By Chelsey Schweitzer
Staff Writer
New technology not only allows students to shop from home and connect with friends all over the world, but it allows a new generation of identity thieves and scammers to operate on a larger scale.
In this generation, technology has become a big part of our culture and social media has dominated in the field of communication. This widespread use of technology poses new risks to the security of students’ personal information and raises questions regarding how safe their information really is. Despite security programs and privacy settings, the truth is that personal information can still be stolen by those who know how to manipulate the system.
Scattered throughout the Internet, there are scams that are designed to lure unsuspecting people into divulging personal information, otherwise known as phishing. This can be especially dangerous for students who shop on the Internet for deals that fit within their college budget. In an article called “Seven Principles for Systems Security” written by Dr. Frank Stajano from the University of Cambridge and Paul Wilson, the host of BBC’s TV show “The Real Hustle,” it is revealed that the scamming “industry” is evolving as society is. Stajano and Wilson say that “scammers have done their homework and know a lot about human psychology. [Now] scam websites often have a very professional look and are designed to make you think they are a reputable business.” These scam websites can easily pose as a business and take someone’s personal information, such as a credit card number, before the average person is aware they are a victim.
In addition to the threat of scammers taking personal information, there is also the risk posed by social media. With blogs, Twitter and Facebook it has become easier for sensitive personal information to be disclosed to the general public. It is specifically stated on social media sites such as Facebook that a person’s friends can post information from their public accounts even if the person had privacy settings. Many people post their birth dates on their social media sites in addition to their gender, full name and picture. Computer hackers obtain social security numbers, which can lead to financial disaster if it falls into the wrong hands. Identity thieves can use this information to apply for credit cards that the actual person knows nothing about. They can run up extensive charges in their name and destroy their credit without their knowledge.
Students can avoid identity theft or the unwanted use of personal information by taking a few simple precautions.
“I had a business teacher at Palomar once recommend that we photocopy everything in our wallets in case our wallets [or credit card numbers] were ever stolen, as then it’s easier to cancel cards quickly,” Sarah Hughes, a CSUSM student, said.
When shopping online, be sure to use only trusted sites. When utilizing social media, make sure to read through the privacy agreement carefully and let friends know what information is not okay to re-post or link to. Most importantly, make sure that credit card and social security numbers are carefully guarded and not available through the Internet. If a credit card is being used fraudulently, make sure to cancel it immediately. Finally, run a free credit report annually to make sure no accounts have been created without the owner’s knowledge.