Top Ten Tips to Protect Your Business from ID Theft
Summary
The key to minimising the risk of identity theft affecting your business is effective prevention. If you look after your details and protect your data and security information then it will be very difficult for fraudsters to commit even the simplest form of ID theft.
Top ten tips for preventing ID theft:
- Do not have a simple password! Make it something that you could not guess (random letters and numbers are best), and change it regularly.
- Do not leave your password information anywhere near the computers that use it; as soon as you can memorize the password, destroy the written copy so that it cannot be read.
- Do not respond to emails asking you to send your details or password, even if it looks like it is from your bank; it probably is not. If it looks important contact your bank, and only send details by logging in directly to the bank (e.g. Type in www.yourbank.com into your browser), NOT through the email.
- Do not send identifiable confidential data via standard email as it is not 100% secure. If you need to use it then make the data unusable on its own (e.g. Send two emails each with half the data; so that if one is intercepted the information cannot be abused.)
- Make sure that every computer in your business has a virus killer and a firewall, keep them up to date and virus check every file you download.
- Do NOT download email attachments unless it is something business related that you are specifically expecting. Even then, you must virus check them before opening.
- Shred (or tear into very small pieces) important documents before you dispose of them; otherwise criminals that search through rubbish for information could find valuable data about your business.
- Register with the ‘Proof’ system at Companies House, this makes it significantly harder for fraudsters to alter or abuse your details.
- If your business uses a wireless network, setup WEP protection (if your equipment has it) as a basic minimum; you should also seriously consider paying for a more secure setup, especially if your computers are important to the running of your business. If your computers carry confidential customer data then extra security should be essential.
- Do not ignore false comments made by people pretending to be your business, if they are not dealt with they could cause huge amounts of bad publicity and severely damage your reputation.
Links
Click here for Companies House Information on the ‘Proof’ service. How to Use Wireless Networking
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