Tips for college students to deter identity theft

Research from Javelin Research & Strategy identifies 18-24 year olds as consumers who are most likely to engage in risky electronic behavior. From public Wi-Fi through smart phone usage, this group tends to put itself in harm’s way when it comes to identity theft.

PrivacyGuard announced a list of tips and precautions for college students to help them prevent identity theft.

Use a strong password on your computer

Friendly fraud, the type of ID theft that results when the victim knows the criminal, has been elevated in young people aged 18-24, according to Javelin Research and Strategy. The use of a strong login password on a computer is a way to prevent this type of fraud from occurring in a dormitory setting. Doing so can prevent roommates and strangers alike from logging on to a potential victim’s computer.

Protect your computer with antivirus software

Be certain to install antivirus software and to regularly update it to protect your computer from online threats. This is particularly important as universities move their data to the cloud, and continual connectivity to the internet becomes more prevalent in day to day studies.

Don’t transact over public Wi-Fi

While public Wi-Fi offers an exceptional degree of convenience, it’s important to realize that thieves are able to intercept information being sent over the technology. Students are discouraged from sending any personal information, from credit/debit card numbers to social security numbers via public Wi-Fi.

“Dormitory living and the college environment can lend themselves to creating easy targets for identity thieves,” said Vin Torcasio, Director of Product for PrivacyGuard. “As students prepare for the back-to-school season and arrive at school, there are certain precautions that they should take in order to protect themselves from becoming a victim of the crime.”