How Document Destruction Can Help Against Identity Theft

It seems that every time you pick up a newspaper these days there's a scare story about identity theft.If someone isn't trying to hack into your online bank account from the other side of the world or clone your credit card whenever you use a hole in the wall then there's always some bright spark around to leave a laptop in the back of a taxi that contains yours, and millions of other people's, personal details.It's no wonder then that people are considering personal document destruction as a way to safeguard their identity and cut down the risk of them being the victim of the new type of crime.

The market that has grown around this worrying trend is now very profitable with companies offering services as wide ranging as computer hard drive back up, encrypting data and document destruction.It could be called paranoia but to many it is just a worthwhile and intelligent response to a very real threat.With examples of this new type of cyber crime on the increase it looks like the industry aiming to counteract and stop it is also likely to grow.

For an individual the threat of identity theft, or ghosting as it has become known, is very real.It's not just the elderly or vulnerable who are targeted, increasingly the stories we hear are of supposedly tech-savvy people being duped.People who think they'd spot a scam a mile off are now just as at risk as any other group.There are now several products on the market which can help to give a person piece of mind when they are using credit cards, computers or dealing with paperwork.

Data protection doesn't just relate to big business.We all have important personal data stored on our computer even if we're not aware of it.Computers store web pages we have visited, the pages it stores can contain personal data like addresses, telephone numbers, passwords and numerous other things that a cyber criminal might be able to use.Thankfully there are now some very good software packages that can help protect this data.Some is aimed at the single user home computers; some is aimed at larger companies.It all serves the same purpose which is to protect your data.

Used in conjunction with some simple measure that you can carry out yourself, installing software to protect your data when online, can be very effective.The advice is to have different passwords for different sites and different purposes.The thought being that if everything is the same then everything is at risk; think of it as damage limitation.It is also recommended you never give out your personal details online; in chat-rooms or social networking sites.No matter how trivial it may seem you'd be surprised how easy it is to be fooled into giving criminals enough information for you to be at risk.

Once you've taken precautions to protect yourself 'virtually' it's time to protect your printed documents.Document destruction has become popular on the back of lots of well publicized cases where people's identities have been stolen by people getting hold of old bills, bank statements and letters from bins.It's no longer enough to discard your old paperwork, you must now dispose of it in way that means it cannot be used to learn anything about you.On the back of this shredding and paper shredders have become a familiar sight in homes and offices around the world.

Shredders are now relatively inexpensive and provide piece of mind when it comes to identity theft.Many companies also offer a large scale document destruction services to big businesses whose employees are not only prone to identity theft but are prone to attack on a much larger scale; corporate crime on a large scale is now a very real threat.

About the Author

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the security industry.

Find out more about document destruction and online security.

Relaited Links:

• The Top 3 Forex Mentoring Programs on the Market Today, the Best way to Learn Currency Trading
• 7 Reasons Starting Your Own Business in an Economic Downturn is a Grand Idea
• Can I Get Debt Collectors Off My Back?

Earning Extra Through Online Work

The advent of the internet has been a boon to people looking for extra work. The web has made it possible for people to make their abilities and skills available to a wider audience and what was once a geographical impossibility has now become a virtually unlimited technological opportunity.

Why get work online Two words: why not Its fast, its convenient and your income possibilities is almost endless. Here are two reasons why you should give it a try:

1. You dont have to do it full time.

Most people who do work online are those who actually hold regular jobs. Online work is either just a way to augment income or as an offshoot of their present job or hobby. Whats great about it is that you get to do it with or without permission from your boss.

2. No ones breathing on your neck.

Well, probably not literally. Online work means youll be working by your lonesome, out of sight from your online employer. He wont know or care if you had a sandwich when you were working on that draft, not even if you slept midway through a project. His bottom line is that you submit the requirement on time and within spec.

Where and how to find online work.

Online work is of course, advertised online. Try typing the words freelances or online jobs and youll get thousands of possibilities. Try narrowing it down by typing in your specialty or main interest like freelance graphic design or online jobs for transcriptions for example.

Some of the most popular sites are recruiter sites, or those that offer freelancers and online employees access to ads posted by employers looking for a particular service. These sites are pretty organized and jobs are listed in categories for easy searches while employers are categorized by industry. Job specifications are provided and you also get a brief description and backgrounder on your potential employer.

There are also dedicated websites that cater to a particular group of individuals. For example, websites offering online work to work-at-home-moms or virtual assistants or coaching and training specialists. These are very convenient sites to hunt online work with because jobs are already filtered and most employers are already checked.

You can also find online work offered on blogs and discussion groups. Some professional bloggers actually provide links and post ads on their sites so their readers, who probably have the same interests as the bloggers have, are informed of potential online employment.

Some newspapers do carry an ad for online work but this is few and far between. These are also worth checking, though. You never know what they have in store.

A few reminders

As with everything on the internet, be careful. Some sites are operated by unscrupulous individuals who like to prey on surfers. Stick to the more established sites, or those you have read about. Theres a better chance youll find a legitimate employer through these sites than on sites youve never heard before. This isnt always the rule, but just in case, be sure to protect yourself.

Sometimes you pay, sometimes you dont. Some sites require a membership fee before they let you browse job openings. Some require nominal fees while others charge well over a hundred dollars. Some sites are established enough that you can confidently pay the fees, while you might want to be wary with other sites.

There are free sites, though and these could be your best bet if you dont want to pay anything. Also, there are sites who offer free membership, but you only get limited access. Only a subscription to their premium membership gives you access to more jobs or those with higher pay.


About the Author

Daegan Smith Is And Expert Online Marketer
"Wanna Lean The Secret To Making 85,147,717
Per Month While Quickly And Easily EXPLODING
Your Network marketing Organization by 7,141
People Without EVER Buying Or Calling a
Single Stinking Lead" Free CD Explains All:http://www.easymlmprofits.com

Relaited Links:

• Find the Market Value of Your Business
• Do You Really Need A Job or Feel Maximum Incommodity
• Is it High Time for You to Dwell on Making Money at Home Online?