Identity theft is at its highest ever. Identity theft is a catastrophic event that ruins lives of its often unknowing victims. Usually these persons discover that they have been defrauded much too late. The recovery process is long and difficult. The internet has made identity theft convenient for criminals and opportunities abound. There are realistic precautions internet users can take to avoid instances that can lead to identity theft. For one, be careful with wife. Many coffee shops and other businesses offer wifi service to promote their business by encouraging visitors. Most wifi is unsecured. Hackers can penetrate users computers or cell phones and steal persona data stored in them without any sign of entry. If you use a library’s or businesses’ wifi remember to avoid using personal data, also make sure you totally log out so the computer cannot be accessed by a hacker. Delete suspicious e-mails that ask you for banking data, passwords, social security numbers. If there are spelling errors, punctuation mistakes, anything that seems unusual, delete quickly. Many phishing programs gain access by getting recipients to download or enter data.

When making online purchases verify the source, also avoid using wifi for purchases since credit card info and debit card numbers will be accessible to a stalking hacker.

Social media is very popular today. It is also one of the major resources for identity theft. Names, addresses, photos, schedules and other previously private information are now posted for the world to see. It’s time to re-think how we use social media and be more cautious. Parents must monitor how their children use the internet and make sure who is talking to their children and what they say.

Finally, when identity theft occurs, know your rights . The Federal Trade Commission has online assistance for when this crime occurs.