TEMPE, Ariz., June 5, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a 2012 Unisys Security Index Report, approximately half of Americans are concerned about viruses and the security of shopping or banking online. With June recognized as "National Internet Safety Month," LifeLock, Inc., an industry leader in proactive identity theft protection, has identified a series of best practices to help consumers better protect their personally identifiable information when using the internet.
"To start, I want to be clear that by no means are we encouraging people to log off and avoid the internet altogether, that's just not realistic," said Todd Davis, Chairman and CEO of LifeLock. "The internet can be as safe as you make it and by taking smart steps – like removing file sharing networks from your computer – can dramatically reduce your vulnerability."
File-sharing networks, commonly known as Peer-to-Peer or P2P, allow users the ability to download software that essentially opens the 'back door' of their computer into a network of other users looking to share information. File-sharing can provide access to a wealth of information, including music, games, and software but when used incorrectly, has the potential for long-term damage. Users of file-sharing networks can inadvertently expose the contents of entire hard drives, including tax returns, private documents and files containing passwords, account numbers or other personally identifiable information that can be quickly monetized by thieves.
"Oftentimes we hear that children or teenagers are downloading file-sharing programs on the family computer in attempt to download music files and avoid the charge that is required on legitimate websites," said Davis. "By innocently downloading free P2P software, these young users are potentially indexing the entire hard drive of the family computer, most often unbeknownst to mom and dad."
To determine if your computer has a file-sharing program downloaded, review the list of programs running along the bottom of your computer screen to confirm that you know what each is. If you find a program that you are unfamiliar with and want to remove it, be sure to engage your computer into "safe mode" and uninstall the program from that mode. This can help to reduce the chances of the same program being re-installed the next time the computer is turned on.
For more recommendations on how to protect yourself and your family from threats of identity theft, visit LifeLock.com and click on the tab marked Understanding Identity Theft.
Contact:
Cortney Lanik
Media Relations Manager
480-457-2032
Cortney.Lanik@lifelock.com
About LifeLock
LifeLock, Inc. is an industry leader in identity theft protection. Since 2005, LifeLock has been relentlessly protecting identities by providing consumers with the tools and confidence they need to help protect themselves from identity theft and manage their credit. The company has a strong focus on educating consumers and working with law enforcement and elected officials to better understand the increasing threats of identity theft. A multiple award-winning organization for two consecutive years, LifeLock has been recognized by Inc. magazine on their annual list of top 500 fastest growing privately held businesses in the United States and by the American Business Awards as having the 2011 Customer Service Team of the Year. In August 2011, Javelin Strategy & Research named LifeLock Command Center and LifeLock Credit Score Manager as "Best in Prevention" in their annual Identity Protection Vendor Report. As of March 2012 ID Analytics, Inc., a leader in enterprise identity risk management with advanced science that provides unprecedented visibility into identity risk and credit worthiness, is a wholly owned subsidiary of LifeLock, Inc.
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