Posted in the Star-Telegram
Internet security: Keep ID thieves from tax data
Posted Sunday, Mar. 21, 2010
Whether you're filing your income tax return electronically, downloading forms or e-mailing your accountant, identity thieves are ready to pounce on Social Security and bank account numbers. While tax preparation software such as Intuit's TurboTax is safe to use, files stored on your computer are vulnerable. "People don't realize that they accidentally expose such sensitive information," said Todd Feinman, CEO of computer security firm Identity Finder. He offers tips for keeping data secure:
Password-protect all tax returns that you print to PDF from your tax software.
Configure all peer-to-peer file sharing programs to disable sharing of your personal folders.
Never e-mail forms with your Social Security number or files used to prepare tax returns if they already contain personal information.
Delete e-mails purporting to be from the IRS that ask for personal information. This is likely to be a phishing attack.
Don't save passwords in Web browsers when accessing banks and other institutions, as they can be stolen if you get a virus or are hacked.
--- The Associated Press
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