Identity Theft is one of the most serious problems facing \rInternet users. Identity Theft is exactly as the name states \r-- someone steals your Identity and commits fraud in your name. \rIt can result in untold financial and legal problems that may \rliterally ruin your peace of mind and/or your life. Someone \rgaining control of your most personal details can reck havoc \rand result in dire consequences for you and your family.

You must do everything in your power to prevent Identity Theft. \rActually, if you follow some simple 'common sense' procedures --you \rcan reduce your risk significantly. Follow these simple steps and you \rmay prevent yourself from becoming a victim of Identity Theft.

Please keep in mind, any computer connected to the Internet \rcan be hacked! The only way to be 100% safe from Identity Theft \ris to not use a computer or the Internet. Even then, many banking \rinstitutions and government agencies may have your vital information \rin their hands and possibly online -- so no one is really safe!

Despite this grime prospect, there are many things you can personally \rdo to protect yourself from Identity Theft. Stop would-be thieves in their \rtracks and make it really hard for anyone to misuse your well earned good \rname and reputation.

Try these relatively simple steps:

1. If you do a lot of surfing on the web -- set your own security standards!

Most browsers will let you set the security level of your connections. If \ryou're using Internet Explorer, click on Tools in the task bar, go to Internet \rOptions and set your level of security. Try to set this to as high a standard \ras you can.

2. Place a firewall on your computer or network. A firewall is a system or \rgateway that prevents unauthorized access to your computer or private network.\rIt is usually the first line of defense in protecting your private information \ror data. A good firewall will help protect you from malicious attacks of spyware, \radware, malware, worms, trojans, and hackers. There is no reason not to have a \rfirewall in place, you can download a free firewall from www.zonealarm.com for \rpersonal use.

3. Get a good anti-virus software program that will help protect your computer \ragainst spyware, adware, malware and so on. Purchasing such a program that is \rupdated regularly will save you money in the long run and will add an extra layer \rof protection for your PC.

4. Don't store your vital information (credit card numbers, family information, \rpasswords, etc.) on your personal computer, instead store it on CDs or floppy \rdisks or on a computer that is not connected to the Internet.

5. If you use passwords, make sure they are hard-to-guess passwords. You \rshould have passwords that are at least eight characters long -- consisting of\ra mixture of numbers, upper case and lower case letters. Many security\rexperts suggest changing your passwords regularly.

6. Never open emails from people you don't know. Especially, don't open \rany attachments until they are properly scanned for viruses and spyware.

7. Be aware of phishing -- this is where you get an official looking (though fake) email \rfrom companies that you may be doing business with -- never use a link in \rthese emails to provide personal information. Always open a new browser\rwindow and type in your 'own' links you have for these companies or sites. \rMost secure connections will start with "https://"

8. Regularly check your operating system and download any updates that may \rcontain security patches and fixes for your PC.

9. Use an encryption service if you can. This will help in protecting \ryour vital data from prying eyes.

10. Always shut down your computer when its not in use -- especially if you\rhave a cable Internet connection. And make sure you know who is using your computer.\rKeep track of family members or friends who have access to your computer.

No doubt there are many more ways to protect yourself against Identity \rTheft but following and implementing the above steps will give you added \rprotection and peace of mind. In the same light, don't let your guard down \r-- always be aware of your surfing habits and the information or programs \ron your computer. Keep a close eye on your PC; any slow down or unorthodox \roperations should be checked out immediately. Scan your machine regularly, \rcheck out any unauthorized attempts to access your computer and keep your \rmachine safe.

Believe it or not, a little common sense will go a long way in stopping \rIdentity Theft and keeping your good name safe!

To learn more about Spyware and Adware Click Here: Spyware \rRemoval Guide

Copyright ? 2005 Titus Hoskins of http://www.bizwaremagic.com

This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays \rattached.