The following paper discusses the issue of identity theft that has now become very common in the cyber world. It resents the fact that not only non-literate internet users, but even well educated internet users are at a growing risk of identity theft.
Increased internet usage is resulting in an increase in cyber crime. Fighting these crimes seems a daunting task. As websites become more and more personalized, privacy becomes a major issue. The increasing use of internet involves dishing out personal details to a third party altogether. This increasing trend is posing a lot of identity threat on the internet.
Companies gather more and more personal data of customers in order to build relationship, but in the process do not respect the privacy of the customer. In cases where the customer is not literate in internet use, he may give away key personal data which can be used by miscreants for identity theft. According to data, nine out of ten users are worried about the misuse of their personal data. Concerns regarding privacy are cited as the top most reason for not using internet by non-net users.
Even though the argument is justifiable, it is important to note that not just non-literate net users but also well informed net users are at equal risks of identity theft. Any person using the internet is vulnerable to identity theft and other such illegal activities. Whatever maybe the security provisions taken, hackers tend to find a way out of every rule. Every day we come across many instances where identity thefts are done not merely upon the susceptible targets but huge corporations with top end security measures are experiencing identity theft of employees and customer data. This reinstates the fact that no single person is secured, but instead every person using internet is vulnerable to identity theft.
1. Dinev T. and Hart P. (2004). Internet Privacy, Social Awareness, And Internet Technical Literacy- An Exploratory Investigation. 21-23 June 2004. Retrieved from web.https://domino.fov.unib.si/proceedings.nsf/0/affeedb48669326dc1256ee000317a2b/$FILE/42Dinev.pdf
