identity theft Archives - Successful Blog

Put Some Life Back in Protecting Your Identity

September 7, 2016 by Thomas

Running a business in 2016 means many different things.

One of those is making sure both the identities of your business and your customers are safe from I.D. theft thieves.

If an identity theft thief is able to infiltrate your business, he or she could cause irrevocable damage to your company’s reputation. In the event that occurs, you could see your revenue stream come to an abrupt halt.

If your business has an exposed identity, you are flirting with danger, danger that can very easily snowball its way into angry customers and more.

With that in mind, are you putting some life back in protecting your identity?

Know the Danger Signs

In order to stop identity theft thieves from penetrating your business, there are a number of steps you must be taking.

Among them:

Recognize the danger – For starters, don’t think identity theft can’t happen to your business. As it turns out, many businesses are prime targets for I.D. theft thieves, especially smaller ones. Those smaller companies typically do not have all the bells and whistles in place to prevent a notable identity theft attack. As a result, they become prime targets for criminals. To not be cognizant of the danger is like leaving your front doors unlocked when you go to bed in the evening. No, most people do not do that in this day and age, so don’t be the business owner who leaves his or her business exposed to I.D. theft;
Put a plan in motion – One of the best means with which to fight back against identity theft is by having a protection plan in place. For example, working with an I.D. theft protection provider allows you to give your online activities (and others involving finances) as much protection as possible. The question oftentimes becomes, how do I know which protection plan to go with? Along with asking around, do some online scouting to see which services get the highest ratings from folks who know them best. Whether you look to LifeLock reviews or another such provider, be sure to see which service best meets the needs of your brand. Once you decide on a service provider, make sure to protect not only your computers and online activities, but also other related financial activities. For example, you want to make sure that any company credit cards are secure and safe at all times. For instance, if one of your employees is tasked with wining and dining a prospective client, he or she may use the company credit card to pay for the meal etc. If for some reason the employee would misplace the card or someone got ahold of the I.D. numbers on the card, they could easily run up a sizable bill before you even knew what hit. By having a protection plan in place, you can be alerted immediately as to any suspicious activity involving the card;
Don’t overlook your employees – Finally, as much as you want to (and should) trust your employees, workers committing I.D. theft against their employers is certainly not out of the question. As a result, you should never take for granted that such an event could happen to you. Make it clear from the day each and every employee is hired that you trust them, but any breach in that trust will result in notable consequences. Such consequences could include suspensions without pay, termination of one’s job, perhaps even criminal charges being filed.

With all you have on the line, making sure your business does all it can do to minimize the I.D. theft threat is important.

Keep in mind that even just one successful identity breach can change your business and its financial safety forever.

Be the business owner who takes identity theft and its threat seriously, lessening the odds you will be the next victim.

Just as importantly, in the event your business does suffer such a breach, make sure you act immediately to limit the damage. Such actions will give you a better opportunity to stem the tide of lost trust with your customers.

If identity theft was not on your radar before, it certainly should be moving forward.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

Are Identity Theft Thieves Eyeing Your Business?

July 20, 2016 by Thomas

Is your business as fully protected as you would like it to be?

For those running businesses with physical locations (office spaces etc.), keeping intruders out is a relatively easy task.

You have locks on the door, perhaps video cameras watching over your building, maybe even security guards. No matter what it takes to keep your office and workers safe, you’re willing to do it.

But what about those intruders you can’t see coming through your workplace doors? How do you keep them at arm’s length?

As all too many business owners have unfortunately discovered, identity theft thieves are a problem, a problem that has potential to cost those running companies major dollars. When you throw in the notion of upset customers, things can get out of hand rather quickly.

With that being the case, are identity theft thieves eyeing your business?

Take Steps to Protect Your Company

So that you can keep your business (and your employees) as safe as possible, are you covering the following bases?

Physical safety – Going to and from work should not be a big deal, but some employees (depending on where the office is located) may feel threatened at times en route to and leaving the office. Do all you can to assure them that they have nothing to worry about during this part of their day. If your office is in a rough part of town, either look to hiring security and/or recommending workers travel in pairs or larger groups during the day or night;
Identity theft – It is oftentimes the hidden dangers that can be the most damaging for a business owner. If online criminals are targeting your business, do not take the threat lightly. Just one successful identity theft attack against your brand has the potential to do major financial damage, along with the negative public relations fallout that would ensue. While online criminals are always looking for new ways to go about striking businesses (and consumers for that matter), you can lessen the odds you will be hit by making sure your online security software is as strong as it can be. One problem for business owners may be that they feel they are too busy to sort through the various security software programs on the market. As a result, they open themselves and their brand up to attack. One means to solve this part of the equation is by turning to services that review various security software programs. Whether you opt for an Identity Guard review or others on the market, the time spent doing so will prove well worth it. Once you have a security software program in place, make sure it is regularly updated;
Employee awareness – Since your employees are the bread and butter of your organization, it is imperative that they are part of your front line of defense against criminal actions. Whether it is a customer trying to get away with something to damage your business or an employee trying to cheat the company, your employees’ eyes and ears always should be focused. Unfortunately, some employees have been known to (and were caught) commit identity theft against their employers and/or customers. You should always have a system of checks-and-balances in place to lessen the odds of this problem occurring in the first place. For example, having one employee in charge of the books (accounting etc.) may seem ideal, what if that person has some dishonest intentions in mind? Having another set of eyes to review the books etc. is certainly not a bad idea. In the event you catch one or more employees committing illegal acts against your business (stealing money, identity theft etc.), make sure they are not only susceptible to losing their jobs, but could also face legal action.

Whether the threats come from outside your business or ultimately prove to be inside jobs, you can’t put your brand at risk.

Do your best to limit the chances of one or more people taking your business to the cleaners.

Remember, it is not only the financial fallout that occurs from identity theft and/or employees stealing from you, but you also lose credibility among your customers when such acts take place.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

Your Business Success Depends on Protecting Your Assets

April 27, 2016 by Thomas

Is there anything truly worrying you about your business?

Some business owners fret over not being able to maintain a regular revenue stream.

Others, meantime, worry that their customer service initiatives will not always please some of their clientele. Still others have concerns over hiring the right talent (for those companies that are more than one person shows).

With those factors in mind, what (if anything) has you concerned about your brand moving forward?

Maintaining a Safe Business Identity

In order to keep your business humming along, it is imperative that you never take for granted how even one episode of identity theft can throw your company for a loop.

Stop for a minute and think about how potentially devastating it would be if an identity theft thief got his or her hands on your personal financial information. Imagine all the damage they could do in such a short amount of time.

Now turn that imagination to your business dealings.

If you think an identity theft thief can’t bring your brand to its knees, think again.

If customers see their data stolen and feel like your reactionary time and/or actions are less than acceptable, your business could suffer greatly.

With that being the case, are you making sure your business data (specifically that of your clients) is safe and sound at all times?

If you’ve been a little lax at times, you need to close those loopholes as soon as possible.

There are a number of ways to do this, so don’t feel like it can’t be done.

To start with, make sure you’re operating with a sound Internet server.

For the company providing you with a server, how thoroughly did you vet them when deciding to choose them as your provider?

Your server provider must be operating with a zero tolerance rule for allowing online mishaps to occur. If the server you are working off of is susceptible to being compromised, your company’s data (both personal and that of your customers) can be compromised too.

Are Company Financial Transactions Protected?

Another of area concentration needs to be on the transmission of sensitive customer data, especially financial transactions.

Whether you operate an online store or need a customer’s financial details for other reasons, make sure such transmissions are securely protected. If the information is exposed for even the least amount of time, it can end up in the wrong hands.

Just as you would use a site such as www.lifelock.org to monitor your identity, making sure it is properly being used, the same holds true for all of your business data.

Speaking of exposed data, it is also important that your employees handle customer data (and business financials etc. for that matter) in a professional and protective manner.

Only those employees that truly need to handle such data (accounting, customer call centers etc.) should he having access to it.

Unfortunately, there have been too many stories of business owners discovering that it was actually one or more of their own (including departing workers) employees caught stealing sensitive data.

One way to nip this problem in the bud is laying out the consequences of such actions the day they are hired.

All employees should know under no uncertain circumstances that your business does not for an instance tolerate identity theft amongst its workers. Anyone caught and proven to be guilty of of such crimes could not only lose their job, but also face criminal action by law enforcement.

It is also critical that your business reacts quickly and decisively to any identity theft breaches of your brand, thereby preventing a major hit against your long-term business success.

While you may lose some business due to such attacks, some customers will be more likely to stay with you if they see you are reacting in a professional and prompt manner, this opposed to being unable to handle the matter and/or looking slow to react.

Given the perils identity theft can cause to your brand, preventing it from happening in the first place is always your best line of defense.

When you take such crimes seriously, you stand to be better prepared against them.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business topics on the web.

Your Company’s Data Can’t Be Breached

February 6, 2016 by Thomas

You’ve likely seen the stories in the news in recent years about company’s having their personal and customer data breached.

Whether it is major players like Sony and Target or smaller businesses that you have never heard of before, the financial damages have been staggering at times. Worse yet, a company’s trust with consumers can be severely crippled, leading it to have to try and win back many of those customers.

So, have you taken a look at your Internet security procedures, reviewing where you are strongest and where you need to do some work?

If not, think about how just one data security breach against your company could impact how you go about doing business in 2016 and hopefully beyond.

Security System Reviews

In order to lower the odds of your brand falling victim to a data breach, remember these key tidbits:

Security protection – First and foremost, do you have the proper security system in place to better thwart identity theft thieves? If not, look to see what is available on the market that will best suit your needs. Just as consumers can turn to an ITP Bureau or other such providers who can offer them critical information to protect against identity theft, business owners must do likewise, especially those who run online stores etc. Such a provider has a rating system in place to assess important factors that individuals would take into account when looking for a service to signal warning signs and ultimately thwart identity theft attacks;
Employee awareness – Given the fact those you employ (consider yourself the employee if you run a one-person small business) are your first line of defense against identity theft thieves, it is crucial that those on the frontlines stand guard against any data breach attempts. Yes, identity theft thieves are some of the smartest criminals on the lot, but they can be thwarted with the right security plan. Employees must be aware of and report any suspicious attempts to hack company computers. From questionable emails asking to download attachments to leaving company and customer data exposed in public places when employees might be working in a library, café or while on the road traveling for work, there are myriad of options for hackers to try and break-in to a company’s computer system. It is important that you have the same rigid standards regarding data protection in place for your mobile employees, including those you outsource work to. Whenever any of those employees leave your employ, make sure you change-up username and password entries into your system. While most of those who leave your employ are not ones to worry about, remember, just one identity theft thief can do a world of damage, including those who once might have been on your payroll. Lastly, properly assign customer and company data, so that not all employees have access to the most sensitive items. For example, there is no reason for someone on your marketing team to need access to customer financials, log-ins to customer sites etc. Be sure only those with a need for such data have access to it, along with making sure they do not share it with others in the company;
Are your providers truly secure? – Never overlook the importance of partnering with secure web hosting providers and others in the technology chain of your business. Any third parties you do business with should be required to sign a form indicating they have necessary security in place to oversee your company’s pertinent data. Also look at data encryption, including the idea of encrypting your company’s email when sensitive information is being passed around;
Review and remove – Finally, it is imperative that your company reviews its security procedures and those you do business with on a regular basis. Just like you should be reviewing your company culture from time to time, the same holds true for your company’s security procedures. Search for cracks in the armor, with the plan to fix such holes. Also remove any online data that is no longer of use to your business. This also means properly discarding any and all paper trails as it relates to company and customer data.

With all the different avenues that data breaches can come from, it may seem at times a tad overwhelming for you and your business to stay one step ahead of hackers.

Given all you and your brand stand to lose if a data breach is successfully committed against your business, make sure you’re prepared to stop hackers in their tracks.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business and technology topics on the web.

Credit Reports Matter for Businesses and Consumers

January 28, 2015 by Thomas

Whether you run a business or are just your everyday consumer, you more than likely know how important your credit history is, especially when it comes to meeting your financial needs.

For the small business owner, oneÂs credit score is very important in order to solidify yourself as being financially sound, most notably in the event you need to acquire a small business loan.

For the typical consumer, a solid credit score rings important when trying to get a new or used car loan, a loan to buy a home and much more.

With that in mind, do you truly know whether your credit report is thumbs up or thumbs down?

Obtaining a Loan or Credit Card

Typically the top reason you want a positive credit score is when it comes time to try and obtain a loan. The same holds true in looking for your first or an additional credit card.

Whether you get your information from CreditSesame.com or another such provider, your score will go a long ways in determining whether you get the funds you seek.

For starters, do you know where you stand when it comes to your credit score?

While the number range can fluctuate to a degree, the following scores mean:

630 or below (Bad credit) Â This range means you likely have missed some credit card payments, you have no credit card history, or you at some point filed for bankruptcy (personal reasons such as high medical bills and/or a small business that has gone under). One of the down sides to numbers in this range is that you will have to deal with larger interest rates and fees moving forward;
630 to 689 (Average credit) Â This range puts you in with millions of other Americans. While not the worst, your credit could be better if you did away with a sizable portion of bad debt hanging around. Numbers in this range can make it difficult to get a loan;
690 to 719 (Good credit) Â This range allows you to be eligible for a variety of different credit cards, with lenders also viewing you as a good risk in most cases;
720 to 850 (Excellent credit) Â This range is as good as it gets for consumers. Many will have the opportunity to receive cards that offer great rewards.

Check Your Report in Detail

When you get a copy of your credit report, make sure you go over it with a fine tooth comb.

Look for any inaccuracies, especially given todayÂs world of identity theft.

If you find something amiss, reach out immediately to the fraud departments of those you do business with and have your account placed under review, making sure no money can be withdrawn until the matter is cleared up. You should also have a security hold placed on your credit report.

Whether for personal or professional use (running a business etc.), your credit report and your history of handling credit will go a long way in determining your financial future.

Photo credit: Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

About the Author: Dave Thomas writes for a variety of websites on topics such as marketing and small business.

Are You Really Protecting Your Customers From Identity Theft?

December 25, 2013 by Thomas

According to the 2013 Identity Fraud ReportÂ by Javelin Strategy & Research, identity thieves stole more than $21 billion dollars from 12.6 million victims in 2012 — the highest amount since 2009.

Even worse from a small business standpoint, fraud victims tend to become more careful about where they shop after having their identities stolen.

According to the Javelin study, 15% of all fraud victims decided to avoid smaller online merchants after an incident — an even larger number than those who avoid gaming sites or large retailers.

So how can you protect your customers’ sensitive information and avoid taking a major hit?

Review Your Employee Internet Policy

One of the ways hackers can gain access to a company’s sensitive documents is by taking advantage of existing security breaches. Unfortunately, many of these come from employees who aren’t careful enough about their online browsing while at work.

Employees who conduct their online shopping from work computers may be setting their employers up for trouble, since hackers regularly target ecommerce sites. A worker who unknowingly visits a compromised site can introduce malware into your company’s system, granting the hackers access to customer information stored on your servers.

A comprehensive training program about safe browsing and internet security, as well as frequent refresher courses, can help keep your customer data safe.

Encrypt Sensitive Files

Encrypting sensitive information like your customers’ personal and financial information can help protect you, even if a hacker gains access to your system. Make sure any data sorting tools you’re using, such as Syncsort, are protected.

Even with savvy employees working for you, a virus or other malware can get into your system. Encryption provides a crucial second layer of protection for you and your customers.

Limit Your Personal Customer Information

The more personal details you require from customers, the more risk you take on.

This is especially true if you’re using your customers’ social security or driver’s license numbers as account numbers.

If your business requires you to ask for private information, don’t do it in front of other customers, and keep all computer screens turned away from customer view.

Know Vendor and Contractor Policies

It’s not just your internal employees who may have access to private customer information. Vendors and contractors, such as website designers or payment processors, may also be able to get into these private areas.

Talk to these contractors before they do any work for you. Find out what measures they take to protect your and your customers’ information, and lay out terms defining who is going to be responsible in the case of a breach.

Identity theft isn’t just costly for the immediate victim. Exposing your customer information to hackers may leave you open to liability. Even if that’s not the case, your business is going to suffer when word gets out that fraudsters gained access to your customer data.

By educating yourself and employees, and taking steps to keep customer information under lock and key, you can keep both your customers and your business safe.

Photo credit: creditrepair.com

About the Author: Freelance blogger Angie Mansfield covers a variety of subjects for small business owners. From business growth to marketing to social media, her work will give you tips to keep your business running smoothly.