What is Digital and Online Identity Theft?

Highlights

• Spyware and ransomware are malicious software that can lead to digital or online identity theft and financial fraud. 
• Ransomware can hold your devices or files hostage until you pay to get them back, but even paying doesn't guarantee you'll recover your data. 
• Don't click on suspicious links or attachments. Use antivirus and anti-malware software to protect your devices.

“One-day only offer!” 

“You’ll never believe what happened next!”

Sometimes that online offer or click-bait headline really is too good to be true. Hackers, scammers, and other cybercriminals use various methods to entice you to click on links to steal your personal information.

Clicking a seemingly legitimate link in an email attachment or on an infected website can lead to dangerous software, like spyware or ransomware, being installed on your computer to steal your personal information.

What is spyware?

Spyware is malicious software that secretly installs itself on your computer and transmits information without your permission. Some spyware programs track your internet browsing activity to gather marketing data, while others are used by criminals to steal sensitive personal and financial information. This stolen information can be used to commit identity theft and financial fraud.

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is like a digital kidnapper that holds your operating system or files hostage. You are then coerced to pay the attacker to remove the ransomware, usually through a difficult-to-trace payment method such as wire transfer or bitcoin. However, even paying the ransom doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to recover your data. 

What are some signs of digital identity theft?

With spyware, you might not even know your data has been compromised. Here are some signs to watch for:

• Unfamiliar bills or changes on your credit card/bank statement.
• Unfamiliar credit accounts on your credit reports.
• Inquiries on your credit reports from companies you don’t recognize.
• Phone numbers or addresses on your credit reports you don’t recognize.
• Calls from debt collectors about accounts you didn’t open.
• Unexplained withdrawals from your bank account.
• Credit or loan application unexpectedly denied.

How can I protect myself from spyware, ransomware, and digital identity theft?

Be vigilant while you are online shopping, checking your email, and more. Don’t click on links or images, or open attachments in emails, instant messages, or pop-up messages that you aren't expecting, or that seem suspicious. These could contain spam, spyware, or other malicious content that could infect your computer. Delete these messages without opening them.

Even if the message appears to be from a friend or a legitimate organization, it could be a spammer impersonating them. If you’re unsure about a message, contact the sender directly to confirm that it’s genuine.

If you never signed up to receive messages from an organization, and you receive a message from them, it’s likely spam. Don't click on any links in the message, even if it says to unsubscribe.

Antivirus and anti-malware software can also help protect your devices and personal data. With Equifax Complete™ Protection, you get Device Protection from Bitdefender. It helps protect your computer from malicious software in two ways:

• On-access scanning prevents new threats from entering your system. Bitdefender will, for example, scan a document for known threats when you open it, and an email message when you receive it. On-access scanning helps ensure real-time protection against threats.
• On-demand scanning detects and removes threats that already reside in the system. This is the classic scan initiated by the user — you choose what drive, folder or file Bitdefender should scan, and Bitdefender scans it.

Bitdefender disinfects affected files by attempting to remove the malicious code and reconstructing the original file. Files that can’t be disinfected are moved to quarantine — where they can no longer be opened — to contain the dangerous code.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Protect yourself from spyware and ransomware by following the tips above to keep your devices and personal data safe. Remember, staying informed about cybersecurity and being proactive is key when it comes to protecting yourself in the digital age. Take action today!