Since so many people use the Internet and their computers for searching, emailing, instant messaging, online shopping, and banking, the home PC has become the educational, communication, and entertainment hub for families everywhere. Many store their digital assets and personal files—photos, movies, music, resumes, financial information, and other valuable documents—on their computers.

Unfortunately, a family’s PC may be compromised and provide hackers with valuable information that could include addresses and phone numbers, bank user names and passwords, and credit card numbers.

Identity thieves and hackers target home computers because they know families often do not maintain adequate security protection on their PCs. This makes these family users easy, lucrative marks. Many hackers access your personal information in order to steal your money and your identity. Others might want to use your home computer as a shield to mask their identity as they steal from others.

Anyone can fall victim to identity theft. Consider the following ways:

Accessing the Internet from an unsecured PC.
Without a security layer between your computer and the Internet, you invite hackers to steal your identity, destroy your files, or use your PC to attack others

Obtaining potentially unwanted programs like spyware or adware on your PC.
Malicious software programs may monitor your keystrokes, track your Internet logins, transmit your confidential information, or redirect your browser to fake web sites

Sending personal information over the Internet.
Hackers can easily retrieve sensitive data that is sent over an unsecured Internet connection.

Downloading files from friends and family or accepting unknown emails.
You can obtain a virus, worm, or Trojan simply by accepting files from your friends, family, or others.

Not recognizing phishing scams or spam.
Phishing scams use fraudulent emails and web sites to lure unsuspecting users into revealing private account or login information.

One of the easiest ways to protect yourself and your loved ones from identity thieves and hackers is to use a comprehensive suite of software products such as System Sentinel for spyware and adware removal and Houdini to hide the most sensitive and valuable data from anyone trying to access your computer.