| Frequently used online identity theft and online security terminology
A
AntiVirus Software
Software that detects and removes computer viruses.
B
Browser
A program that allows a user to find, view, hear and interact with
material on the World Wide Web. Netscape Navigator and Microsoft
Internet Explorer are examples of popular browsers.
D
Dumpster Diving
Thieves rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper that includes your personal information.
E Encryption
A way to scramble transferred data so it cannot be read by unauthorized parties.
Enhanced Security Login
Provides security at login, no matter what computer you sign in from,
using additional end user authentication that helps to protect against
online fraud.
F
Firewall
Hardware or software that enforces
security on your computer or system. It's like a locked door,
preventing dangerous material from getting into the room. H Hacker
Someone who tries to get access to a computer system without authorization.
Hardware
The mechanical devices that make up a computer system, such as the
central processing unit, monitor, keyboard, and mouse, as well as other
equipment like printers and speakers
I
ISP (Internet Service Provider)
A company that sells direct access to the Internet, most often through dialing a local phone number.
K Keystroke Logger
Hardware device or a software program that records each keystroke made
on a particular computer. Marketed as a way for parents to monitor
their children’s activities on a computer, keystroke loggers are
sometimes downloaded unwittingly by users. The keystroke logger then
records the keystrokes and periodically uploads the information over
the Internet. M Malware
Malicious
software designed to harm or otherwise attack or take unauthorized
control over a computer system. See Virus, Trojan and Worm. O
Operating System
The main program that runs on
a computer. An operating system allows other software to run and
prevents unauthorized users from accessing the system. Major operating
systems include UNIX, Windows and Linux.
Opt-In
Giving permission for an organization to use information in a specific way.
Opt-Out
Withdrawing permission for an organization to use information in a specific way.
P
Patch
A software update meant to fix problems
with a computer program. This can range from fixing bugs, to replacing
graphics, to improving the usability or performance of a previous
version.
Phishing
By pretending to be financial
institutions or reputable companies you regularly deal with, cyber
thieves send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal
information.
Pharming
The criminal process of electronically
gathering and selling the personal and financial information for
multiple users through the use of phishing.
Pop-Up Ads
Unsolicited advertising that appears
as a "pop-up" window on a computer screen. Sometimes these can be
created to look like a financial institution’s request for personal
information.
Privacy Policy
The policy under which a company operating a website handles personal information collected about visitors to the site.
S
Secure Socket Layer
SSL technology secretly
encodes information that is sent over the Internet between your
computer and your financial institution, helping to ensure that the
information remains confidential.
Sevice Pack
A software program that corrects
known bugs or problems, or adds new features to a software program
already installed on your computer.
Skimming
A way to steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card.
Software
A computer program that enables computer hardware to work.
Software Updates
A software install that is performed to enhance or repair a previously installed computer program.
Spam
Unsolicited "junk" email sent to large numbers of people to promote products or services.
Spoofing
An online identity theft scam.
Typically, criminals send emails that look like they’re from legitimate
sources, but are not (phishing). The fake messages generally include a
link to phony, or spoofed, websites, where victims are asked to provide
sensitive personal information. The information goes to criminals,
rather than the legitimate business.
Spyware
A program that is loaded onto your
computer without your knowledge. These programs gather information from
your computer activities and send them to an unknown source. These
programs are especially dangerous when capturing financial information
that can be used to commit fraud.
T
Trojan Horse
An apparently legitimate software
that carries an unwanted payload that is typically used by hackers to
gain unauthorized access to your computer.
V
Virus
A program that is loaded onto your
computer without your knowledge. Viruses can make copies of themselves,
quickly using up all available memory. Some viruses can transmit
themselves across networks.
W
Worm
Typically, a malicious program that
reproduces itself over a network and uses up computer resources or
shuts down the system. |
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