Viruses That Contribute To Identity Theft

It’s important to know that in the information age of technology, any time you use the internet, you could be putting yourself at risk of identity theft.  Through no fault of your own, you could become a victim if theft, simply because some viruses lurk the internet, just waiting to pounce on your machine.  If you aren’t careful, there’s no limit to the amount of damage they can do, to your computer and your credit.  Knowing is half the battle, so here are the most common ways that internet savvy ID thieves operate:

-Keyloggers are the most common viral programs that can end up on your computer without your knowledge.  A keylogger is a program designed to record every keystroke on your computer.  The file can then be accessed remotely, giving anybody access to the information that you’ve typed.  A keylogger is a direct way that many identity thieves get a hold on sensitive personal information that you’ve typed.  Anything from your Social Security Number, to credit card numbers, and address and phone numbers.

-Spyware, usually used in conjunction with a keylogger.  Spyware is just as it sounds, a deceptive program that’s installed on your computer without your knowledge.  Spyware records the websites you visit, and programs that you use on your computer.  By using spyware with a keylogger a hacker can find out your bank account information, and the website of your bank, allowing them to access all the information relating to your account.

-Trojans are basically a combo of both of the aforementioned viruses.  A Trojan is a virus that tricks you into downloading it, under the guise of being a legitimate program.  Even the name is a reference to the Trojan Horse.  Which is where you can learn from the saying “beware Greeks bearing gifts” and apply it to your email.  Usually a Trojan slips in from a spam email that may seem legitimate.  When you click on the email, a file is downloaded to your computer, and instantly the Trojan begins to download a ton of spyware and usually keyloggers.

The best way to protect against these is to have up to date virus scanning software.  Scan your system once a week at least, and make sure you always have firewall protection on at all times when online.