Online Identity Theft is something that all kids are exposed to nowadays. And whether we like it or not, it can have a very bad influence on their life. That’s why the best thing that you can do is to try and learn more about Online Identity Theft, what it entails and how you can protect your child from such an issue.
What is Online Identity Theft?
As the name suggests, Online Identity Theft is a process in which hackers will study, acquire and then use the identity of a person to perform unlawful tasks. They will either do that, or they will sell account information and credentials to the highest bidder on the dark web. Obviously this is extremely problematic for kids, because they end up sharing important data about themselves willingly to a variety of websites and applications.
How do hackers perform Online Identity Theft?
That will differ but most of the popular methods includes dumpster diving, robbery, phishing, phone scams or data dumps. Using malware to infect the computer and acquire personal data is also quite popular, however if you have a good antivirus or anti-malware solution you will be more than ok. Find some tips to detect spyware on your phone here.
Can kids be targeted by hackers?
Of course, everyone has the potential to be targeted by hackers. And that’s a huge problem, because your child’s identity and future are at risk. You first need to be patient and actively figure out if they acquired your child’s data or not. Then you have to try and remove all personal data that your child has online. Having a talk with your child and letting him know about the perils of online security is extremely important, and you do need to try and acquire as much information and value as possible.
How can you prevent Online Identity Theft?
The first thing you want to do is to see if there are any warning signs in the name of your child, these can be bills and credit cards, credit card offers, IRS notice or collection agency calls. Find out if your child has a credit report and freeze that if needed.
Also, talk with your child and review online safety to ensure that he knows what to enter, when to click and what type of stuff to avoid. A simple talk like that can be quite challenging, so you really have to find a way to complete everything without any issue.
That being said, Online Identity Theft is very important and you have to understand what it is and how it works. Even if it feels strange at first, identity theft is a huge problem and it can end up causing a lot of damage to your child’s life. And to your life as well. That’s why you need to do all you can in order to avoid identity theft, and once you do that the results will be more than ok. Granted, it will not be easy to stop access to various sites, but you have to take the right measures to keep your child safe!
