IdentityTruth Offers Tips to Help College Students Prevent Identity Theft
WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE via COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Aug. 29, 2007--College students headed back to school are prime targets for identity theft. Before heading back to school, IdentityTruth, the leading provider of a new breed of service to help consumers safeguard their Privacy and Identity, has come up with a list of tips for college students to help prevent id theft.
College students need to understand how to protect themselves from identity theft. Here is a list of tips for them to learn how to protect their identity today for tomorrow.
-- Social Security Numbers: If you're going off to college, ask the school not to use your Social Security number as your college ID number. Always, be very careful who you give your Social Security number to!
-- Text Messages: Watch out for text message offers. Many of these offers come from sources that are not secure. To be safe, call your cell phone provider and opt out of this marketing feature.
-- Myspace and Facebook: Yes, networking is fun but sharing personal information can damage your identity. Watch out: Although you are prompted to provide your full name, date of birth, addresses for both home and campus, class schedules and phone numbers, never give any personal information on unsecured sites. This information can be gathered to obtain access to you personal accounts.
-- Laptops: Stolen laptops are another vehicle to obtain personal information about an individual. Over the last 6 months 1 out of 4 data breaches have happened in colleges and universities by stealing laptops at the registrar's office. Always make sure that your laptop is password protected at all times. Purchasing a security cable can prevent you laptop from being removed from a stationary object without knowing the assigned password. The good thing is, If one was to rip out the cable without the password, all your information is automatically removed. Another option is to engrave your laptop.
-- Cell Phones: Never store identifying names, companies or login information on your cell phone. If you loose your cell phone all this information can be easily extracted off your SIM Card and used to access your personal information.
About IdentityTruth Inc.
IdentityTruth, is the leading provider of a new breed of service to help consumers safeguard their Privacy and Identity. Through innovative technology, individuals receive the earliest possible notification(TM) in advance of potential misuses of their identities so they can take better control. Early detection is the best protection. IdentityTruth is a privately held, VC- funded company headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Investors include Argonaut Ventures and Stata Venture Partners. For more information, go to www.identitytruth.com or call 781-684-1300.
