This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Security Alert! How can we protect ourselves against fraud?


These days we are required to use so many PINS and passwords that many people choose something simple to remember, such as their child’s name or date of birth. Fraudsters know this and in their hands such information becomes a valuable tool. But how do they get hold of such information?


Careless talk How many of us publish personal details on Facebook and other networking sites? We announce our favourite books, fi lms; the names of our children and our pets for all to see.


Can you keep a secret? In a research study carried out for the Infosecurity Europe trade show, four out of fi ve subjects questioned happily handed over the user name and password for their work PC to those carrying out the research. More surprising, were many of those who would not initially reveal their passwords did so after being bribed with chocolate!


Gone Phishing NEVER click on links in unsolicited emails purporting to be from your bank or building society. If in doubt phone them fi rst.


Proper Passwords The best passwords are a


completely random mix of characters and letters. Fraudsters have a hard time guessing them, even when they use dedicated software.


Security experts suggest that we use a separate password for each account we possess. But given that most of us have trouble remembering two or three passwords, you can see the problem with this approach.


Fortunately, there are password managers available for under £30 which remember your various passwords and PINS but encrypt them to make them useless to anyone else. If you want the very latest in security technology, you can purchase a fi ngerprint reader for around £100 or an iris scanner for under £300.


Most importantly, make sure you keep your PC’s security software updated. And beware people with clipboards off ering chocolate!


Please mention thewire when responding to adverts 55


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100