UK Private Investigators Share Tips to Avoid Hacking Threat

The U.K. faces the first trial against the head of one of the most popular tabloids in Britain, Rupert Murdock and The News. Such a trail was never conducted before as press would always claim freedom of speech rights towards journalism. Not in this case, Murdock and The News went too far, as this case involves the newspaper paying hackers to help their reporters get the hottest front page coverage. The risk from hackers is a threat to everyone in society.

British actor Hugh Grant claimed during his appearance in court last Tuesday that not only the paper published very intimate information about politicians and show business people such as medical records or voice mail messages and private pictures of personal life scenes, but also even broke in the house of people and even sometimes put their lives in danger just to get a headline. But not only politicians or actors and actresses are threatened every day with hacking risks. In this era of information and internet, we all are exposed. Companies and individuals.

UK private investigator and Director or Background checks at Wymoo International, John Wallace, offers some tips about how we avoid the threat from internet hackers.

1. Some people are easy prey when it comes to hackers. Free anti- virus software in many cases is not enough, and many computer users at home and at work fail to recognize the warning signs. Good anti-virus software may slow your computer down, but the benefits outweigh the negative. Get a good anti-virus program, and keep it updated.

2. Avoid Outlook and Outlook Express email software, as it can be more vulnerable.

3. In your electronic devices like PC, laptop, mobiles; online email accounts and other services you use online, like banking, for example, DO NOT use the same password for all of them. Think of a good combination of letters and symbols and numbers. In addition, change your passwords frequently and keep them stored off your computer.

4. If banking or money transactions are made online, verify the site has SSL and is a secure website by having an https: URL. Check for the local on your browser. Use websites that are verified by trust marks like Trustee, MacAfee or the Better Business Bureau.

5. Never log into online banking or transmit sensitive data when using a public network such as a hotel, airport, or café. Select ‘public network’ and be aware of increased risk.

6. Malicious phishing sites often impersonate legitimate websites, in order to steal your credit card numbers, passwords and other personally identifying information. Be skeptical of unsolicited emails, or emails that look slightly unusual or contain strange links. If there is any doubt, never click on the link. Go to the website directly using your browser.

If you notice anything that does not add up, a new friend or business partner claiming things thatare too good to be true, or just have an uneasy feeling about someone, email or website or product online, be safe and consider an international background check which can be a valuable tool in mitigating risk, and verifying any unknown person or company online or offline.

Best of luck,

A Hathaway
© 2011 A Hathaway