Did anyone watch the programme about identity theft?

[Savannah2]

 

Has anyone else got thier CV stored on their personal computer? Is this info at risk form hackers?

 

I encrypt all my personal information on my HD, including CV.

[nick2]

Deleting files does not remove them from your HD, it just means the space is reallocated.

 

It's unlikely someone would go to the effort of hacking into your computer and then go looking for deleted files.

[melthebell]

Deleting files does not remove them from your HD, it just means the space is reallocated.

What Windows does when you empty your recycle bin, is to change the information in the VFAT (Virtual File Allocation Table, essentially a list of all the files on your hard drive) to indicate that the clusters on the disk where the files were stored are now available to be overwritten.

zerofill the space left by the files youve deleted that you dont want on your pc/laptop then

[Alex C.]

It is a big problem, and whilst protecting your personal information is important, there are many sources which can negate any of this; in particular, the electoral roll is available for anyone to view and contains your name, address and date of birth.

 

There are two types of fraud being discussed here as well -

 

Card fraud is where accounts you know exist are used fraudulently and you can see the money go missing from your statement or online banking. Banks are also quite willing to give the money back.

 

The other type of fraud is identity fraud and this can have a longer lasting effect - generally its where someone uses your details to open up catalogue accounts, credit cards or loans and then takes the money. Usually you'll receive nothing through the post and the first you hear of it will be when a debt collection agency starts chasing you for money you've never heard of. Much scarier, and much harder to prove since no crime has been committed against you, it is the lender who has been defrauded.

 

The best advice to protect yourself from the first type is to check statements regularly and shred any personal information. To protect yourself from the second type, I'd check your credit report at least annually, ideally monthly you can get one free report a year from annualcreditreport - this will show any financial accounts registered against your identity.

 

this story is certainly quite scary

[Savannah2]

zerofill the space left by the files youve deleted that you dont want on your pc/laptop then

 

I have managed to recover files even after reformatting drives..

[Savannah2]

It's unlikely someone would go to the effort of hacking into your computer and then go looking for deleted files.

 

It is very unlikely.

[melthebell]

I have managed to recover files even after reformatting drives..

reformattings like deleting

BUT

zerofilling.....covers the files that have been deleted over with zeros (data)....so they can never be recovered, all youd recover would be the zeros

[melthebell]

oh yeah and its gonna be a damn sight easier to use your identity if the government get their way and create these huge new databases

[SugarPuff]

I have taken an extra step in the quest to protect my identity; pixellated foundation cream for when I'm leaving the house.

[haddockman]

Somebody spent £800 on a gaming website using my Maestro card the other day. It's scary because the bank said they knew when to try taking the money, because I'd just been paid!