Viruses, Identity Theft, and Strong Passwords

Just as humans can get sick, so can computers! When humans sneeze, the germs are transmitted by air; however, with computers, they contract viruses through computer programs.  Created by online criminals, viruses spread quickly and are designed to multiply. Once they are on a computer, viruses can erase files, send emails without the owners verification, or transport private information to criminals, like passwords and security numbers. There are three types of viruses: viruses, worms, or Trojans. First, viruses are transmitted as an attachment sent in an email or shared USB drive. As soon as the files with the viruses are opened, the mistake has been made, and the virus begins to multiply. Furthermore, they begin to search for other documents to attach to, and be transmitted to even more computers. In order to combat viruses, uploading and installing your computer with anti-virus software, which prevents the downloading of viruses and deletes them when they are found. Second, worms are even more dangerous because they spread to computers without the user doing anything. Worms are programmed to spread to computers that are connected in a network and spread immediately. The worms find "back doors" or "trick" the computer into letting them in and once they do it to one, they find similar "back doors" to other computers. By keeping computer software up to date at work and at home, you will prevent havoc and close "back doors". Last, Trojans are disguised as computer software or advertisements; however, hidden inside are viruses that can cause tremendous problems. They can open new "back doors" and send criminals private information like passwords and security numbers. Trojans can be avoided by only downloading software from credible cites. Finally, keeping your computer up to date, and getting anti-virus software will keep viruses out of computer. Only click on links and downloadable attachments and files that you know are safe.
Identity theft proves to be a big dilemma in our modern world. People who are hacked and receive illegal access of stranger's accounts. These criminals steal people's identity. With our modern day technology, retrieving people's passwords is not that complicated, especially since most people have a common password that they use for most of their accounts. Finding someone's password is quite simple, as long as that person know your personal information. To avoid being a victim of identity theft: watch out for skimmers, change your usernames and passwords frequently, don't respond to texts, emails, phone calls, etc... with personal information, monitor online account balances and transactions commonly, and obtain identity theft protection through insurance.
In conclusion, having strong passwords is one of the greatest precautions a person can take in order to decrease their chances of being impersonated. Knowing information about you can make finding passwords much easier for the criminal. In creating a strong password don't use easy to guess information like birthdays, pet names, or phone numbers. Moreover, your password should not include information about you. Taking the acronyms of a memorable phrase or expression is an easy way to start. By adding numbers, special characters, and capitalized letters the password gets even stronger. Never put your password in easily located areas or tell people your password via phone or by email. Remember to change your password often, and not have the same password for all your accounts. Finally, protect your computer from viruses using modern software, and have strong passwords so that you won't be susceptible to identity theft.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_viruses