Social Security Number is printed on your driver’s license.

· n Your Social Security or driver’s license number is printed on your personal checks.

· n You make occasional or frequent purchases online using a credit card.

· n You seldom check whether a site is "secure" before using a credit card to make an online purchase or before disclosing private data, such as your Social Security Number, to a Web site.

· n You seldom read Web site privacy policies before disclosing private information.

· n Your online account with your bank, health insurer, or stockbroker uses your SSN as your account number.

· n Your bank doesn’t require a password before allowing you to make a withdrawal in person.

· n The password for your online bank account is written down in an unlocked location.

· n Your ATM PIN is written down in your wallet or on the ATM card.

· n You sometimes share your name, address, e-mail address, and/or phone number with Web sites.

· n You don’t use privacy software to remove identifying information from your computer.

· n You seldom take advantage of programs designed to opt-out of information sharing.

· n You haven’t seen your credit report in the past year.

n Your Internet-connected computer stores private or financial information and is not protected from the Internet by both a firewall and antivirus software.

About the Author
Teri Bidwell (GCIA) is an independent security consultant, a GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst, and a member of The SANS Institute GGIA Advisory Board. She has taught multiple courses and written articles on various topics related to computer security and analysis of computer intrusions. Michael Cross (MCSE, MCP+I, CNA, Network+) is an Internet Specialist and Programmer with the Niagara Regional Police Service and has also served as their Network Administrator. Michael performs computer forensic examinations of computers involved in criminal investigations, and has consulted and assisted in cases dealing with computer-related/Internet crimes. Ryan Russell is the best-selling author of Hack Proofing Your Network: Internet Tradecraft (Syngress Publishing, ISBN: 1-928994-15-6), and Hack Proofing Your Network, Second Edition (Syngress Publishing, ISBN: 1-928994-70-9). He is an Incident Analyst at SecurityFocus, has served as an expert witness on security topics, and has done internal security investigation for a major software vendor.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Syngress; 1 edition (June 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931836515
• ISBN-13: 978-1931836517
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,908,411 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Read and Apply This Information, January 7, 2003

By	Stephen Northcutt (Kauai, HI USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The developed world is in a transition. We are becoming an information economy. A result of this is that our identity is more important than ever and our identities are at risk of being stolen and misused! Hack Proofing Your Identity covers the fundamentals you need to know about identity theft. The book is primarily positioned as an awareness tool and is a serious wake up call. The author, Teri Bidwell clearly makes the point that simple everyday tasks such as writing checks, using credit cards, logging onto the Internet to perform on-line banking or stock trading reveal our private information to the outside world.

This book is directed towards real people, the average computer user, and avoids the gargon you might see in a text written for IT workers. Parents will also find this book intriguing as it teaches cyber security for children. The Author not only shares ways of protecting yourself and your private information, but also provide an in-depth introduction and summary of each chapter, as well as fast track solutions and frequently asked questions.

The book begins with identity theft and outlines what electronic information is truly private and how your personal information can be used against you. Then it moves on to a discussion about choosing strong passwords, installing and updating antivirus software as well as file encryption.

There is a fascinating discussion about how to protect your identity while using E-mail and the Internet. The book makes it clear that connecting to the Internet connects you to the rest of the world!

Raising children in the cyber and digital age brings a whole new set of challenges. Parents need to educate children about computerized sexual predators, unethical and illegal uses of computers. This is not a pleasant topic, but it is crucial. My own son nearly fell prey to one as a young teenager. My wife found him in the garage on the phone with an older lady who was trying to set up a rendezvous. They had met in a chat room. The book shows you how to protect children from becoming victims of crime on the Internet.

What happens if you become a victim of identity theft? How do you protect yourself or regain your identity? This is covered as well. The bottom line, this is an approachable book that covers the basic information that you really should think about. Read it then make sure your spouse, your parents and your kids know this stuff and put it into practice.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good information for the average computer user..., April 17, 2004

By	Thomas Duff "Duffbert" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Target Audience
Anyone who is an internet user and hasn't thought about protecting their identity.

Contents
This book outlines the issues involved in protecting your identity in an online environment, along with giving practical suggestions on how to do so.

The book is divided into the following chapters: Identity Theft: Are You At Risk?; Protecting Your Hard Drive; Keeping Your Email Private; Self-Defense On The Web; Connecting To The Internet Safely; Are Your Kids Putting You At Risk?; If You Become A Victim; Configuring Your Browser And Firewall; Index

Review
If you're a long-time techno-geek, you've no doubt been aware of the risks of exposing your identity on the Internet. You make sure credit cards are only used over encrypted links, you don't fall for phishing scams, and so on. But as more people have started to go online over the years, the incidents of computer crime and identity theft have risen dramatically. To combat your exposure to those scams, you should read Hack Proofing Your Identity In The Information Age.

The typical computer user will pick up quite a bit from this book. The first chapter will introduce the concept of identity theft and how easy it is for someone to glean information from you and use it to open credit accounts. There is also information here on how to avoid theft by non-electronic methods, such as securing your mail and cell phone. Subsequent chapters go more into detail on specific areas, such as email and web browsing. While the authors rightly state that it is impossible to completely protect yourself against a determined attacker, reading and implementing the material that you find in this book will significantly decrease your chances of becoming a victim.

To the techno-geek who's been living in the computer age for a long time, you will undoubtedly know most of this information. Even so, it's not assured that you will never become a victim. The chapter titled If You Become A Victim is a good reference on what steps to take once you determine that you've been targeted. Since it can be a stressful experience to clean up the damage, the convenience of having all the steps spelled out for you can be a lifesaver.

Conclusion
A good book for people who have never considered the risks of identity theft as they surf the internet, as well as for someone who is trying to clean up the damage once the theft occurs.