The Internet is a great way to get the information you need and
connect to those that matter to you. However, there are many risks associated
with sharing your own information in the online world. What you share online
can expose you to various risks, such as fraud and identity theft.
Sam over at SingleHop has
helped me put together some of the most common vulnerabilities you can find
online to help show us how we can better protect ourselves. SingleHop is a
dedicated server and cloud hosting company based out of Chicago. Sam is a
Senior Infrastructure Engineer there, and deals mainly with in-depth Linux
issues and server clustering, but he's also a frequent author on their blog!
SingleHop's dedicated
servers page has an abundance of information on the types of servers they
offer -- check it out if you're interested in learning more.
Financial Information
To make online purchases, you would need to provide the e-commerce
site with your financial information, such as your credit card number. Some
online shopping sites allow you to store your payment information on the site
in order to make future purchases faster and more straightforward. While this
may certainly be convenient, it does expose you to certain security risks. The
recent Target security breach is one example of this. If your credit
card information is stored on a site's secure server and the server's security
is breached, your financial information can be stolen by hackers. It can then
be used to make fraudulent purchases, which is why you should avoid letting
sites store your payment information.
Social Security Number
Providing your social security number online can also put you at
risk of identity theft, which is a very common cyber crime. With your social
security number, criminals may be able to obtain other financial information
about you. This can then allow them to steal your identity, which can be used
to open fraudulent credit accounts in your name. Avoid sharing your social
security number online, unless you are absolutely sure that the site is secure.
Even if you won't be responsible for any fraudulent debts, dealing with the
fallout of identity theft can be a huge hassle.
Vacation Plans
Many people share their vacation plans on social media. While it
may be fun to tell your friends and family that you're traveling, it does come
with certain security risks. Groups of organized burglars have been known to go
through social media sites to find out more information about people that would
be away from their home for an extended period. They would then break into
their homes and make off with their belongings. If you're going to leave your
home unattended, be careful about what you share online, as you never know who
might have access to this information.
Staying safe online is more important now than ever. While there
are many security risks, there are also ways to protect yourself. For example,
you can update the privacy settings on your social media accounts so that your
posts aren't visible to the public.
