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Test How Safe You Are From Identity
Theft
Take this quick test to see if you are in danger of
ID theft
Aug. 18, 2005 - Thieves don't need high-tech access
to computer data to steal identities because too many people make their
personal information readily available, says a Purdue University
cybercrime expert, who uses a simple test to measure identity theft risk
for people.
Scott L. Ksander has been taking that message to
standing-room-only public forums. The senior inforensics analyst with
the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and
Security has been working with law enforcement officials for several
years to unravel and thwart identity theft crimes. Ksander encourages
members of the public to examine ways in which they help or hinder
thieves.
Ksander says the biggest key to securing your
Social Security number and thus your identification is using common
sense.
"You need to be aware and diligent," he says.
Ksander, who investigates security issues for
Information Technology at Purdue, uses, with permission of the Privacy
Rights Clearinghouse, the following quiz to help people assess the risk
of their identities being stolen.
Take the test below. Each one of these questions
represents a possible avenue for an identity thief.
Understanding Your Score:
> 100 + points -
Recent surveys* indicate that 7-10 million people were victims of ID
theft last year. You are at high risk. We recommend you purchase a paper
shredder, become more security-aware in document handling, and start to
question why people need your personal data.
> 50-100 points -
Your odds of being victimized are about average. Higher if you have good
credit.
> 0-50 points -
Congratulations. You have a high "IQ." Keep up the good work and don't
let your guard down now.
Enter your score on each question and the form
should automatically total your score.
* For information on recent identity theft survey
findings, visit the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse web site at
www.privacyrights.org/ar/idtheftsurveys.htm.
For a list of tips on reducing your risk of
identity theft, read Fact Sheet 17, "Coping with Identity Theft:
Reducing the Risk of Fraud," at
www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs17-it.htm.
Remember, you cannot prevent identity theft.
Criminals can commit identity theft relatively easily because of lax
credit industry practices and the ease of obtaining SSNs. But you can
reduce your risk of fraud by following the tips in Fact Sheet 17. The
most important advice we can give you is to check your credit report at
least once a year. If you are a victim of identity theft, you will catch
it early by checking your credit report regularly.
Source:
Scott Ksander, (765)
496-8289,
ksander@purdue.edu
Information Technology
at Purdue:
http://www.itap.purdue.edu
Center for Education
and Research in Information Assurance and Security:
http://www.cerias.purdue.edu
Privacy Rights
Clearinghouse:
http://www.privacyrights.org/
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