Personal Cybercrime Risks

Breaches in some worldwide retailers could have you wondering if your personal information is safe. After all, those huge conglomerates that have been targeted recently, such as Zappos and Target, have millions of dollars at stake so why would a cyber-criminal want to target a single person? The answer might surprise you.

Valuable Personal Information

Identity theft is a big business in this day and age of inter-connectivity. Whether a cyber crook is a small-time player and simply looking to have a good time with your credit card or they are part of a larger ring that sells the information they obtain, personally identifiable information such as your birth date, current and former addresses and social security number are all valuable to them. With just a few bits of information, these criminals can easily steal your identity, making your life a nightmare for many months or even years.

Email Addresses Sell

Even if a cyber-criminal is not able to get enough information to assume your identity, they can still steal your email address and sell it. Email addresses are valuable to legitimate businesses and criminals alike. They can easily be sold for a nominal amount that quickly adds up for those crooks who are adept at breaching security parameters.

Fraudulent Credit Card Activity

If you are like many people, you assume that retailers that have an online presence are safe to share your credit card information. While huge businesses such as Target have invested millions of dollars into their cyber security systems, it is still possible for them to be infiltrated. You should always see a lock in the address bar of any website that you are inputting sensitive information. Even with this assurance, though, you need to keep a close eye on your credit card statements each month.