Why Is Identity Theft Important In The Workplace

As technology is becoming more prominent as 21-century workers, it become apparent that identity theft, viruses, malware and security breaches occur that can leak out an individual’s personal information or a client’s information in the office setting. Protecting identity in the office setting is a vital role into maintaining a safe job without the anxiety of identity theft. Data security is an issue that affects all businesses in the office setting, both big and small. All of these threats are gaining momentum as a crime that is conspicuous in American society. When a client goes to a business, they assume to have their data and information protected; which can cause a barrier into publicizing personal information. As technology is progressing,

so are threats that can leave clients in financial hardship. This information includes name, address, social security number, and financial tension that may occur. Every business should comprehend the importance of security that is needed in the work setting, because every business is a target. There are numerous ways an individual may be able to thieve your private information in the office setting. Many people think that identity theft may occur online but it can easily occur in person too. This includes stealing wallets and your mail in the office’s mailbox, having your credit card number visible when in use, and going through the trash to find old documents.
There are signs that will let the individual know in the office setting whether or not their computer could potentially be infected. If your computer is running slowly, the screen remains black, programs log out for no apparent reason and you get a pop up message pertaining to a virus warning, you are more likely victim of security breach, virus etc.
When this occurs, they can use an individual’s personal information to acquire expensive items without their permission. In the office setting, it becomes significant to take many safeguards to protect your personal information for you and your clients, as clients place their trust in you. When someone illegally uses your personal information, they have power to dictate the credit and the money being distinguished and spent. All businesses should require their workers to have their own specific username and password. It is also important to remind them that their username is only used for work purposes and personal data shared in the office setting should not be discussed. If possible, block all websites that employees don’t need access to. By doing this, it limits the viruses that can attack their computer. After all paper documents are issued and used, they should shred all paper since papers may have personal information on them.
Protecting identity theft starts with eliminating yourself from places where your personal information is not required.

This can include being subscribed to emails, social networking, mailing lists and credit cards, which are not in use. Unfortunately, it is possible that in one of these various ways, as identity theft will occur among others wanting to steal your identity. An email can quickly be issued around that can make you a victim of identity theft by surpassing suspicion and by looking like a secure company. Credit cards are a huge factor into knowing where personal information can easily be traced, so it’s important to cancel our credit cards that are not in use. At times, when condoned to credit cards, it may be conceivable that they will send suitability checks. If not needed, the individual can ask to be removed from that mailing list. It is also recommended to use credit cards that have the photo on them. Although many people may not want their photos to be shown, it benefits in the wisdom that if someone were to take the credit card away, and they were to obtain an item- a photo identification would be required. When buying online, make sure it’s from a trusted website because although many websites seem confidential- but will con money and even have the opportunity to giveaway information once they are provided with credit card

information.
(Is social security supposed to be capitalized?) A Social Security number is a secure way for the government to track how much an individual may earn, but all of an individual’s personal information is presented once given the social security number. When given a social security number, it will create opportunities to steal private information in the office setting that can leak their client’s information. With the social security number, it becomes accessible to renting houses, buying expensive items, open bank account and even obtain a job with a false social security number. Many individuals do not comprehend that their social security has an abundant amount of personal information on them, and to not give out their Social Security number unless absolutely essential if it’s from a trusted website or person. In the workspace, also keep your social security number card in a safe place or not even take it to work when not obligatory. In the office setting, if providing your social security number doesn’t feel reliable, ask the workers if there is another way you can show identification or if anything else will act as a replacement for the social security number. Access to a social security number can cause substantial financial and mental difficulties for them that take an extensive time to recover from. When having access to this very personal information, they are at a higher risk of identity theft and fraud in the office setting. It is also vital to inform the other members of the workplace to maintain privacy for personal purposes. In the office setting, also never put a social security number on ID cards as those are publicly viewed, never send social security number on business postcards, or on defenseless computer systems in the business environment.
Also use strong passwords and if possible an electronic firewall to keep internet hackers from accessing personal files.

Proficient computer security will include the use of sturdy passwords for all the accounts that need to be accessed in the workplace. Determining how resilient the password is in the office computer will determine how problematical attack methods will be essential. Often, with so many passwords that are demanded, it becomes effortless to use the identical password, but if one person can access one password, they can access all with the same password. The methods of trying to accessing the computer will be less when obtaining a strong password. A compelling password in the workplace would include not using their username, long in character count and contains numerals, uppercase, lowercase and symbols if possible. Also, try to change password frequently to prevent others from decoding it. Also, when typing password, make sure the words can’t be seen on the computer and no other workers are observing. When deciding to have strong passwords, this can prevent company sanctuary against people who do not have permission to access imperative documents. Another form of security in office computers is using a firewall. When using a firewall system, it will prevent unauthorized people or programs to access from a private network. Firewalls provide defense in enforcing network security safety. Firewalls should be utilized throughout the workplace to prevent personal

information from being revealed aside from a strong password. The firewall will defend against threats to the computer band the data stored in it. Because the Internet is so public, many businesses become victims and are vulnerable to identify theft. When analyzing office safety, firewalls can be useful as workers are becoming more dispersed in using different networks to get tasks done in the office setting. Using diverse passwords for discrete documents and websites in the office setting prevent personal files from being viewed. Different passwords are useful because just because one password gets exposed doesn’t always mean all passwords will be leaked. The Internet service provider may be able to supply the office computers with free virus, malware, and spyware prevention software that may be offered for free or at a discounted price. Even going through unwanted URLs can attract a virus that can occur due to even misspelling the URL. One-way to identify if the website is secure by seeing if it has an “s” after the “http” address. If not, there is a high chance that the website could be harmful and could hold a virus that can steal personal information in the office setting.
In every office setting, it is important* to take many precautions needed in order to protect data and company security in the business environment. Negelence to this can cause barriers and many hackers to steal personal security from its workers and clients. Malware and viruses could be downloaded to the main system that can simply slow down the internet or can destroy and gather personal information. Simple* practices and precautions can be used to assure that the company is safe. Online hackers occur more than an individual may think and many big businesses such as target have become a victim of online security attacks. (find more)
The worst thing a worker can do in the office setting is ignore the problem, because by ignoring the problem it will give the virus/hacker the opportunity to mess up other computers in the work environment. As technology is becoming our main source of communication in the business environment and as we’re living in an era where identity theft and security breaches are more common than an individual may think, it is vital to take many precautions to assure that the company is free of any security threats.