Best Internet Safety Tips - A Quick Guide To Stay Safe Online

When it comes to security, we have always been very cautious. We use door locks to safeguard valuable possessions for home security, but what do we do to guard our identity over the internet? The majority of answers will be ‘nothing.’ Hence, today, we are taking up this topic and going to share some of our incredible internet safety tips that will keep you and your identity protected from online threats or dangers.   The internet has enriched our lives in the modern world, providing us with everything at our fingertips. While it is of great importance and plays a crucial role, it comes with some concerns. There are several risks associated with the internet that can harm the people we love. Since we cannot ignore the benefits and reduce our dependence on the internet, it becomes crucial to implement a handful of security measures to ensure our privacy and security on the internet. Considering our internet usage and online habits, staying safe has now become the need of the hour. This is why we have brought together some of the most significant advice below. We have listed the best internet safety tips you should know to enjoy a safer world online.  Have a look, follow, and stay safe!   What Is Internet Safety And Why Is It Important?   As the name suggests, internet safety is the act of staying safe online. It is a phrase describing practices intended toward safeguarding your device and the data from unauthorized access and misuse. Internet safety is not just using external tools but also being aware of the hazards linked with your online behavior and trying to eliminate those risks.    While the definition itself states the importance of internet safety, staying safe online keeps you protected from undesired information, materials, or threats on the internet. Such information is dangerous for you or your device and might result in the loss of your personal information. Especially when we are deeply intertwined with the internet and possess numerous digital devices, it becomes easier for fraudsters to gain access to your personal information and take advantage. It is important to stay smart and learn about internet safety tips and tricks.     Top Internet Safety Tips For Everyone   1. Pay Attention To Software Updates This might seem disruptive and too simple to be effective, but in reality, it is one of the best internet safety tips to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your devices from various online threats. You must keep an eye on all the updates for your software and devices so that you can have access to the latest security patches. It will help you stay one step ahead of the hackers and ensure better protection.    2. Be Careful About What You Download There are millions of websites on the internet, and a significant portion of them have malicious intent. Such malicious websites use the downloading attempts as a way to get into someone's system, gather their confidential information, and disrupt their operations. However, by being mindful, you can avoid being victimized. So, always check the credibility of the website or the app before downloading it on your device.   3. Protect Yourself From Email Scams Email scams are a common practice for distributing malware to the system. In such scams, hackers send an email through a sophisticated, genuine-looking email address that contains some link, offer, or attachment. If clicked, it will trigger malware to download on your system or redirect you to the website that will try to steal your information. So, before you take any action, make sure you carefully check the mail and look for the red flags. Also, never click on links or download attachments from unknown email addresses.    4. Set Up Two-Factor Authentication Most people aren’t aware of the importance of setting up two-factor authentication; hence it is on our list of top internet safety tips. Two-factor authentication is an additional layer of protection over the password that requires a person to confirm their identity before signing in or accessing the device or information. So, using it on your devices and accounts will keep you safe even if someone finds out your password.     5. Be Wary Of The Latest Scams This might not seem to be a practical internet safety tip, but trust us, it will protect you from getting hacked or scammed. With time, technology is evolving, and so are cyber threats. This makes it important to be aware of the latest scams so that you know what to look out for and how to safeguard yourself. Always remember, “Knowledge Is Power.” Stay updated and protected as well.   6. Go Private On Public Wi-Fi While connecting to public Wi-Fi seems to be a common decision, especially when it comes at no cost, it actually imposes several risks. Public networks are unsecured and highly vulnerable, making them easy to use for hacking someone's device and getting access to their information. Hence, you should always use a private network, and in case you are required to connect to a public network, make sure you have a VPN, i.e., a Virtual Private Network.    7. Download A Password Manager Passwords are the primary level of security, and hence, they must be strong and unique enough to offer good protection. It should be different for every account and must feature letters, numbers, as well as special characters. To create such complicated passwords and remember all of them, you must make use of a password manager. It will guide you through password creation and provide you with a safer place to secure all your passwords.    Final Words The internet is an essential component in our lives that is used differently by each individual. Some use it for entertainment and education, while others use it for remote work and to earn money. Regardless of how we use it, we rely heavily on it to keep ourselves occupied and grow further. While it’s fun, useful, and informative, it is equally dangerous with cybercrimes, malware, hacks, scams, etc. Especially in the current proliferation of technology, we are witnessing even greater risks. While it is dangerous, the tips mentioned above will reduce your exposure to these threats. So, keep these internet safety tips in mind and share them with your loved ones to stay safe online.  If your goal is to stay safe, whether burglars or cybercriminals, check out the Home Of Expertise official website. It is the ultimate source for all the information regarding your safety.

What Are The Real-Life Effects Of Cyberbullying On Social Media?

Bullying has been around for ages and has occurred in various settings, sometimes at school, in social groups, and even at home. However, since the internet has become more accessible and an integral part of everyone’s lives, bullying has taken over a new form. Today, the internet is being used differently by people. While some are using it to learn and grow in their career, others use it to harm people by bullying them. This harassment of people over the internet is called cyberbullying. It can take place through any means in the cyberworld and can be overwhelming and devastating not only to the victims but also to their families and the people who witness it. The people who experience cyberbullying on social media or any other platform go through multiple challenges like emotional outbreak, social awkwardness, disturbed mental health, physical pain, etc.    Today in this article, we are going to talk more about the effects of cyberbullying on social media. While learning about these effects won’t curb the pain or provide you with a safe haven from bullying, they will work as a warning sign and alert you when it's time to be concerned. Learning about these effects can’t change the past but will definitely help safeguard people from cyberbullying in the future.    Emotional Effects   Unsurprisingly, cyberbullying is one of the most stressful experiences in the lives of people. Being a victim, the person starts to feel so many negative emotions and even fear from society. At times, they start blaming themselves for everything that happened to them. Here is the list of major emotional damage that a person feels after being bullied online.    1. Embarrassment or Humiliation: Cyberbullying involves sharing nasty messages, images, and posts of the victim with people on the internet. This leaves the person feeling exposed, embarrassed, overwhelmed, and humiliated. 2. Isolation: When a person faces cyberbullying on social media, they not just become socially awkward but also start getting disconnected from the world. They avoid meeting their friends and families or going to social gatherings. They even stop using their phones and stay isolated.  3. Powerlessness: The victims of cyberbullying find it challenging to feel safe in their environment anymore. They feel powerless to stop or change what has happened to them. They think that anyone can invade their privacy, and they can’t escape from that.    Mental Effects   Cyberbullying on social media is growing with every passing day, deteriorating the mental health of the victim and their family. While everybody is different and feels differently after being bullied, here are some of the common mental impacts found over time.    1. Suicidal Thoughts and Self-Harm: Various researches have proved that cyberbullying has led to suicidal tendencies because of the feeling of hopelessness or loneliness. Harming themselves or thinking about committing suicide is the response of many to their intense feelings.  2. Low Self-Esteem: Being abused online makes the person self-conscious and insecure, thus losing their self-esteem. They don’t feel accepted in society and start to doubt their existence which damages their self-worth or confidence. 3. Problems With Focusing: Lack of focus is another aspect due to cyberbullying of the victim. The incident and their thoughts keep playing in their head in a loop, making it difficult for them to focus on things.  4. Depression & Anxiety: The people experiencing cyberbullying may slip into depression, anxiety, or other stress disorder. The trauma of being bullied adds up to the stress of their daily lives and takes away their happiness, which leads to depression and feelings of anxiety.    Behavioral Effects   Cyberbullying not just impacts mental health and makes the person emotional but also affects the behavior. People who are cyberbullied exhibit a behavioral change that is relatively more significant than other effects. Take a look at some of the changes you may notice in the victim's behavior.  1. Abuse Drugs & Alcohol: After being harassed online, people find it much easier to engage in drugs and alcohol to cope with the situation. Suffering from emotional distress and disturbed mental health makes them experiment with drugs at an early stage or engage in fights with peers.  2. Dropping Grades: The impact of cyberbullying is often seen in all aspects of life, including schooling and grades. The victim often loses interest in school or job and has a deteriorating career. They begin to skip school, which takes them toward academic failure.  3. Being Arrogant or Rude: Change in behavior is another common impact of cyberbullying on social media. The person who deals with cyberbullying experiences many emotions, making them seem rude or arrogant to others.    Physical Effects   Getting targeted by cyberbullies is devastating with the feeling of overwhelm and stress. This not just impacts a person emotionally or mentally but also physically. Some of the physical issues that the victim experiences are: 1. Gastrointestinal Issues: Intense feeling of stress results in gastrointestinal issues. People start to experience upset stomach, abdominal pain, stomach ulcers, and more. They might also struggle with frequent vomiting, nausea, and other conditions.  2. Eating Disorder: There is a high possibility that a victim might experience an eating disorder. Skipping meals or binge eating are the usual effects. When it becomes out of control, the victims cannot keep up with their eating habits, and hence, their eating pattern gets disturbed.  3. Difficulty Sleeping: Good sleep is connected with a peaceful mind. Experiencing cyberbullying on social media impacts the person’s sleeping pattern and makes them toss and turn all night, stressing over the incident. They might experience nightmares, insomnia, etc. 4. Becoming quieter or withdrawn: This is one of the most common reactions people show when being bullied. They withdraw themselves from social life and become quieter and lost. They shut down and hide from the world.   Final Words   These are some of the common effects of cyberbullying on social media. It is no surprise that the effects of cyberbullying can be rough on the victim and others as well. However, noticing the early signs and red flags might help you in stopping the crime and safeguarding the victim. While there’s no easy way to deal with these effects, the best you can do is be there with the victim of cyberbullying on social media and support them through thick and thin. Let them know that you got their back and figure out together what you are going to do next.  For more such articles and expert advice, check out the Home Of Expertise website. It is the one-stop solution for all your safety needs.

Cyber Safety For Kids - The Key Tips You Should Know

In this digital age, kids go online to study, access information, play games, watch movies, do their assignments, interact with peers, take online classes, etc. According to research, 95% of teenagers access smartphones in the United States and use the internet to learn and grow. While the internet is a wonderful place where everything is at your fingertip, it is also a place with predators, identity thieves, and other online criminals eager to steal your information and harm you. Even though risks are associated with the internet, it is impossible for kids growing up in the digital world to avoid exposure online. While you cannot restrict your kid from using the internet, you can ensure their safety. With the growing use of the internet, cyber safety for kids has become essential to protect them from various threats.    If you are a parent or guardian and struggling to keep your child safe and secure, here are some essential tips that you should know. These tips will help you navigate your child safely through the web and mitigate the risk of being a cybercrime victim.    Understanding Common Online Dangers   Before we dive into the cyber safety tips, it is crucial to learn about the prevalent dangers of the internet. There are several risks in cyberspace that kids face when online. Here are some security risks that you must know about:   - Cyberbullying: It is one of the most common forms of threat that targets almost 34% of kids between 12 to 17. This threat involves bullying, threatening, or harassing kids over the internet. At a younger age, girls are more likely to be victims of cyberbullying. - Online Scams: Things such as providing free access to games, upgrading gaming features, unlocking further levels, etc., are common scams that children fall for. Criminals ask kids for card details or other personal information in return for such prizes. This lures the kids and makes them the victim of cybercrime. - Exposure To Inappropriate Content: It is another common threat that kids encounter online. The internet is filled with inappropriate data like sexual content, vulgar language and hate speech, pornography, cruelty to animals, etc. Such data will have a harmful effect on any child.  - Online Predators: Online predators use the internet to lure youngsters or kids into indulging in sexual and other forms of abuse. These days, such predators target children on the internet because they are innocent, lack adult supervision, and are more likely to trust strangers. Such predators look for children on social media and gaming platforms and make them victims of online threats.    How To Ensure Cyber Safety For Kids?    Today, the question “how to keep kids safe in cyberspace?” has become highly discussed. Parents these days believe that they need substantial technological understanding to safeguard their children. But in reality, this is not the truth. While keeping kids completely safe online is challenging, it is still possible. To help you out, we’ve got some tips that you can use to prevent your kids from the dangers of the online world.    1. Talk About The Dark Side Of The Internet This is one of the most essential tips for cyber safety for kids. To keep your kids safe, you must talk to them and help them make good decisions online. The discussion will make them familiar with the internet and its dangers and assist them in using it responsibly and safely. By doing so, your child will build digital resilience that will protect them from being a victim of online threats. So, take some time and make your kids comfortable talking to you about anything.    2. Choose Strong Passwords  Passwords are the primary defense against cyber threats. They are critical in securing your account and electronic devices and preventing your personal information from being accessed by cybercriminals. While it is easy to use and remember a single password for multiple accounts, it is also easy to guess them. So, make sure you take some time and talk to your child about the importance of creating hack-proof, unique passwords for all the accounts. Also, teach them not to share their passwords with anyone.    Here are some tips for creating strong passwords and remembering them for safety.  - Use a long password of at least 12 characters - Never use the same password for all your accounts - Avoid using birthdays, names, or common phrases in the password  - Use at least one of each: number, special character, upper case letter, lower case letter - Make use of a trustworthy password manager for creating strong passwords and remembering them.    3. Set Up Parental Control Parental control software monitors and controls what a child does online. Being a parent and using such applications will help protect your child during online learning and provide you with control over all the aspects of their internet experience. These apps allow parents to set limits on internet usage, block inappropriate websites, track their kid’s location, manage their screen time, backup their data, and more.    While choosing the parental control application, make sure you pick reliable, high-quality apps that are easy to set up and provide ultimate power with complete transparency.     4. Teach Them To Be Mindful While Using The Internet When it comes to cyber threats, kids are most likely to be targeted as they are very naive. They are mostly unaware of the secure usage of the internet. So, it is the duty of the parents, teachers, and adults to teach kids to be mindful online. Tell them what to post, whom they should respond to, whose friend request they can accept, etc. Teach them never to share too much information, talk to strangers, and get trapped by fraudulent offers or rewards over the internet.    5. Have Set Rules And Boundaries Before handing the computing or mobile device to your child, you must set some ground rules to use the internet. It is crucial to clearly define the boundaries so that you can protect your child from the potential risks of the internet. For this, you should start by setting a time limit for internet usage, restricting their calling or texting time, and more. To keep them protected, you must ensure that they follow all the set rules and don’t break any.    What To Do If Your Child Becomes A Victim Of Online Threats?   While the above-mentioned ways will help maintain cyber safety for kids, they don’t provide 100% safety. Unfortunately, if your child has become a victim of such online threats, here are some ways to deal with it.  - Check their past online activities and keep track of their future actions - Politely ask them the questions and try to learn about the incident - Block or unfriend any bullies and add a layer of protection to their accounts - Seek professional help who can help your child emotionally - Acknowledge their feelings and be there with them - Change your child's online credentials like username and password - Report the activity to law enforcement - Don’t blame your child  - Block any dangerous websites or content  - Restore a sense of safety and security in your child   Final Thoughts: The internet is filled with information that can enrich our lives. Especially now, the internet plays a more crucial role than in any other generation before. Although the internet provides a wealth of knowledge and enjoyment, some real dangers lurk there. There are several risks associated with the internet that make it challenging to stay safe in this connected world. However, you don’t need to fret about it. The above-mentioned tips will ensure that your kids will stay safe online.   

What Is Cyberbullying & How Do You Prevent It?

The internet is a tremendous tool that offers a space to connect with the entire world. It also allows people to learn and is an incredible way to unwind and be entertained. While it is an excellent source of distraction and respite from the world of worries, it might also pave the way for bullies. Especially in this day and age, it becomes easier to share harmful words, rumors, and images worldwide and bully people. Over the years, bullying has evolved from physical harm and gone cyber. This shift from physical bullying to cyberbullying has amplified the negative impact and facilitated rapid distribution with no ‘erase’ button. This makes it the need of the hour to learn how to prevent cyberbullying.    While physical bullying is known to our society, and we take measures to prevent it, many people still do not understand cyberbullying. They are unfamiliar with its devastating effects. In reality, the perils of cyberbullying aren’t limited to a single gender, age group, or online platform. It knows no boundaries in terms of demographics or region and can make anyone its victim. Since it is a persistent, serious problem that has become all too common in online communities, we’re going to address it in this article. We will talk about what it is and how to prevent cyberbullying. So, scroll down and learn.    What Is Cyberbullying?   With the rise of technology, cyberbullying has become a social problem. As digital technology evolves, several definitions have emerged, making it difficult for people to understand its true meaning. But today, we are going to take up this highly debated topic and clear all your doubts, starting with the meaning of cyberbullying.   Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that occurs online via devices like smartphones, computers, or tablets. It can take place on social media, gaming platforms, messaging platforms, etc. Any platform that permits the exchange of information can be used for harassing people, which is known as cyberbullying. Simply put, it is a repeated behavior where one person knowingly harasses, threatens, torments, or humiliates the victim through digital technology. Such activities aim to scare, enrage, or shame the person or even damage their reputation. Since it is incredibly harmful, it can leave lasting effects on the person’s confidence, self-esteem, and mental health that can cause depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.    Some of the common examples of cyberbullying are: - Sending mean, harmful, abusive, or threatening messages - Posting false information about someone online - Sharing embarrassing photos of the target  - Impersonating someone and sending messages on their behalf.   Learn How To Prevent Cyberbullying     1. Educate Yourself & Others About Cyberbullying Taking away technology or limiting its usage is not the solution to cyberbullying. However, learning how to use it safely and responsibly will help. You must educate yourself and others about cyberbullying, its consequences, signs, and ways to prevent it. Always remember, “Knowledge is power.” So, the more you know, the safer you are.    2. Protect Your Accounts & Devices When we talk about how to prevent cyberbullying or similar behaviors, protecting your accounts and devices becomes the first and foremost priority. For this, you need to secure all your accounts and devices with strong, unique passwords. Also, make sure you don’t share the passwords with anyone.    3. Keep Personal Information Private While it might be tricky for some, it can help keep yourself safe. Personal details like address, phone number, social security number, email address, etc., might be used by people for cyberbullying. So, make sure you keep your details private and protect yourself from being a victim.    4. Be Mindful While Posting Online Posting online, especially on social media, has become more common than ever. People are using multiple platforms to share their lives. But, they forgot that the internet is public and, once online, it can never truly go away. This makes it crucial to self-introspect before you post. If you want to learn or teach how to prevent cyberbullying, you must be careful about what you post online.    5. Keep A Watchful Eye On Online Activities Keeping an eye on your kid's online activities is of utmost importance to stay safe. Check all the activities from your account, know what your kids are posting online, go through your social media accounts and look for suspicious activities. You must be aware of the signs of cyberbullying to stay alert and keep a check on such activities.    6. Beware Of Strangers Online The internet is filled with people you don’t know. Even if it feels safe, you should not trust anyone online and stay away from them. Impersonating someone or being friendly with people online to take away their personal information is one of the most common cyberbullying methods.    7. Always Log Out While Using Public Devices Forgetting to log out on public devices is one of the most common mistakes that people make. If you are not using your personal device, make sure you log out from all the accounts that you have used. Simply closing the tab is not enough. Whether using your friend's computing device or a public computer in a library, you must always log out. This might result in your bullies getting access to your information.     8. Reach Out For Help Being a victim of cyberbullying has damaging effects on mental health, reputation, as well as financial condition. In such scenarios, dealing with the distress becomes difficult. So, make sure you reach out to your friends and families or even seek professional help to understand what’s going on and how you can work through it. Similarly, you must be there for your friends or family if they ever go through cyberbullying. Trust us; this is one of the best ways to prevent cyberbullying.   General FAQs About Cyberbullying:   1. How do you help victims of cyberbullying? Cyberbullying is dangerous and can impact self-esteem, reputation, and overall quality of life. Here are some of the ways that might help the victims. - Being with them and talking about the scenario - Reminding them that they are not alone - Ask questions to know more about the crime - Keeping a record of the situation or collecting documents - Reporting the issue  - Help them safeguard their accounts, devices, and information   2. Is there any punishment for cyberbullying? Cyberbullying is a common problem across the world. To protect people from such online threats, different cyberbullying laws in different countries safeguard and protect the victims. However, some countries still do not take this criminal activity too seriously and do not have laws for it.    3. How to deal with a person who is a bully? As there are cyberbullying crimes happening all over, there are people who lead such criminal acts. If you know someone who bullies people online or in other digital spaces, here are some ways to deal with them.  - Take a look and monitor their online activities to understand what they are doing over the internet - If you are in a position to talk to them, you must reach out and listen to their reasons behind such activities - Make them understand the repercussions of cyberbullying and get them professional help if needed.    Final Words: Putting an end to cyberbullying isn’t as easy as disconnecting from the internet. Especially after the COVID-19 outbreak, staying away from the internet is quite difficult. It has grown into a social problem providing people with new ways to torment others, sometimes anonymously. While it is difficult to fight back against this harmful practice, it is possible with the aforementioned ‘how to prevent cyberbullying’ tips. These tips will reduce the chances of getting bullied and will navigate you to stay safe in this strange new world of cyberbullying.   But always remember, the internet and technology are not the problems. The real issue is the unawareness and the people using the internet to harm others. So, share this article with your friends, family, or even on social media to make people aware.   For more informative articles, product descriptions, brand reviews, etc., stay connected with Home Of Expertise. 

What Are The Different Types Of Identity Theft?

While you have probably heard of the term identity theft, are you aware of what exactly it is? Identity theft is the criminal act of using someone's personal or financial information with the aim of monetary gain or committing fraud. It is to steal the information and use it to impersonate the person for unauthorized activities. Different types of identity theft leave the victim with damaged credit, finances, reputation, as well as emptied bank accounts.    We are living in an era where technology is growing at a rapid pace. This constant evolution in technology results in more opportunities for fraudsters to acquire access to someone's personal information for their own advantage. They have become smart enough to develop sophisticated, clever, and unpredictable means of stealing sensitive information. However, by being proactive, one can save themselves from becoming a victim and prevent the damage. When it comes to protection, the first step is always to educate yourself about identity theft. A little knowledge can go a long way in stopping cybercriminals in their fraudulent trade, especially when they devise new schemes daily. We have compiled a list of different types of identity theft to watch out for. Understanding these types will help you or your loved ones stay one step ahead of hackers.   6 Types Of Identity Theft You Must Be Aware Of   1. Financial Identity Theft     Financial identity theft is one of the most common types that entails using someone's personal information to gain access to their financial accounts. In such fraud, the theft is done either by taking over the existing account or by creating a new account in the victim's name. Some of the other commons methods that are used for the crime are:   - Stealing the credit/ debit card or its information from the online platform - Hacking the bank account and withdrawing funds from it - Through data breaches or phishing   While it might lead to bankruptcy, there are still ways by which you can protect yourself from such crimes. This includes keeping a check on your bank accounts, credit card history, loans issued on your names, bills, insurance, etc. If you come across any suspicious activity or unexplained charges, you must get in touch with the authorities.     2. Medical Identity Theft   Now we will discuss another common form of crime – medical identity theft. The victim’s information is being used to get free medical services, treatments, and drugs. This identity theft leads to multiple incorrect entries in the medical record of the victim without their knowledge. It is a complicated crime that is not easy to resolve. The motive of the fraudsters behind this theft is to:   - Claim medical insurance  - Get a medical prescription for drugs  - Purchasing costly medical equipment - Accessing healthcare services like surgeries, diagnostic tests, and checkups   To prevent this type of identity theft, you must carefully read all your medical documents, bills, and statements. Along with this, you must also review all your claims and contact the insurance company in case of any unfamiliar charges. Also, in case you are disposing of your documents, make sure you shred them properly.    3. Child Identity Theft   Compared to other types of identity theft, this is very difficult to spot. Child identity theft involves getting access to a child’s information or their Social Security Number with a motive to commit financial fraud. Criminals usually go for this theft because a child is not aware of such details, and hence, such scams may go unnoticed for a long time. Some of the common activities included in child identity theft are:   - Opening a new bank account - Applying for a driving license - Getting the government benefits - Finding employment - Obtaining loans on a child's name - Avoiding outstanding arrest warrants, etc.   To prevent your child or family from being a part of this theft, you should review your child's credit report with credit bureaus like Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.    4. Synthetic Identity Theft     Synthetic identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United States. In this, the perpetrator tries to create fake identities with the help of the victim’s real information. Here, the details of the victims are completely or partially fabricated because it combines data from different sources. The commonly collected information are birthdates, addresses, and Social Security numbers. This is then used for:   - Opening fake bank accounts - Taking loans and credit cards - Availing expensive services - Making fraudulent purchases - Committing financial crimes   For preventing such type of identity theft, you must keep an eye on your mails and credit reports. You can also place a security freeze or look for identity monitoring services. While these are some ways to minimize the risk, such thefts are difficult to identify as they involve mixed records of fictitious identities.    5. Criminal Identity Theft   This is the theft where someone commits the crime but gives untrue identifying information to the police. The motive of the criminal is to safeguard themselves from being arrested, getting summons, and preventing the discovery of a warrant in the real name. Among all the types, this is the most damaging kind as it leads to criminal charges in the name of the victim. Also, such kinds of thefts are quite challenging to detect. The victim will not be aware of the theft until the consequences become evident like:   - Receiving court summons - Issuing of the background check - Getting a bench warrant from a judge for the arrest - Finding an unpaid speeding ticket   There are not many ways by which you can protect yourself from such thefts. All you can do is safeguard your personal ID from getting lost or stolen. Other than that, you can also limit the amount of information you share online.    6. Tax-Related Identity Theft   The last identity theft we are going to discuss is tax-related. Such exploitation occurs when a criminal tries to file a tax return with the stolen information and claims a fraudulent return. This crime is usually done with the help of the Social Security Number of the victim. The motive behind such a crime is to steal the tax refund. Here are some of the signs that will help you catch tax-related identity theft.    - You won’t be able to file your tax return - Getting an IRS notice for an online account - You get an Employee Identification Number without applying - Getting a notification about a suspicious return   Suppose you want to protect yourself and your business from being victims of such fraud. In that case, you must be careful with your personal information and get an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number. Along with this, you must keep a check on your accounts and watch for any alarming signs.    7. Common Ways To Commit Identity Theft   Knowing different types of identity theft is not enough. You should also be aware of how people commit these frauds and criminal activities. Knowing how thieves get their hands on your personal information will reduce the risk and help you protect yourself from identity theft. Here are some of the common ways to commit identity theft.    - Phishing - Smishing - Skimming  - Vishing - Fake website - Dumpster diving - Mail theft - Pretexting - Pharming - Hacking - Unsafe internet connection - Data breaches   Final Words: When we talk about the internet, it is a whole different world that offers a plethora of entertaining and exciting opportunities, from networking on social media to online shopping to sending and receiving money. While it is there to make your life easier, several criminals wait to intrude on your privacy and use your information for committing identity theft. It's not just about the different types of identity theft that result in such crimes; it is innocent people and their lack of knowledge that makes them an easy target. However, by learning about different types of identity thefts, one can detect and respond to them quickly. So, pin this article and share it with your friends and families to educate them and help them enjoy modern technology without any fear.