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Identity theft – you hear about it everywhere: AFN commercials, radio commercials and newspaper articles. You may have even completed the phishing computer-based training recently in response to the Network Security Focus Day mandated by the Department of Defense.
So, why is the communications community so interested in identity theft?
Identity theft is not just about stealing your information to gain access to your bank accounts or credit cards.
Have you ever walked away from your computer without locking it or removing your computer access card?
In an attempt to be humorous, a co-worker may have sent an e-mail from your account. If so, your identity was stolen. What if your office was empty? An unauthorized person could have accessed your account. If you logged on using your pin in the last 10 minutes, this individual now has access to everything your CAC gives you authorization to view or modify.
Have you ever used your CAC or username and password at home, or even worse, from a public computer?
Malicious software and keyloggers can hijack and use your credentials to gain access to a DOD system from almost anywhere.
Just as identity theft can result in unauthorized access to your bank account, having your network identity stolen can result in unauthorized access to critical DOD information.
Some helpful tips to keep your identity and information safe include:
• Remove your CAC and/or lock your computer every time you leave your desk, even if it’s only for a minute.
• Never use public computers to access official government information.
• Keep your home computer updated with the latest security patches, antivirus software and virus definition files.
By taking these simple steps, you can reduce the chances of being a target for identity theft.
