Few people are truly aware of how commonplace identity theft has become. According to research firm Gartner, the incidence of identity theft has risen sharply since 2003. In this post, we’ll show you some identity theft statistics that should make you think differently about it.

The Internet in particular has given hackers new ways to commit identity theft – sometimes in surprisingly imaginative ways. For example, by pretending that you’ve won a competition, hackers create a plausible reason to ask for your personal information.

Hopefully these statistics on identity theft will give you an idea of how widespread identity theft is, and why it is more important than ever to protect your identity from prying eyes.

Statistic #1
In 2011, the incidence of identity theft in the US increased by 13% compared to the previous year.

The incidence of identity theft has been rapidly increasing in recent years. The 2012 Identity Fraud Survey Report by Javelin Strategy & Research found that the number of identity theft victims had increased by 13 percent when compared to the previous year.

Statistic #2
In 2009, identity theft was responsible for more than $50 billion being stolen.

Javelin’s report in 2010 found that in 2009 $54 billion was stolen through identity fraud. This represented a 12.5 percent increase on the previous year.

Statistic #3
In 2011, identity theft affected a total of 8.1 million US citizens.

Victims of identity theft sometimes feel embarrassed over the fact that they’ve been scammed, but as this statistic shows, identity theft is much more common than you think. In 2011, 3.5 percent of US population were victims of identity theft, losing an average of $631 each.

Statistic #4
In 2009, the incidence of New Account Fraud increased to make up 39% of all identity fraud.

The type of identity theft criminals engage in is changing, with increasing amounts of new account fraud. The number of online accounts opened fraudulently more than doubled. New account fraud represented 39 percent of identity theft victims in 2009, up from 33 percent of victims in 2008.

Statistic #5
The rate of “friendly fraud” is increasing rapidly.

The incidence of friendly fraud has increased 7% in 2011 compared to the previous year. Friendly fraud is when an identity thief is a known acquaintance of the victim. This is a reminder than just because you know someone doesn’t necessarily mean they can be trusted with your confidential information. The victims of this type of fraud tends to be aged between 25 and 34.

Statistic #6
A social media user is more likely to be a victim of identity theft.

These online identity theft statistics may come as no surprise: someone who uses social media like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are more likely to be a victim of identity theft. Social media is a great resource of identity thieves, as users tend to share lots of personal information publicly:

• 45 percent of social media users sharing their birthday publicly.
• 63 percent share their high school name.
• 18 percent share their phone number.
• 12 percent share their pet’s name.

Statistic #7
US laws against identity theft were only introduced in 2003.

The laws that deal with identity theft are still relatively young in the US. It was only in 1998 that an act was drafted to deal with identity theft. Identity theft eventually came into force in 2003 thanks to the Identity Theft Deterrence Act. The statute made it a federal crime to knowingly transfer, possess, or use without lawful authority” the details of someone else’s identity.

Statistic #8
The average time to resolve identity theft has dropped by 30 percent in 2010.

On a more positive note, identity theft is being dealt with more promptly and is resulting in more arrests. It took an average time of 21 hours to resolve an identity theft case in 2010, and the number of arrests in fraud cases doubled.

Conclusion

As consumers become more educated about identity theft and information becomes more widely available, hopefully identity theft can be greatly reduced. But right now one must remain aware that identity theft happens and protect yourself as much as you can.

If you would like to take a more proactive approach to identity theft check out my recent review of the Lifelock Ultimate program where they will walk you through the necessary steps to protect your identity.

Chris H.

http://www.zdnetasia.com/study-identity-theft-keeps-climbing-61994518.htm

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/08/us-id-theft-survey-idUSTRE71748020110208

https://www.javelinstrategy.com/news/1314/222/Identity-Fraud-Rose-13-Percent-in-2011-According-to-New-Javelin-Strategy-Research-Report/d,pressRoomDetail

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/javelin-study-finds-identity-fraud-reached-new-high-in-2009-but-consumers-are-fighting-back-83987287.html

http://gigaom.com/2010/02/10/identity-theft-on-the-rise-survey/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_theft

There are many different types of identity theft, and it’s important to be aware of them.

One of the things that makes identity theft so problematic is how a criminal can put your information to so many different uses. They can make payday loans in your name or open new bank accounts. They can even apply for a passport or ask for a tax refund.

However, they can only do this if they manage to obtain your confidential information.

In this post, we’ll list a small selection of the different kinds of identity theft and how to protect yourself against them.

Shoulder Surfing

You’re using an ATM to withdraw some cash, and the person waiting behind you seems to be looming over you, trying to see you type in your PIN.

This person is shoulder surfing. Shoulder surfing is when an identity thief tries to obtain your confidential information while standing close by.

In most instances, you can protect yourself against shoulder surfing by simply using your body to hide your information. If that isn’t possible, then it may be better to postpone giving your information until you’re confident no identity thief is around.

It is worth noting that even a store clerk can be an identity thief. You should be wary if a store clerk asks for more information than they need or if they appear to do anything suspicious with your details.

Skimming

You go to an ATM to withdraw cash, and you do so without incident, but the card slot looks a little different than usual

You may have been a victim of an ATM skimmer. Such a device records your credit card details as you put it in the ATM. This will usually be combined with a small camera or a shoulder surfer to discover your PIN.

You can protect yourself against skimmers by inspecting an ATM’s credit card slot and making sure nothing has been placed in front of it.

Hand-held devices can also be used to skim your details. For example, if you pay for a meal at a restaurant with your credit card, the waiter or waitress could secretly scan your credit card through a hand-held skimmer.

Dumpster Diving

You put your bin out for the garbage truck the next morning, but in the middle of the night an unknown figure starts to rifle through your trash.

This person is dumpster diving. Dumpster diving, as you have probably figured out, is when an identity thief tries to obtain confidential information from your rubbish.

Protecting yourself from dumpster diving is as simple as being wary of what you throw away and shredding any confidential documents before discarding them.

Spyware

You see an item you like in an online store. You give the store your credit card details and order the item. It arrives in a few days and everything seems fine.

It is possible that in such a situation you have been the victim of spyware. If your computer is infected with spyware, then any information stored on or put through your computer will be sent to identity thieves. This is one of the most common types of identity fraud.

You should always use an up-to-date anti-virus and firewall to protect yourself from spyware, and scan your computer regularly for viruses.

There are plenty of free options you can use:

• AVG Free
• Comodo Internet Security
• Spybot Search & Destroy
• AdAware Free

More than anything else, you should be wary about what you (and other users of the computer) download and what websites you visit.

You could consider using a separate computer solely for the purpose for storing confidential information and banking. This means that your kids can have their fun online without you having to worry about them infecting your computer with spyware.

Phishing

You get an e-mail that appears to be from your bank. It tells you that you need to log in immediately to update your details. You do so.

You may have just been the victim of a phishing scam. Phishing is when criminals create a website that impersonates a real website in order to capture your details.

You can protect yourself from phishing scams by being wary when a company contacts you unexpectedly. Regardless of whether it is e-mail or a telephone call, if you cannot be sure that the person on the other side is who they say they are, then it is better to not risk giving out your details.

Instead if you do receive and email or phone number call their normal business number which can be found on their website and ask them about the issue.

Conclusion

There are many different types of identity theft – many more than can be listed in this short post. You should now have an idea of the different identity theft methods out there, and how you can protect yourself against them.

Be aware of how you store your information and who you give it to. When it comes to identity theft, it is better to be safe than sorry.  One proactive approach to protect yourself from identity theft  is to consider an identity theft program such as Lifelock, and right now you can Sign up for LifeLock ULTIMATE today and get your first 30 days FREE and save 10% through May 31st.

Chris

With the advent of the Internet and the ease of which vast amounts of people’s details can be stored and transmitted, how to prevent identity theft has become more common than you might think.

Attorney General Rob McKenna noted how “More and more often, victims are being denied jobs and being denied insurance as a result of their credit being destroyed by identity theft.”

In this how-to guide, we will cover what identity theft is, how it happens, and tips to prevent identity theft from happening to you or those close to you.

What is Identify Theft?

Identify theft is when a criminal uses a person’s personal details or information to assume their identity. It is usually done to obtain credit. Identity theft can be as simple as using your credit card details to make a purchase, or as complex as applying for a passport, claiming state benefits, and applying for a loan under your name.

How Does My Identify get Stolen?

To understand how to prevent your identity from being stolen, you must understand how it can happen. There are many ways that a person’s identify that can be stolen:

•  If you buy something online while your computer is compromised (e.g. a keylogger on your computer records your credit card details and sends it to criminals).

• If you lose your wallet and a criminal finds it.

• If you don’t shred confidential documents before putting them in the garbage.

•  A company’s database of customer information is leaked on the Internet or hacked into by criminals.

• And there are many more ways!

One problem with identify theft is that it is difficult to know by what specific method the criminals have obtained your information.

For example, a fraudster in the UK was jailed for four years after stealing the credit card details of 35,000 motorists. The fraudster did it by replacing credit card reader at several different gas stations with ones that collected customer information. The criminal’s credit card readers would broadcast people’s credit card details wirelessly so the fraudster could pick them up using a laptop.  You can learn more about this story here.

Ways to Prevent Identity Theft

It is difficult, if not impossible, to protect yourself against all types of identity theft. The above UK gas station scam would have gained the credit card details the most careful of individuals.

However, there are things you can do to make it much harder for criminals – you can make it harder for them to get your details in the first place, and you can thwart their attempts to use your details if they already have them.

Here are several easy steps you can take:

• Report Lost or Stolen Details – If you credit cards are lost or stolen, you should cancel them immediately. If you have lost your passport or any other form of identification, you should report it to the issuing organization.

• Guard your Personal Information – Be wary of giving out information about yourself or your bank account, especially if someone has contacted you unexpectedly. If in doubt, don’t give out any details until you’ve 100% sure that they are genuine.

• Keep your Documents Safe – Don’t carry confidential documents or your credit cards when you don’t need them. While it’s tempting to keep everything in your wallet for convenience, think of what a criminal could do with it. Ideally, you should always keep your details in a safe place at home, preferably in a safe or lockable cabinet. For valuable documents, you might even consider storing them in a safe deposit box.

• Protect your Details from Snoops – When giving out your information, make sure others cannot see or overhear your details. For example, when using an ATM, make sure nobody can see your PIN.

• Check Bank Statements for Suspicious Activity – If there are any unfamiliar transaction(s) on your bank statements, contact your bank and investigate the transaction immediately.

Identity Theft Protection Program

For those looking for a more complete solution to identity theft, a protection program may be the right choice. Companies like LifeLock offer a range of programs that help protect you from identity thieves by handing the job to professionals, giving you peace of mind.

A good identity theft program like the LifeLock Ultimate Service will offer a comprehensive range of services. This includes alerting you of suspicious financial transactions, or of loans made in your name, or if your confidential information has been leaked online.

Such programs are a great plug-and-play solution to identity theft. They are ideal for someone who has already been a victim of identity theft and is worried about it happening again, or for a vulnerable family member.

Sign up for LifeLock ULTIMATE today and get your first 30 days FREE and save 10% through May 31st

Conclusion

If you were wondering how to prevent identity theft, you should now appreciate it is through a combination of understanding and awareness of the problem. Protect your confidential information and be wary of who you give your details to.

If you think you’ve been a victim of identity theft, act quickly to remedy the problem.

Chris

The era of new technology allows mobile phone users to talk, email, record videos, and even shop from their phones. Hundreds of apps for smart phones now allow users to track their finances and spending while on the go. Here are 10 of the best according to Andy Boyd, co-founder of FinanceChoices.co.uk

1. Mint

One of the best personal finance apps on the market, Mint is compatible with both iOS and Android. The app is based on the  Mint.com  financial tracking website and will sync and update all account balances and information in real time as long as the mobile device has an Internet connection.

Mint’s app automatically categorises a user’s inputted transactions and alerts the user if he is nearing his budget limits. A user can also opt-in for notifications about a bill’s due date. A user that chooses to use the web-based version can also move money between his accounts and create future budgets. The Mint app is best for a user that wishes to sync accounts between his computer and his mobile device. Mint is a free personal finance app with a 4.5-star rating. Get Mint.com – FREE Money Management Software!

2. PageOnce Money and Bills

PageOnce allows a user to track all of his finances in one place, as well as reminds a user when his bills need to be paid and monitors credit card transactions, making it one of the best personal finance apps on the market.

The app tracks frequent flier miles or rewards and a user can even track his cell phone usage with the PageOnce app. A quick look will show the user key account balances on the home screen of the app. A mobile phone user that is constantly on the go while keeping track of many different accounts will appreciate the PageOnce app. PageOnce is a top free finance app with a 4.5-star rating.

3. Debt Tracker Pro

Debt Tracker Pro is a top personal finance app that allows a user to track his loan and debt information. A user can create, manage, and maintain different loan and debt accounts and create a payment plan for each account. Debt Tracker Pro tracks how much money is needed to pay off the loan as well as how long it will take to pay off the loan. The app also allows users to enter different amounts as a payment option to calculate how long it will take to pay off a debt if paying a different amount.

Additionally, Debt Tracker Pro shows a user how much is left on any lines of credit that he has open. The app is best for someone that makes payments on multiple credit cards and wants to keep track of what he owes and what he can spend. The app has a 4.5-star rating and charges a one-time fee of $1.99 USD.

4. MoneyBook

MoneyBook is an app that makes it easy for users to enter new transactions and add special notes or categories to individual transactions. MoneyBook allows a user to export finance information and password-protect any sensitive information.

MoneyBook also offers free cloud backup services. The app is good for a user whom wishes to keep specialised notes on transactions. MoneyBook has a 4-star rating and costs a one-time fee of $2.99 USD.

5. CW Money Expense Track

CWMoney Expense Track is an app for Android platforms that includes a QuickTrack widget. CWMoney handles multiple accounts and currency types, as well as has support for GPS, albums, voice, and calculators. CWMoney handles transfers and account exchange rates, includes hierarchical categories and allows the app user to input custom attributes.

Users can use the app to set monthly budgets, create pie chart reports and export data to Excel, XML and CSV. CWMoney also offers backup for Dropbox and Gmail. CWMoney is a free app with a 4-star rating.

6. iReconcile

iReconcile is an app made for Apple devices that includes a free built-in check register and online backup and sync services for $1.99 USD per month. iReconcile can track budgets for the year, month, week, or even the day.

The quick and easy set up allows the user to choose which categories and sub-categories are included. iReconcile also features a rollover feature for remaining funds at the end of the budget. This 4-star app costs a one-time fee of $2.99 USD.

7. Pennies

Pennies is a very basic and straightforward finance app that tracks a user’s expenses. The user enters a monthly budget and adds expenses. The app will save the most-used expenses, making it easier to input data as time goes on. Pennies is a 3.5-star app and costs a one-time fee of $3.00 USD.

8. Expenditure

Expenditure’s app makes it easy to add new transactions with options to include a note or photo with the transaction. The app also features a built-in currency converter with a large selection of different currencies. Expenditure is a 3.5-star app and costs $1.99 USD.

9. Venmo

Venmo is an app for iOS 3.1.3 or above that allows a user to link his credit card or bank account to his mobile device. He can then send money to another Venmo user’s bank account instantly. Venmo does not charge any transaction fees. Venmo is a free app with 5 stars.

10. ShoeBoxed

The ShoeBoxed app is available for the iPhone, iPad, and Android platforms. ShoeBoxed allows a user to take photos of important receipts and add them to expense reports, email them, or send them as a CSV, Excel, PDF, or XL8 file. This free app has a 2.5-star rating.

 If you’re looking for protection against identity theft, whether for yourself or someone close to you, LifeLock’s Ultimate Identity Theft Protection Service may be what you are looking for. In this LifeLock Ultimate review, I will explain what the service offers so you can make an informed decision as to whether it is the solution you are looking for.  In fact when you Sign up for LifeLock ULTIMATE today and get your first 30 days FREE and save 10% through May 31st

In a nutshell, LifeLock Ultimate provides a comprehensive service to both protect and keep tabs on your identity. This makes it harder for identity thieves to steal your identity, and means that you will be alerted if any suspicious activity takes place. LifeLock ensure that you are aware of what is going on and provide support so you can take swift action if you have been targeted by criminals.

Who Is LifeLock Inc?

LifeLock Inc. are an US company that specialize in identity theft protection. They were founded in 2005. Since then, they’ve established themselves as an industry leader in identity theft protection.

They’ve won numerous business awards, such as the 2010 Communitas Leadership Winner for Law Enforcement Training Program. This is down to the company’s focus on working with law enforcement agencies and elected officials. They also work to educate consumers on identity theft, both in terms of the threat it poses and how consumers can protect themselves.

What is LifeLock Ultimate?

LifeLock Ultimate is a protection program for which you pay a monthly fee. It is one of the most comprehensive identity theft protection services available, if not the best outright.

While enrolled, LifeLock provide an array of services to both protect you from identity theft, and to spot suspicious activity so you can take preventative measures. They also provide support so if you are the victim of identity theft, they can tell you the appropriate steps to take.

Who is LifeLock Identity Theft Protection For?

This program is suitable for a wide range of different people:

•  You have already been a victim of identity theft – If you’ve been a victim once already, then it is more likely that criminals will try to use your information again. If this is the case with you, LifeLock Ultimate can protect you from recurring identity theft.

• If criminals already have your details – Perhaps criminals already have your details, due to, for example, robbing your home or through hacking a computer you use for online banking. Enrolling in this program can help make identity theft more difficult for criminals, even if they already have your details. And if the worst does happen, then LifeLock will make sure you’re aware that it is happening sooner rather than later.

• You are a target for identity thieves – If you are affluent or you just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, identity thieves may target you specifically. If you have a lot to lose, and don’t have the time to address the threat of identity theft yourself, then enrolling in the LifeLock Ultimate can prevent any problem before it occurs.

• A vulnerable family member or friend – Identity thieves have a wide range of ways to extract confidential information, and vulnerable people (such as an elderly relative) can be much more susceptible to such tactics. Enrolling them in LifeLock Ultimate will mean you can rest easy on their account.

• You want plain-and-simple protection – More than anything else, as you’ll see in the rest of this LifeLock Ultimate review, the program is about providing peace of mind concerning identity theft. Indeed, some businesses are now providing identity theft protection for all their employees. Being the victim of identity theft isn’t a pleasant experience.

What does LifeLock Ultimate Promise?

LifeLock automatically order credit reports on your behalf from all three credit bureaus. LifeLock also tells the credit bureaus to put a fraud alert on your reports. These usually last 90 days, but LifeLock ensure the fraud alert is in place for as long as you are enrolled to their program.

They also issue alerts to you personally if suspicious activity occurs that involves your identity. Their TrueAddress service alert you if someone has tried to change your address, a common tactic of identity thieves. Their eRecon service searches the Internet, specifically looking at criminal websites, to see whether your confidential information has been leaked online.

LifeLock can even help you if your wallet has been lost or stolen with their WalletLock service. They help you both cancel and replace your credit cards, your driver’s license, your social security card, and so on.

If that wasn’t enough, LifeLock also offer great support. I’ve personally contacted LifeLock support staff on two occasions, and in both instances I had a representative on the phone within five minutes.

Why Ultimate?

LifeLock offer two programs for protection: LifeLock and LifeLock Ultimate. This is a LifeLock Ultimate review, and you may ask yourself “Why spend the extra on the Ultimate program?”

Simply put, the Ultimate program offers more comprehensive protection than LifeLock’s basic program. The monitoring is more intensive, including daily monitoring of all credit bureau reports and payday loan monitoring, amongst other enhancements.

I believe that if you’re looking for identity theft protection, it is better to nip the problem in the bud once and for all. The Ultimate program can allow you to do that, so if a thief specifically targets you, they will soon give up and move to a less protected target. That means they’ll leave you alone and your life can return to normality.

Do it for Yourself?

Some of actions LifeLock take on your behalf as part of their Ultimate program, you could do for yourself for free. For example, you can obtain your credit reports from the three credit bureaus without the assistance of LifeLock or anyone else.

I mention this because some people may prefer to learn about identity theft and save their money.

That said, doing it for yourself can be confusing for the uninitiated, and it does come at the cost of your spare time. It’s also likely that doing it yourself will also not provide as strong a defense against identity thieves. The main difference is the speed with which LifeLock can alert you of any problems and collect relevant information like your credit reports.

LifeLock specialize in taking these steps for others, so you can be confident that they’re done correctly, rather than fumbling around in the dark yourself.

Does it Do What it Promises?

LifeLock have a $1 million guarantee. This means that if you are a victim of identity theft while enrolled in the LifeLock Ultimate program, LifeLock say “If you need lawyers, we’re going to hire the best we can find. If you need investigators, accountants, case managers, whatever, they’re yours. If you lose money as a result of the theft, we’re going to give it back to you. […] We will do whatever it takes to help you recover your good name and we will spend up to $1,000,000 to do it.”

This guarantee suggests that LifeLock believe that they’re more than capable of keeping the promises they make. If they didn’t, one would expect them to quickly go out of business.

The consensus amongst many consumer reviews of the LifeLock services backs this up.

As one example, TopConsumerReviews.com gave LifeLock’s program five stars, the highest they’ve awarded out of all their identity theft protection reviews.

In their review, they said “if you are concerned about identity theft, LifeLock will put your mind at ease. By taking the steps necessary to protect your identity, LifeLock provides a strong defense against identity thieves.”

Are There any Disadvantages?

Since LifeLock Ultimate places a fraud alerts on your credit reports, that makes credit approval more complicated. This is obviously a benefit if someone is trying to assume your identity, but it is an obvious drawback when you yourself want to apply for credit.

This negative is the price you pay for extra security from identity thieves. If this becomes a serious issue for you, you can ask LifeLock to not update your fraud alert.

Another point worth mentioning is that approving many new cards through LifeLock could become annoying. I recently signed up for a Marathon Gas card, it was simple enough to approve it with LifeLock – I simply logged in and accepted it – but it could become time consuming if you have to approve many cards at once.

Customer Testimonials

Below are what several different customers thought of LifeLock’s services.

We looked at a number of companies and found LifeLock had the best product for protecting people from ID theft plus much more. I wish we had found them before my wife and I recently became victims.
Bobby Joe Harris – Retired Police Chief

As the owner of a small business my employees are an extension of my family. I looked into LifeLock and immediately paid to sign everyone up. I just couldn’t live with myself if one of my employees had to deal with the problems of ID Theft and I could have prevented it with LifeLock.
Brian Tritch – President of Applied Creative

Thieves broke into my home and got everything – my passport, birth certificate, social security card, and several other priceless items. They could have ruined me financially. I had heard about how LifeLock guarantees identity protection. So I put them to the test. A few days later, I started getting phone calls that the thieves were trying to open new credit accounts using my identity. LifeLock’s system worked just like they said it would and stopped the thieves early.
Aaron Freeman – Scottsdale, Arizona

How Much Does LifeLock Ultimate Cost?

The standard price to enroll in LifeLock Ultimate is either monthly payments of $25, or for a single yearly payment of $275.

However, you can Sign up for LifeLock ULTIMATE today and get your first 30 days FREE and save 10% through May 31st

What is PPI? Payment protection insurance is a type of insurance that covers credit card or loan repayments for people unable to afford them due to unemployment, illness, disability, or accidents. The majority of policies include a life benefit that pays off outstanding balances on a card or loan in case of death.

For example, PPI is able to cover repayments of personal loans, car finance, store and credit cards, mortgages, and catalogue debts. PPI is sold when a credit or loan is taken. In addition, lenders must mention all details and payment amounts separately to the borrower. PPI is a contract given by an insurance company and not the lender. Here are ten things to know about PPI.

1.  PPI can have high costs. Search for PPI providers to secure the best deal since prices vary. Compare equal loan amounts versus the coverage’s time frame to determine the best value. Know that not all loans offered include the PPI cost to better calculate and manage the total repayment amount.

2.  PPI can be secured to cover a loan from elsewhere. Stand-alone policies are available named ASU (accident, sickness, and unemployment) coverage. Certain insurance brokers and companies provide loan payment protection insurance over the phone, and Internet to name some options.

3.  PPI covers credit or loan repayments for a limited time, 12 months on average. Most policies only pay out in 30 days block. For example, if someone returns to work after 27 days, no payment would be made. Policies usually have a 30 days delay to submit claims.

4.  Certain PPI policies do not cover the self-employed. PPI policies that cover self-employed, which are few, have many restrictions. For instance, coverage may only apply for illness, accident, or death. Read a copy of the policy summary to know the circumstances that are covered in case of a claim. Contact the insurance institution for any clarification. Insurance companies have to mention all the situations that are not covered.

5.  The majority of PPI policies do not cover anyone of retirement age. Read the terms and conditions to ensure coverage at your age.

6.  Payment protection insurance claims for unemployment are only covered under specific instances. Applicants must have a full-time permanent job of at least 16 hours per week. Persons under a temporary contract are not covered by the policy. Borrowers under different employers may not be covered even if working full time. Check all details of working arrangements with the insurance company to know if PPI is a viable option.

Moreover, employees who are dismissed for job misconduct or quit simply due to dissatisfaction are generally not covered.

7.  PPI only covers some illnesses. For instance, coverage is usually not given to issues related to alcohol consumption, drugs, back problems, mental illnesses or pregnancy. However, policies cannot discriminate a person based on disability. Seek advice and file complaints if a policy that discriminates people with disability is encountered.

Furthermore, the majority of PPI policies do not cover illnesses suffered before a coverage is taken which are called pre-existing conditions. If a past medical condition is not mentioned to the insurance institution, payment could be withheld.

All information in regards to known medical conditions, past or present, should be provided to the insurance institution. By doing this, you make sure that no insurance premiums are made for a policy that could never be claimed if the need arose.

8.  Know the PPI cancellation procedures. Payment protection plan policies can be cancelled within 30 days from the agreement. Ask for the cancellation period since some institutions have longer time frames.

Any payment amount done for the premium should be refunded minus any days that the policy actually covered you. No penalty charges are allowed from insurance companies for cancellations. Current PPI policies can be cancelled at any moment provided the proper notice has been given. PPI policies can be cancelled for mis-selling too.

9.  PPI coverage can be mis-sold. Policies that were sold under the wrong circumstances might not be claimed. For example, getting a policy that doesn’t cover people over the age of 65 while you are 70 years old.

Mis-selling claims can be made against companies that knowingly sell policies that don’t cover the holder. Claims keep companies from selling policies that don’t apply by cancelling and refunding the PPI.

10.  Know how to complain about PPI problems. Issues with a PPI policy require a formal complaint. Contact the insurance company first. If there is no satisfactory answer, forward complaints to consumer protection agencies like the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), Citizens Advice Bureau, or The Money Advice Service’s websites.

These agencies provide confidential, independent, free, and impartial advice with solutions. For further PPI information, the FOS’s site offers current guidance and resources to consumers.

This article is provided courtesy of Credit Season, a consumer finance website providing information and tools on personal loans for poor credit and other personal credit services.

The following is a list of the ten most important cloud computing security issues. These problems can be faced by anyone and everyone who wishes to engage in cloud computing practices and the IT firms essentially have to be aware of these cloud computing security risks.

This article has been written on the basis of a detailed IT study and the feedback of IT firms which have been affected by these certain security concerns of cloud computing. The question arises that is cloud computing secure? Hopefully, this article will help you form an answer to it.

1. Legal Factors: Various nations have their own set of laws pertaining to customer data privacy. The amount of cloud security risks is way higher in a country where a customer’s information or data maybe held by the officials. Therefore, the legal factors of a nation are an important factor when it comes to cloud computing security issues.

2. Firewall is not essentially a total protection: Even when a cloud computer looks like it is completely safe and secured there maybe more than one underlying concerns. There is the emergence of new unknown threats and dangers. Also, with networking, there is the possibility of unwanted information stealing while the user stays unaware. Private clouds may claim enhanced security, but it can also be vulnerable. The private clouds have more possibilities of containing security concerns.

3. Different nature of clouds: All the available clouds vary in their level of security and the amount customer assistance required. Some clouds require low customer attention and hence the level of cloud computing risks is high as one has to rely too much on the cloud provider’s preferences. There are different models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS etc) for cloud service delivery and they serve different requirements of the customer. Hence, it becomes important to understand the aspects before moving any important data or anything having greater value to the cloud.

4. Software updating does not mean more security: While it appears to the world that the newly released cloud software help in securing better the information, most of the times it is not the case. Companies release their new software with the aim of ensuring more profits while the actual level of security remains the same.

5. Customer ignorance: Many a times the customer fails to inquire the provider of the various uses and operations of the program. Hence, the user fails to accurately use to program and the level of cloud computing security falls down.

6. Clouds are destructive: With the emphasis being laid on the question “is cloud computing secure”, the other persisting problems are ignored. A user having security concerns or other problems already, faces more problems with the introduction of cloud. Clouds increase the rate of information devastation and soon the machine faces a breakdown.

7. Cyber rooks’ attack: It is evident from recent episodes in the cyber world that hackers and rooks are attracted more to cloud systems. The “perfect security” image of cloud systems forces a challenge on these rooks and they operate more on these machines. Hence, the amount of cloud computing issues concerning cloud systems is boosted up with their advent.

8. No innovation in methods: In spite of the cloud companies’ promises of discovering new innovative and efficient methods of cloud usage for business users, they seem to have done nothing in this section. The repeated mode of usage of these cloud systems lowers its resistance power as cyber rooks are constantly developing new methods of information stealing.

9. Understanding the risks properly: Users need to better inform on the risks that cloud systems actually cover. It has been noticed that users have a vague idea of risks that are secured by clouds. With users being informed better about the security concerns covered, they can engage other efficient programs to cover the remaining cloud security risks.

10. User at fault: No matter what the case is, it is sure that all the legal issues and charges of breaches will fall upon the user and not the cloud company at all. Hence, the legal risk of breaches always pertains to the user and cannot be avoided at any cost or at any time. The user is required to ensure a total legal responsibility during his usage of a cloud. Moreover, it becomes very important to understand that compliance and legal accountability has some importance. Especially, healthcare providers must not forget that the date you are putting in cloud has a risk of bad publicity and it may cause you trouble.

However, with all said and done it cannot be denied that clouds have their benefits as well. The above listed risks, if minimized can result in an effective usage of cloud facilities. The ignorance of these cloud computing security issues can often lead to unwanted consequences.

About the author: Margaret is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on environment and technology. Beside this she is fond of books. She recently did an article on HTC Wildfire price in india. These days she is busy in writing an article on philip crangi.

Spector Spyware is a known keylogger that carries a number of malicious functions. In fact, it is a complete spyware suite having seven different integrated software pieces to wreck your security away. It does a number of malicious things including recording your emails which you send and receive, the sites you visit, keywords you type, your conversation on any instant chat messenger, peer to peer file searching and swapping and the number of programs or apps you launch.

So everything you do over your computer system, it is recorded and sent across to the person who has infected your PC or laptop. It enters your PC via some vulnerabilities occurring due to few Trojans which are already present on your computer.

To get away from this type of spyware is not an easy task; you need to run a couple of spyware scanning software programs which you can be found over the web for free.

The way Spector enters your PC

There are two basic reasons why your PC gets a Spector. Firstly, when your computer OS and web browser security settings are too lenient or lax and secondly you do not stick to the safe and secured internet surfing protocols and PC practices. Hence you should be conscious while downloading and installing any kinds of Shareware or Freeware or visiting any questionable websites which can contain a number of Trojans, adware and spyware or using some P2P programs or other apps employing a shared network etc.

Symptoms of Spector

When your computer is infected by Spector software, it may display a couple of symptoms which you can notice while using your PC. You may find things over your PC appearing in a random fashion, the speed of your computer can be seen going down drastically. You may land up to any website which you have never heard or visited ever in the past. At times, you may feel that you have no control over your computer while using it. You may see your computer doing something which you never ask or tell to do it.

You can also see a huge amount of advisements and irritating kinds of pop ups. Lastly, your files stored in your computer may appear and disappear. If you find these symptoms then better run a computer spy program to confirm the presence of Spector. The moment you confirm it, you can then move on to get away from this menace seen at your system.

How to remove spyware from your computer

Once you diagnose your system and confirm the presence of Spector in your computer, it’s time to try out some measurements to get rid of this menace. To completely remove this spyware from your PC, you are supposed to delete the windows registry keys, registry values, files and folders associated with this spyware. The files associated with Spector include- [%SYSTEM%]wwdtnt32.dll, [%SYSTEM%]winnetcl.cnt, [%SYSTEM%]winnetcl.hlp, [%PROGRAMS%]spectorspector.lnk, [%SYSTEM%]netknl.dll, [%SYSTEM%]netknlhm.dll, [%SYSTEM%]winnetcl.exe and [%SYSTEM%]wswinntfp.exe. The folders associated with Spector is [%SYSTEM%]netext.

Deleting Spector files and folders: To get rid of these files associated with Spector you need to follow the below said steps:

1. By using your file explorer, you have to browse for every file and folder which is associated with Spector as enlisted above.

2. Select these files or folders and then press the keys Shift & Delete to rid of these.

3. Click Yes to confirm the deletion of the said files and folder appearing in the dialog box.

At times you may see the deletion of any of these files failing which will appear from a window displaying the corresponding message. Hence to get rid of these locked filed, you will have to use the RemoveOnReboot utility. For this, simply right click on the locked file and send it to RemoveOnRebootutility and then delete the file from this utility.

Removing Spector from the windows registry: Windows registry is a place which stores vital system information like system preferences, installed program information, user settings along with the details of several applications which run when your PC is started. The presence of any spyware, adware or malware generally store references to their respective files in the Windows registry in order to automatically launch them every time you on your PC.

In order to effectively get rid of spyware called Spector from the windows registry, you have to first take a back up of your registry files before you start deleting all the registry keys and values associated with this spyware. These registry keys and values include- HKEY_CURRENT_USERsoftwaremicrosoftwindowscurrentversionexplorermenuorderstart menu2programsspector, HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTclsid{58483a6f-ad93-4d13-a1e2-bcdac4a710a1} and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTmapiauthentication.addin which are to be deleted by following set of instructions given below.

1. Go to start menu and click run and type regedit and press enter. You will then see the registry editor window which comprises of two panes. The left pane shows the folders which gives you the registry keys seen in the hierarchical fashion. The right side pane gives the registry values of the presently selected registry key.

2. In order to delete all the desired registry values in the registry keys area, you need to locate the key in the left of the registry editor window by extending the folders in a proper sequence and as per the path shown over the registry keys section. Then you need to select the key name shown at the end of the path followed by a right click over it (key name) and then check the option of delete given in the menu.

3. In order to delete each and every registry value found in the Registry Values section you have to carry out the similar kind of exercise as discussed above. First of all display the value over the right pane over the registry editor window by extending the folders in a proper sequence and as per the path shown over the registry keys section and then select the appropriate key name.

At the right pane, you now have to select the value name shown after the comma seen at the end of the path. Then you are required to select the value name. Now simply select the option delete via right click given in the menu and get rid of these things.

The Spyware like Spector is usually designed to collect data from your computer and share it to any malicious third party element without your consent. So, whenever you find any, removing spyware should be your basic goal. If you have Spector, you can certainly use the above steps discussed in the article and embark with spyware free computer.

About the author: Margaret is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on environment and technology. Beside this she is fond of books. She recently did an article on eco friendly cleaning products. These days she is busy in writing an article on the Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 review.

One 2009 study by the FINRA Foundation showed that about 41% of credit card holders pay substantial interest payments on their cards. If you’re in this percentage of credit card users, you may want to look at getting your credit card interest rate down.

Luckily, there are several things you can do to lower your credit card interest rate, some of them are surprisingly simple. Here are six tips to help you lower the interest rate on your credit card:

1. Call and ask

One of the simplest ways to lower your credit card interest rate is to ask your bank to knock your rate down. Often times, all it takes is you taking the initiative and asking your bank for a lower rate. If you call the customer service department, especially if you’re armed with information about average interest rates and your excellent credit score, you may be able to get your interest rate lowered on the spot.

If this doesn’t work the first time, keep trying. Sometimes you just need to get through to the right rep on the right day. (If your credit is less than stellar, though, you may need to follow some of these other steps before you call and ask again.)

2. Shop around for a balance transfer card

A credit card balance transfer can be a good way to get lower interest rates, particularly if you’re already carrying a high balance. When you’re shopping around for a card to transfer your balance to, make sure you understand not only your general interest rate and your introductory rate, if there is one, but also the balance transfer rate, which is often different from the overall interest rate for the card. If you aren’t sure exactly how much interest you’ll be paying on a balance transfer, call the card company to find out before you sign up for a new card.

3. Raise your credit score

If you’ve been denied an interest rate reduction and can’t find a good balance transfer card for your needs, you might need to raise your credit score. Credit card companies will rely heavily on your credit score to ensure that you are up to paying off your credit card purchases. If you’re risky, they’ll hike up your interest rate so that they’ll at least be guaranteed to get some money out of you.

By lowering your overall debt, making payments on time, and managing your credit cards well for a few months, you can add points to your credit score, which can deduct interest from your credit cards. Once your score has improved by several points, call your credit card company once more to ask about an interest reduction.

4. Lower your balances

If you’re carrying a very high balance on your credit card, that’s a sign to the credit card company that you may not pay your whole balance. Again, this signals to the company that they should take more in interest so that they can recoup their losses if you were to fail to make payments.

By paying down your balance, you can often negotiate for a lowered interest rate, too. The bonus here is that once your interest rates and your balances are down, you’ll be able to pay down your balance even faster, since a larger portion of each payment will go towards your balance rather than towards interest.

5. Have a good track record

If you’re constantly missing payments or turning them in late, you’ll probably see some serious interest rate hikes. Plus, you’ll take damage to your credit score. If you want a lower interest rate, be a good customer by making your payments on time and avoiding late fees and similar issues. Once you’ve made payments on time consistently for several months in a row, call the credit card company to ask for a lower rate.

6. Avoid scams

The Federal Trade Commission notes that there are many companies out there who will claim to lower your credit card interest rates for you by negotiating with your credit card company or by other means. These fraudulent companies will ask for your credit card information and up-front payment, which then opens you up to credit card fraud.

Lowering your credit card interest rate isn’t that difficult, and you can do it yourself. Never give out your credit card information to a company who claims to have a special relationship with your lending company that would allow them to lower your interest rate for you.

Lowering your credit card’s interest rate isn’t that difficult, as you can see. The goal is to prove that you can be responsible with your credit card, which will make your credit card issuer more likely to lower your rates for your card. Once you’ve shown yourself to be responsible, simply call and ask to have your rates lowered.

Daniela Baker is a personal finance blogger at CreditDonkey, a credit card comparison website.  She is a mother of two and along with her team, she helps families make informed financial decisions about credit.  Visit her blog and remember, you can always compare credit card deals if your current credit card issuer won’t lower your interest rate.

If you’re new to the world of investments, then it’s very easy to literally burn through all your capital and have nothing left to show for it. Markets are fast-moving and highly volatile – the last few years are the perfect example of this. One minute your stock could be doing well, the next it could be in free-fall because of surprisingly poor economic data being released or a new competitor enters the market with a better product.

So before you start building up your investment portfolio, take some time to acquaint yourself with investing and the mindset it requires. To help you get started, Andy Boyd, co-founder of Australian credit card comparison website, www.creditcardcompare.com.au, offers up his list of 10 top investing books. Some are even available as free ebook downloads, so you can get started with your research right away!

1. “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Mr. Kiyosaki wrote this top seller investing book based on his personal life experiences with financial matters that he learned from two sources – his real father, his “poor dad”, and the father of his best friend, his “rich dad”. The two dads had different upbringings, different educations, and different philosophies on life and money in general.

They are exactly the opposite of what you may think – his “poor dad” was very educated and made a good salary running the Hawaiian school system. His “rich dad” dropped out of high school and was constantly working on running his own business.

Although he wasn’t technically “rich”, he did not deny himself all the pleasures in life he desired and instead found ways to afford them (unlike the “poor dad” who always claimed they were too broke to afford any of these same pleasures). These two dads each taught Robert very different life lessons about money and finance, which he shares in this book.

2. “Irrational Exuberance, 2nd Paperback Edition” by Robert J. Shiller (2005)

This book title came from the infamous comment made by Alan Greenspan about the impracticality of stock market valuations. In his book, he predicts the impending burst of the dotcom bubble.

As a Yale educated economist, he does not go along with the traditional belief that the market is rational and can be played as such. Instead, he firmly believes that the market if full of speculation, emotion, and “herd behaviour”.

This second edition (the original edition was published in 2000) again chillingly predicts the housing market crash and the plethora of bankruptcies and recession that followed. Irrational Exuberence is one of the best investing books for beginners and comes highly recommended to help understand the post credit crisis world we live in.

3. “One Up on Wall Street: How to Use What You Already Know to Make Money in the Market” by Peter Lynch

Wall Street legend, Peter Lynch, presents his theory that your everyday observations in your life and the world around you can help you determine which stocks can make a lot of money for you.

He poses the argument that an occasional grand slam of a stock completely makes up for several others that clearly strike out. He is also a firm believer in ignoring the experts and analysts, as well as refusing to try to predict the economy or the market.

He encourages you instead to concentrate on industries that you are familiar with and do diligent research on them, while keeping your ears open to people in that industry who know what is going on and can be great predictors of success.

4. “The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom: Practical and Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying” by Suze Orman

Suze Orman’s book takes a spiritual and emotional viewpoint about money and accentuates the fact that the major hindrances to achieving wealth are anger, shame and fear.

She helps you gain control over the money you have – and do not have – while teaching you to be responsible and respectful of your money and understand what wealth truly means.

5. “Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits” by Phillip Fisher

Even though this book was published over 50 years ago, the teachings in it are still successfully applicable today. Mr. Fisher was instrumental in establishing the world of financial analysis. Modern investment theory has been largely influenced by his teachings.

He pioneered the general idea behind using the growth potential of a business to help analyse stock. He believes in evaluating the ability of a business to turn a profit and to focus on the quality of that business.

6. “Stock Investing for Dummies” by Peter Mladjenovic

This is one of the easier books to get your head around. As the title suggests, this book guides the beginner investor to assemble a stock portfolio that is highly profitable.

It discusses the basics, explains different types of risks, helps you make knowledgeable investment choices, assists you in building a strong portfolio foundation, while exploring expert tactics and tips to help you succeed.

7. “The Essays of Warren Buffett: Lessons for Corporate America, Second Edition” by Warren Buffett and Professor Lawrence Cunningham

Although Mr. Buffett is somewhat secretive about his specific investments, he is always more than willing to talk about his strategies behind choosing his investments.

He has written many personal letters to shareholders over the past 30 years and this book is a collection of those letters. You can also download a copy of this book for free.

8. “The Neatest Little Guide to Stock Market Investing (Fourth Edition)” by Jason Kelly (2010)

This book is one of the most highly purchased stock books on the market and has sold over 200,000 copies. This edition has been updated with recent information and strategies following the financial system crisis that began in 2008 and is still recovering.

This edition (unlike prior editions) delves into technical analysis tools, which Mr. Kelly believes are paramount in assessing the health of the market and the level of risk associated with your investments.

9. “The Intelligent Investor: The Classic Text on Value Investing” by Benjamin Graham

Mr. Graham is unequivocally the “guru” of value investing. While this book does not specifically advise you on how to choose stocks to purchase, it does provide you with dependable principals that investors have tested (successfully) time and time again.

Mr. Graham’s most notable student, Warren Buffett, has spoken highly of this book as the best investment book written. Mr. Graham also wrote “Security Analysis” which investors have quoted and relied upon for decades, even though it is a difficult book to read. “The Intelligent Investor” is much more reader-friendly.

10. “Start Over, Finish Rich” by David Bach

Mr. Bach shares with you the 10 essential financial points to focus on coming out of this recession in order to gain wealth. He is a financial expert who has had several books reach #1 on the New York Time Bestseller’s List.

Mr. Bach illustrates how we have the best chances for becoming rich right in front of us, after the recession we have suffered through. He explains how to set yourself up to recover right along with the economy. A version of the book is available as a free download here.

Author Bio: Andy is the co-founder of CreditCardCompare.com.au, one of Australia’s leading credit card comparison services. He has had work published with Wisebread, Economy Watch and Dynamic Business among others.