Protecting your personal information

Avoiding the phishers


"The vandals are becoming fraudsters and electronic pickpockets."
Identity thieves are using more sophisticated methods to get consumers to divulge their personal and confidential information.

Bill Rosenkrantz, group product manager for internet security firm Symantec, says that in the last seven years, the internet has gone from an information source to an ATM: "Thirty-five to 40 per cent in the U.S. use the internet for financial transactions."

"Historically, hackers and virus writers would attack systems for ego's sake. But now it's financial," according to Rosenkrantz. "The vandals are becoming fraudsters and electronic pickpockets."

How to avoid getting "phished" in

Don't respond to e-mails requesting your personal information.

Don't click on links inside e-mails-

If you're uncertain about a website address that appears in an e-mail, go to your browser and enter the legitimate address manually.

Protect your computer -Use updated anti-virus software,.

Report suspicious e-mails

Notify the legitimate company if you receive any e-mails that you think might be fraudulent.

More information at http://www.cbc.ca

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