Understanding FICO scores in 2012

Editor's Notes

• #33: 6) Protect your computer from hackers. Hacking into company systems and databases appears to have become a favorite identity theft technique – perhaps because in so many cases, it ’s so easy. Your computer network needs to be protected by firewalls, which help keep out intruders by shutting out unauthorized people and letting others go only to the areas they have privileges to use.
• #47: 1) Secure your business premises with locks and alarms. Alarm systems are effective deterrents to criminals thinking of breaking into your business, including those intent on identity theft – especially alarm systems that are monitored by a security company. Make sure external doors have deadbolts and that exposed windows are secured with security film, bars, screens or shatter-proof glass.
• #48: 2) Put your business records under lock and key. Store your physical business records, such as customer records and other data on paper, in locking filing cabinets – and lock the filing cabinets at night, or at those times during the day that you and your staff will not be “supervising” access (such as lunch time). Put copies of system and database backups and “important” business data in your safe (or in your security deposit box at the bank if you don ’t have an on-site safe).
• #49: 3) Shred, shred, shred. Business records of any kind should never just be tossed into the trash or recycling bin where they can become a bonanza for criminals intent on identity theft; instead, all business ’ records that you no longer have a use for should be shredded. Businesses that operate out of small and home offices can buy Inexpensive shredders at any office supply store; for businesses with volumes of material to be disposed of, there are shredding services that will come and do what needs to be done. Pay special attention to the mail, a favorite source for identity theft. Anything that has your name and address on it should be shredded, and that includes most bills.
• #50: 4) Be cautious on the phone. It ’s easy for someone to pretend to be someone they’re not on the phone. Whether it ’s someone who wants personal information on a particular customer, or someone who claims they need to verify one of your personal accounts, don ’t give out information over the phone unless you can positively confirm the caller ’s identity. “ Information thieves and stalkers tell authorities over and over how easily they were able to obtain all sorts of valuable information simply by calling small business owners or personnel departments and asking. Posing as government agencies or credit grantors or health insurance providers, these thieves have found that a well-crafted, believable story can often get past the best locking file cabinets or password-protected computers, ” warns the Better Business Bureau .
• #51: 5) Limit access to your computers. Your computer network needs to be password protected, of course, so that anyone who wanders through your office can ’t just access your network. But you also need to consider issues of internal network access. Does every employee need to be able to access programs or databases that may contain sensitive information? Password protect these, too, and grant access on a “ need-to-know” basis to help cut down identity theft. Continue on to the next page to read about five more ways that you can prevent identity theft. The ever-growing problem of identity theft means that businesses need to make concerted efforts to protect their customers' personal information and other sensitive business data. Here are five more things you can do to prevent identity theft: ave privileges to use. You can purchase firewalls at any computer store
• #52: 6) Protect your computer from hackers. Hacking into company systems and databases appears to have become a favorite identity theft technique – perhaps because in so many cases, it ’s so easy. Your computer network needs to be protected by firewalls, which help keep out intruders by shutting out unauthorized people and letting others go only to the areas they have privileges to use.
• #53: 6) Protect your computer from hackers. Hacking into company systems and databases appears to have become a favorite identity theft technique – perhaps because in so many cases, it ’s so easy. Your computer network needs to be protected by firewalls, which help keep out intruders by shutting out unauthorized people and letting others go only to the areas they have privileges to use.
• #54: 7) Be aware the Internet is a dangerous place. Ordering something off the ‘Net using a credit card is not dangerous, as long as you are placing your order through a secure site. However, there are other dangers, such as Spyware and viruses that attempt to download automatically when you or your employees visit certain sites. If you are using Internet Explorer, make sure that you go to “Internet Options” and set the security options to a higher setting on each computer; the default is set to allow just about anything to download. And if your company has a web site, be careful as to what kind of information you post on your site and how. If you are going to place sensitive information on the ‘Net, (something you should be very cautious about), such as financial data or customer databases, it needs to be password protected and encrypted.
• #55: 8) Avoid broadcasting information. The other day I made a purchase at a computer store. The associate asked me for my phone number and popped up all my personal information on a terminal in front of him – right in plain view of five other customers! I was tempted to ask him if he wanted to read it all off out loud to make it even easier for them all to remember it. This sort of cavalier sharing of personal information, which makes identity theft so easy, has to stop. Train your employees to be sensitive to customer information issues, making sure they keep customer information private when they ’re dealing with individual customers. Turning computer screens so that they can’t be viewed by anyone except the operator is a simple thing. So are practices such as not repeating customer information out loud or not leaving files with customer information lying open on counters.
• #56: 9) Create and enforce a company wide security policy. The purpose of your security policy is to educate your employees about issues such as identity theft and data protection. It should include information on email policies (such as what email filters are in place and how to deal with suspicious email), computer network access, Internet use policies (such as how to increase browser security settings and safe practices, such as disconnecting from the ‘Net when they’re done using it), customer information protection strategies, and how to report incidents or violations. In other words, a manual of the issues involved with security and threats such as identity theft and what to do about them.
• #57: 10) Disconnect ex-employees immediately. When employees no longer work for your business, you need to be sure that their access to your computer network and company data is cut off immediately. Will all this create more trouble and expense for your small business? Yes. But unfortunately, with identity theft becoming rampant, taking these steps to prevent identity theft for you and your customers is necessary.