With the ever changing technology and more and more businesses providing the convenience to everyone in doing online transactions nowadays, we have to be very careful when it comes to performing tasks and activities on the World Wide Web.
I'm particularly very skeptical with my personal data and would not simply divulge my particulars (such as address, contact number and banking details) unless the source is trusted and the website is encrypted and have good reputation in safekeeping their customers/members data.
Now have you heard of the terms identity theft?
* Image taken from http://www.identityhawk.com/
According to Wikipedia, identity theft is: "a form of fraud or cheating of another person's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, typically in order to access resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name. The victim of identity theft (here meaning the person whose identity has been assumed by the identity thief) can suffer adverse consequences if he or she is held accountable for the perpetrator's actions. Organizations and individuals who are duped or defrauded by the identity thief can also suffer adverse consequences and losses, and to that extent are also victims."
Imagine the troubles you have to go through when you realised someone has stolen your personal details! For example, if someone manages to get hold of your credit card details, they could easily perform transactions online and make purchases online using your credit card details!
I came across this website called IdentityHawk, which is the industry leader in identity fraud detection and prevention. Unlike other services that inform their customers / members after they' have been victimized, IdentityHawk's leading-edge technology detects, deters, and prevents identity fraud before it strikes. Cool huh?
What is fantastic about their identity theft protection service is their members will receive automatic e-mail or text alerts the moment a potential risk is uncovered. They will also inform their members about the latest threats to their identity as quickly as electronically possible whether it's the unauthorized use of a member's personal information or a data breach. You can read more on how their system works at http://www.identityhawk.com/how-it-works.
I mean, wouldn't it be great to be informed the moment a POTENTIAL risk is detected? Of course, some of you might think it might be troublesome or even annoying, but I'd like to think that it is better to be safe than sorry!
So what are your thoughts on identity theft?
Do you practise any form of protection when it comes to divulging your personal particulars online?
** Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All thoughts, opinions and words are 100 % my own.