Several large companies have rolled out cloud storage products recently: Amazon Cloud Drive, Google Apps for Business (of which cloud storage is only a part), Windows Live SkyDrive, and Apple iCloud, which isn't available until fall. On NextAdvisor, we review online backup services, some of which can also be classified as cloud storage. Let's use SugarSync, the most cloud-like of the online backup services we review, as an example. What's the difference? Which is best? Let's find out.

Starting Monthly Price

• Amazon: Free with account
• Google: $5
• Windows: Free with account
• Apple: Free with iOS on iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch
• SugarSync: $4.99

GB of Storage Included

• Amazon: 5GB
• Google: 1GB
• Windows: 25GB, individual files limited to 100MB
• Apple: 5GB
• SugarSync: 30GB

Data Security

• Amazon: SSL encryption; only eight devices allowed to access your music via Cloud Player
• Google: advanced capabilities and expanded limits for other Google products, such as Gmail and Google Calendar; SSL enforcement for secure HTTPS access
• Windows: configured by permissions set by the user; all content is marked as "public" by default
• Apple: might not allow previous data to be uploaded if not purchased with or created using an Apple product; only allows sharing of calendars;
• SugarSync: triple-encrypted; optional passwords for shared storage

Additional Features

• Amazon: Amazon Cloud Player for listening to music files, especially MP3s downloaded from Amazon
• Google: part of Google Apps for Business, so cloud storage limited to Google Docs
• Windows: Word Doc collaboration even if you don't have Microsoft Office; simple sharing to social networks
• Apple: keeps email, contacts, apps, and calendars up-to-date across all your Apple devices; pushes files to all of your Apple devices; no data encryption
• SugarSync: backs up external drives; mobile apps allow you to stream remotely stored music, view documents, and upload photos to SugarSync account

Bottom Line

While each cloud storage service has unique features, none of them backs up your computer automatically; you must manually add new files to store in the cloud. This is the main advantage to SugarSync: You can schedule automatic backups of your computer after you tell SugarSync which folders to back up. Windows and Google allow you to work on your documents in the cloud without saving to your computer first, but because you keep your data not only in the cloud but also on your computer when you use online backup, you'll be able to work on it even when you're not connected to the Internet.

SugarSync starts at $4.99 a month for 30GB of storage space, which works out to $0.17/GB. Only Google has a pricier option, but Google's cloud storage is not the focus of its business apps package. However, the price is worth the other features as well as the ability to have a lot of space; SugarSync starts at 30GB, but the highest anyone else (Windows) goes is 25GB. You can use SugarSync across multiple platforms, unlike iCloud, which only works on Apple devices. SugarSync has better file security, so you know no one can see your data unless you want them to. The mobile app is unique—you must be on your computer connected to the Internet to acces most cloud storage services.

Other online backup options with similar features include SpiderOak and Mozy. If you only need to worry about one computer's data, we suggest looking into Carbonite.

Cloud storage can be helpful for data you can replace if necessary, but if you really need to keep your hard drive's files safe, secure, and accessible, SugarSync is the way to go.

Eleven percent of identity theft crimes occur online.

Let's face it: Almost everyone's on Facebook, and if you're not, chances are you'll succumb to social pressure to sign up eventually. It's a great way to connect with friends and family all over the world and easily share your experiences with others. However, it's not a good idea to go sharing personal information willy-nilly.

Facebook has made a number of updates to privacy settings since we wrote this popular post in 2008. So here we've collected an updated list of six ways to manage your privacy on Facebook and keep your personal information safe:

1. Limit the amount of personal information available on your profile.

A poll of Facebook users commissioned by NextAdvisor.com found that 27% of respondents listed their full name, date of birth, phone number, and email address on their Facebook profile. An additional 8% of respondents included all of that information plus their physical address on their profile. Many Facebook users also list other personal data, such as their spouse or significant other's name or birthday. In the hands of identity thieves, that type of information can be dangerous.

For example, an identity thief may be able to use your home address and phone number to submit a change of address form with the United States Postal Service and have your mail forwarded. This would allow access to even more sensitive information in order to open financial or other accounts in your name.

Savvy identity thieves can use contextual information in your profile to hack into online accounts. It can tip them off to potential user names and passwords you may use. Once an online account—whether an email, credit card, or other account—has been accessed, it can cause even further harm. It just gets easier for identity thieves: A recently released Android app can hack Facebook accounts if they are open on the same wireless network! Our recommendation is to limit the amount of personal information that is available on your Facebook profile:

• Never list your full date of birth, phone number, or physical address on your Facebook profile. Your real friends and associates will likely already know this information, so including it on your profile will only increase your risk of being victimized.
• Limit the amount of contextual password clues on your profile pages. Identity thieves know that many people use their birthday, a spouse or significant other's name or birthday, an anniversary date, mother's maiden name, pet's name, or other personal information as passwords on their personal accounts. It is also a good idea to make sure your online passwords don't include these types of personal items.

2. Proactively manage your privacy settings.

There are many components to managing your Facebook privacy settings. But we've broken it down for you here:

Sharing

Facebook's main purpose is sharing. However, like many people, you might have certain things you only want to share with only your networks, your friends, or just a chosen few. Luckily, Facebook makes this easy. When you click "Privacy Settings" under your "Account" tab, you'll see a list of what you share and with whom you share it.

For each shared item, such as "My status, photos, and posts" and "Phone numbers and address," you can choose one of three basic user categories: "Everyone," "Friends of Friends," and "Friends Only." Remember that "Everyone" means pretty much everyone, sometimes including other sites. You'll see the privacy settings that Facebook recommends, but we prefer the conservative "Friends Only" setting on all of your profile information to safeguard your information.

At the bottom of this page is a "Customize settings" link, where you can fine-tune your settings. Perhaps you don't want anyone to be able to view "Places you check in to." So you'd select "Only Me" for that category. If you wish to let your friends know when you're out on the town but want to keep your coworkers out of it, you can choose to block that information only from certain users. If you don't want the world knowing when you're at, say, the doctor's office, we also recommend you uncheck the "Enable" box next to "Include me in 'People Here Now' after I check in." To make sure everything looks right, click "Preview my profile," where you can view your own profile as a member of the general public or as a specific Facebook user.

Connecting

Connecting is not controlled on the Privacy Settings page but on a separate screen you access by clicking "View settings" at the top of the "Choose Your Privacy Settings" screen. By default, your name, profile picture, gender, and networks are visible to everyone.

Set these limits to what you're comfortable with. You could set everything to "Friends only," but you'd cut down on the chances of old friends and co-workers finding you. Instead, set them based on how private you think that information is or should be. For example, never make your high school visible to "Everyone" if you've used "What's your high school mascot?" as a security question on another website. We do recommend setting stricter visibility limits on "See your friend list." Such information could help identity thieves to engage in a little social engineering or get information such as your mother's maiden name (if, you know, your mom is your friend).

We feel the same way with "See your current city or hometown" and "See your likes, activities, and other connections." This publicly viewable information can help phishers and other social hackers target attacks toward you.

Finally, you can also access "Preview my profile" from this page.

Apps and Websites

Go back to the main privacy page, scroll down to the "Apps and Websites" section at the bottom left, and click "Edit your settings for using apps, games and websites."

One of the most useful tools is at the top. "Apps you use" allows you to turn off all applications or remove unwanted or spammy applications. You'll probably be surprised just how many applications you've said "yes" to. If you find ones that look suspicious or you simply don't want anymore, click them to expand. You can then view the last time the app accessed your data or remove the application altogether.

But perhaps most important to your privacy is how your information is used by other sites and apps. Click "Edit settings" next to "Info accessible through your friends." It will bring up a pop-up window that you can use to control which of your information is available to applications, games and websites when your friends use them. We recommend that you uncheck these items.

Next, you can control who can see your game and app activity. This button functions much like the other buttons on the main privacy page.

If you're not wild about the websites you visit knowing a lot about you, edit your "Instant personalization" settings, and uncheck the box at the bottom. This prevents Facebook's select partner sites from accessing the information that you've set as visible to everyone.

Lastly, we recommend that you disable public search. This setting controls whether information you share with everyone shows up in searches on and off Facebook. If someone Googles you, do you want your Facebook profile to show up? If it's a childhood friend, perhaps, but if it's an identity thief, you might think otherwise. There's a small "See preview" link here, too, so you can see how your page would look to someone arriving at your profile from a search engine.

Block Lists

There are many reasons you might want to block a person or application from seeing your Facebook profile. So when you click "Edit your lists" at the bottom center of the main privacy page, you can enter names of your Facebook friends or email addresses of people who are not your friends and click "block user." This means that person cannot be your friend or interact with you on Facebook, except inside apps or games you both use.

You can also block invitations from this screen. Is a friend who lives across the continent spamming you with invites that you can't possibly accept, or does an otherwise nice pal keep inviting you to play FarmVille even though you've declined multiple times? Type the name into the fields to block only their invitations.

Finally, you can view your blocked applications from this page. Blocking an app means it can't contact you or use your information anymore. To block an app, though, you need to go to the app's Facebook page and click "Block app."

Additional Privacy Controls

Facebook gives you still more options for privacy control. Each time you post a status update, link, status update, photo, or video, click the lock icon below it to choose who can see it. Note that this overrides whatever you have set for "Posts by me" in the Privacy settings.

You also now have more control over your apps. By default, they can only see what you've made visible to everyone. If an app needs to access more to operate, they must ask you for permission (via a box that pops up when you add an app), and they are not allowed to ask for more than is necessary for them to work.

The final control is over tagged items. When you're tagged in a photo or video and you want to override the default setting you selected for tags on the privacy page, remove the tag, which will also keep it from showing up on your profile. Remember that this doesn't keep the owner of the photo or video from sharing the picture (sans your tag) with people who aren't your friends.

These are our best suggestions for using Facebook's privacy settings. CEO Mark Zuckerburg maintains that users can expect privacy from Facebook's advertisers. Facebook doesn't sell personal data to its advertisers, but some ads include a Like button, and some or pair a profile picture of a friend who "liked" the ad or company with it to make it more relevant to you. And when you see Facebook content on another website, that site doesn't receive any of your profile information.

Still, with all the data floating around out there and the potential for identity thieves to socially engineer themselves into our lives, consider an identity theft protection service.

3. Only accept friend requests from people you know.

According to another recent Facebook poll commissioned by NextAdvisor.com, 49% of respondents said that they accept some or all friend requests that they receive from people they don't know. What many Facebook users may not realize is that by accepting friend requests from people they don't know, they are potentially opening themselves up to identity theft or related crimes. As a general rule, we suggest that Facebook users only accept friend requests from people that they already know or whose identity they can verify through some other means. Here are some ways to safely add new friends on Facebook:

• When you receive a friend request from people you already know, verify that they are who they say they are by sending them an email or giving them a phone call. It is easy for someone to set up a phony profile under the name of someone you know and trust in order to extract additional information from you.
• If you don't recognize the person who is making the friend request, feel free to ask how he or she knows you by sending a Facebook message before accepting. If you get no answer or a suspicious one, you can investigate further or simply ignore this friend request.
• Some experts believe that social networks like Facebook may become the next target of sophisticated phishing scams designed to steal your online passwords or other personal information. If you receive a friend request or other information over email purporting to be from Facebook, log into your Facebook account directly rather than clicking on any links in the email to verify that the communication is actually coming from the Facebook system.

4. Limit the amount of check-ins and "time and place" data that you expose.

Facebook gives users many opportunities to broadcast their schedule and whereabouts to their friends. Whether it is a simple status update or detailed itinerary, criminals can use information about your current or upcoming whereabouts to victimize you in a number of ways.

For example, if you publicly announce an out-of-town vacation or plans to attend a certain event, criminals can use this information to determine when your home may be most susceptible to a burglary. This could open you up to any number of forms of identity theft or worse. Also exercise caution when you "check in" somewhere using Facebook Places. If you verify that you are at a faraway location, you could endure similar consequences.

In general, we strongly recommend that Facebook users not publish specifics about whereabouts and schedules.

5. Remember that even people you know can be identity thieves.

Unfortunately, several recent studies show that a significant number of identity theft victims know the person who victimized them.

Javelin Research found that a shocking 43% of identity theft crimes are perpetrated by people whom the victim knows, such as friends or family members. Additionally, the most common perpetrators of identity theft against children are the child's parent.

We strongly recommend that, even if you know and trust all of your Facebook friends, you still follow all these tips to prevent yourself from falling victim to identity theft.

6. Consider an identity theft protection service.

Identity theft, both online and in the real world, remains a growing threat to all Americans. We recommend that all consumers consider using a proactive identity theft protection service, such as Identity Guard or LifeLock, to protect their identity.

Each identity theft protection service is different, but most will do the following:

• Monitor your credit report and other personal information for fraudulent use.
• Provide you with identity theft insurance that will reimburse you on costs and expense you incur as a result of being victimized.
• Provide you with copies of your credit report.

You can learn more about the various benefits of identity theft protection services and about the specific services we review by visiting our identity theft protection service guide and comparison.

While social networks like Facebook can be fun and productive services, it is important for users to be aware of the risks that they pose. Taking proactive steps to protect your identity on Facebook will only improve the amount of enjoyment you can get out of the service.

1. Think About Passwords and Security Questions

Your parental control software is only as affective as your passwords and security questions. You'll need to come up with good passwords for both your parental control software and your Windows account. You can use the same password for both as long as it's good. What makes it good? It needs to be hard to guess, but easy to remember. If you're stuck for ideas, you can try a random password generator, though its results can be difficult to remember. Later, when you set up your parental control software, you'll need a security question, in case you forget the password. Make sure it's nothing your kid can guess or find out (be wary of biographical questions whose answers may be discoverable via Facebook, such as "High school mascot.").

2. Set Up Your Accounts

Armed with a good password, you're ready to set up your accounts. If your computer currently does not require you to log in, you don't have any accounts enabled. You can get to the "Manage Accounts" page by typing "User Accounts" in the Windows Start Menu. You need at least two accounts for parental control software to work its best:

A) Administrator account. We've called it "Parent" to make things easier, but it can be anything. You'll also set the password on this screen. If there is no password, you'll see an option to "Create a password." If there's already a password, it will say "Change the password."

B) Standard User account. We've called it "Kid" because it'll be easier to keep track for this demonstration. It should have a password too.

C) Additionally, you'll want to make sure the Guest account is either turned off, or has a password, so kids can't use that as a non-protected alternate account.

3. Make Sure "User Account Control" Is Enabled

Most Windows systems will already have this option turned on and configured, but make sure it is on your computer. You'll find this option at the bottom of the User Accounts control panel. The reason it's important to have User Account Control turned on is because it forces the system to ask for a password when new software is installed. This will prevent Regular Users from installing software that could be used to fool the parental control software. On Windows Vista it's a simple on/off switch, while on Windows 7 there are several settings (see here). We recommend "Always Notify."

4. Install and Setup Your Parental Control Software

When you install your parental control software you'll be able to choose which accounts you'll be monitoring and filtering content for . These should map directly to the accounts you've already set up. You probably don't want your own Administrator account to be monitored, but you probably do want to monitor the Regular User Account. If you haven't yet purchased parental control software, check out our comparison and reviews. We put six of the most popular products through rigorous tests to find the best.

Identity theft among college students is also known as "friendly fraud" because the perpetrators are often casual acquaintances or room mates. It's during college that many young people first apply for credit cards and open up their own bank accounts. This is one reason why college students are at an increased risk, since most have not played a significant role in their own finances before. They are often not used to monitoring their credit and bank accounts.

College students by-and-large live in communal situations, living with roommates and in dorm rooms. This means exposure to a lot of new people, not all of whom are trustworthy. Mail is often lost, stolen, or misdirected. Credit card statements can be gold to a potential identity thief.

Another risk comes from the Internet. Many college students will find themselves in possession of their own computers for the first time, or using public computers in libraries, computer labs and dorm rooms. If those computers are not secured and are infected with spyware, personal information is just a click away for identity thieves.

The big shock to me, upon entering college, was how often I was asked for my social security number: at the financial aid office, the library, the student health center, the office, the ubiquitous credit card tables—heck, I could barely get a salad in the cafeteria without handing over my social security number. Often the people processing these transactions were students themselves, not people I had a lot of faith in.

Tips:

1. Keep an eye on your mail. Consider using a post office box for important financial documents, or sign up for online payments and billing. When you move, make sure your mail follows you.
2. Watch your bank and credit card balances. The beginning of the school year is a time for high credit card use, so watch for anything unusual.
3. Get a paper shredder and a locking file cabinet. No, these aren't the coolest of dorm room accessories, but they can keep important documents safe from prying eyes. A safe deposit box is also a good idea for passports, birth certificates, and other sensitive documents.
4. Get a lockdown cable for your computer. You can use it to lock your laptop, desktop, or tablet PC to your desk. You have more personal information on your laptop than you realize. While you're at it, password protect your computer.
5. Avoid using public computers for sensitive data input.
6. Invest in identity theft protection. This way you can be alerted to fraudulent activity before it wrecks your finances.
7. Keep your computer protected with Internet security software. Identity thieves use malware and spyware to steal personal information.
8. Be careful of whom you give your social security number to. Also, watch for eavesdroppers.
9. Secure your living space. Parties are the hallmarks of collegiate life, but they can also leave your living space open to people you don't know. Keep your valuables hidden and locked down.

The more precautions you take, the less you'll have to worry about. That way you can spend more time on the stuff that matters.

The settings in the following guide can be best described as reasonably cautious, but not obsessively paranoid. Before we get into what information sharing you can control, here's what you have to share: name, profile picture, and gender. Other things are up to you. What should you allow? While there's probably no answer that's right for everyone, we offer this blanket piece of advice: if any piece of data can be used as a security question on a website, limit its visibility. This can include family relationships, school affiliation, pet names, date of birth, make of car, etc.

But before we go much further, let's review the number one threat to your privacy on Facebook: You. More specifically, it's the choices you make. The people you friend, the apps you install, the settings you choose, the status updates you make, and most importantly: the password you choose. All the privacy settings in the world can't stop users from choosing bad passwords, falling for a phishing attempt, or clicking on a malicious link.

1. Choose Your Privacy Settings

Facebook has greatly simplified the privacy controls with three basic user categories: "Everyone," "Friends of Friends," and "Friends Only." Additionally there's a Facebook-recommended setting and, if you've tinkered with your privacy settings, you'll see that setting too. These categories are the core of Facebook privacy. "Everyone" means pretty much everyone, including, sometimes, other sites.

This is what Facebook recommends, but it may be too open for some (including us):

Facebook's Recommended Settings

Personally we like the more conservative "Friends Only" setting. Although this setting has a check mark that allows friends of your friends to see photos you've uploaded if your friend is tagged in it (i.e., if you took a picture of George at the Tasty-Freeze and tagged it as such then George's friend Gena would be able to see your photo, even if you're not friends with Gena). It's more private without this item checked, so to keep photos from folks you may not know, uncheck this box.

Facebook Friends Only Privacy Setting

2. Basic Directory Information

Now it's time to dig deeper. Facebook's page that explains the new privacy settings mentions that by default other information including hometown and interests, is visible by default to help friends and other people you have things in common with connect with you (a.k.a, networks). This is not controlled on the Privacy Settings page, but on a separate screen you access by clicking View settings at the top of the Choose Your Privacy Settings screen.

Set these limits to what you're comfortable with. You could set everything to "Friends only" but you'd cut down on the chances of old friends and co-workers finding you. Instead, set them based on how private you think that information is, or should be. Tip: never make your high school visible to "Everyone" if you've used "what's your high school mascot?" as a security question on another website. We do recommend setting stricter visibility limits on "See my friend list." Such information could help identity thieves to engage in a little social engineering or get information such as your mother's maiden name (if, you know, your mom is your friend).

Likewise with See my current city or hometown and See my interests and other pages. Do you really want everyone to know where you live? Publicly viewable information can help phishers and other social hackers target attacks specifically towards you.

Further Facebook Privacy Settings

This page has one other incredibly useful feature and you'll find it at the top right. Preview my profile will show you what your profile looks like to Everyone on Facebook. We recommend everyone do this. In fact, we think Facebook should make this the first thing you see when looking at your privacy settings.

Facebook Profile Preview

3. Applications, Games and Websites

Next you'll want to go back to the main privacy page and Edit your settings for using applications, games and websites. This link is on the bottom left. You'll then be brought to the page below:

You'll find one of the most useful tools at the top. What you're using allows you to turn off all applications or remove unwanted or "spammy applications," as Facebook puts it. You'll probably be surprised just how many applications you've said yes to. If you find ones that look suspicious or you simply don't want anymore, check them. Then click Remove Selected.

Facebook Application Control

But perhaps most important to your privacy, the thing that has a lot of people up-in-arms, is how your information is used by other sites and in Facebook apps. This is now controlled via the Info accessible through your friends link. It will bring up a pop-up window that you can use to control which of your information is available to applications, games and websites when your friends use them. If that sounds creepy to you, uncheck these items (or check away if you think this sounds like a good idea) and save your changes.

Facebook: Control your information on other sites

If you're not wild about the websites you visit knowing a lot about you, click the Instant personalization link and uncheck the box at the bottom. This prevents Facebook's select partner sites from accessing the information that you've set as visible to Everyone. According to Facebook, this personalization only currently works on Docs, Pandora, and Yelp. More sites will probably follow.

Facebook Instant Personalization

Lastly, you may want to disable Public search. This setting controls whether things you've specifically chosen to share with everyone (will) show up in searches on and off Facebook. If you haven't made much info made visible to Everyone, then you don't have a lot to worry about. Still, if someone Googles you, do you want your Facebook profile to show up? If it's a childhood friend, perhaps. If it's an identity thief, you might think otherwise. Our advice is to disable it, though really old friends or new thieves will find their way to Facebook to search for you anyway. There's a preview option here too, so you can see how your page would look to someone arriving at your profile from a search engine.

Choosing if your Facebook profile publically searchable

These are our best suggestions for using Facebook's new privacy settings. The promise from CEO Mark Zuckerburg is that these are stable, and any future Facebook changes will respect the settings you've chosen. He's also promised that Facebook users can expect privacy from Facebook's advertisers. While marketing is targeted, Facebook doesn't sell personal data to its advertisers.

Still, with all the data floating around out there, and the potential for identity thieves to socially engineer themselves into our lives, consider an identity theft protection service.

1) The Email app is not password protected, meaning anyone in your household can read your email. Think about using webmail instead.

2) Enabling password "Auto-Fill" or letting websites remember your passwords, gives other household members access to websites you log into. If you do use webmail or any other password protected site, make sure to log out when you're done. Do not select options to keep yourself logged in if others will have access to your iPad.

If you share your iPad, think about leaving Auto-Fill off (click image for full view)

Don't select this option on website logins if you share your iPad

3) The iPad's Safari web browser has a history just like the web browser on your computer. Unlike that web browser, you can't set it to automatically remove your history, cookies, or cache. If you're concerned that other users of your iPad will see your browsing history, clear out the history, cookies, and cache in the Safari settings (history can also be cleared in the Safari bookmarks menu). Also unlike your PC's web browser, Safari always opens to the last page viewed, even if you delete the history. So, navigate to a neutral page if you don't want others to see the last site you visited.

Clear your history, cookies, and cache from the "Safari" menu under "settings" (click for full view)

Use the "Bookmark" menu to clear your history

4) The iPad has no parental control software, but it does let you control access to YouTube, Safari, iTunes, App installation, and location services. You can also disable "In-App Purchases." If you have young ones in the house, this is something to keep in mind.

Enable iPad Restrictions

5) Purchases from the iTunes store require you to enter your password before a purchase. However, once entered you are logged on until the iPad is reset, or until you sign out by clicking the "Account" button and selecting "Sign Out" from the pop-up window. Not signing out means anyone in your house can have a music, app, and movie shopping spree on your dime.

Find the "Account" button at the bottom of the iTunes store

"Sign Out" when you're done with purchases

6) The iPad certainly makes web browsing feel different, but it's still the same world wide web. This means you'll encounter spam, phishing, malware, and other nefarious sites. So always surf smart.

If ever there was a product designed to be stolen (or misplaced), it's probably this device. The iPad is meant to be picked up, and put down, like a magazine or a book. While people lose phones all the time, most of us are accustomed to dropping them in our pockets when not in use. With the iPad, unless you have some pretty big pockets, you can't do that at all. And unlike the laptop, there's no security slot, so you won't be able to lock it down. Apple is billing it as a casual information device, but users are bound to treat it like their smart phone or personal computer.

While iPad security is probably not the first thing you think about when you take the device out of the box, there are some things you should really do before your iPad goes missing. You'll find these options in the "General" section of the "Settings" app.

You'll find your security settings here (click for full page view)

1. Set up a Passcode Lock and make sure it's a good one. After a few days this iPad will probably have your whole life on it. This will prevent someone from accessing your personal data, should the iPad fall into the wrong hands. It will also make it fairly useless to a thief, since it can't be re-synced with a new computer without the code.

Set your iPad passcode here (click for full page view)

2. Set the auto-lock so the device will be inaccessible after a period of inactivity.

Select the period of inactivity before auto-lock is activated (click for full-page view)

3. Consider turning the iPad "Erase Data" function on. This function will wipe the data on your iPad if someone makes 10 consecutive incorrect password attempts.*

Enable the "Erase Data" feature here

4. Keep in mind that the iPad has a default "Picture Frame" mode which allows you (or anyone) to view your photographs, even if the iPad is locked, simply by clicking the flower-pot icon. If you like to leave your iPad laying around the house, make sure all your photos are safe for public eyes, or that you have this function turned off.

A locked iPad will show photos when the Flower icon is pressed (click for full page view)

4. Spending an extra $99.95 per year for Apple's MobileMe gets you the "Find My iPhone" feature which allows you to remotely locate your iPad via GPS, lock it (in case you didn't follow Step 1), and erase the data. The latter is a bit risky though, since you won't be able to use the GPS tracking or Mobile lock after you do it. Also, the remote lock and erase only work if the iPad is connected to the Internet.

MobileMe's "Find My iPhone (iPad)" Feature

5. Look out for eavesdroppers. The iPad screen has a wide angle of view, so be careful about what information you're accessing in public.

6. Be aware that while you can turn off access to some apps (such as the web browser, location-based services, and others), there's no way to restrict access to mail app. If you're using your iPad communally, you may want to use webmail, and log out after each time.

Enable iPad Restrictions

7. If this device is to be used by the whole family, think about limiting access to apps, disallowing app installation, and setting age restrictions.

We wrote this guide thinking that most users will start to treat their iPads like their computers or smart phones. Of course, it's possible that you'll just use it around the house for casual browsing and not use the integrated mail app. If so, well, you can probably lighten up  on the security precautions. Stay tuned for a future blog post on how to leave your iPad laying around the house.

* We actually tested the "Erase Data" function out. The bit about "10 attempts" is misleading. Here's how it actually works:

The iPad's "Wrong Passcode" Display

1. Enter the password incorrectly 10 times in a row, and the device tells you to try again in one minute.

2. Make another 10 incorrect attempts and it locks down for five minutes.

3. Make one more incorrect attempt and it locks for 15 minutes.

4. Another try, this time you're out for 30 minutes

5. Another incorrect attempt locks you out for 1 hour.

6. Try it again, and you're locked out for another hour.

7. If you fail this time, the device resets to its factory condition.

Much like the remote-wipe function, this feature has pluses and minuses. While it protects your data from a patient thief, deletion of your data has two consequences. First, your remote Find My iPad features will be disabled, so there's no GPS tracking. Secondly, while you save your data, you provide the thief with essentially a brand new iPad because your passcode is deleted with everything else. While this is better than giving out your personal data, it's too bad it doesn't just make the iPad unusable.

Let's look at AdWords. Most people have seen AdWords in action, even if they don't know the program by name. AdWords is a pay-per-click ad program that allows site owners to promote their sites right next to Google search results.

You can use web hosting AdWords credits to bid on keywords and advertise your own site (you cannot use it to pay for the $5.00 sign-up fee, however).

So, what will $50 buy you? You can bid as low as one cent for a keyword (though you'll probably be quickly outbid) or as high as you want. That bid amount represents the most you will pay per click on your ad. Like an eBay auction, you may not end up paying your maximum bid, but you should be prepared to pay that amount per click that you get. If you have the fairly standard $50 ad credit, it can theoretically cover:

50 clicks for a $1.00 bid

1 click for a $50.00 bid

1,000 clicks for a $.05 bid

This is a simplification, of course (and we don't recommend $50 bids). You can pay less if there are lower bids than yours. How much you'll actually need to bid depends on your keyword(s) and how high on the page you'd like your ad to appear. Be aware that your ad credit is a not a hard spending limit. If you don't want to spend more than $50, you'll need to monitor your account carefully. AdWords will let you set daily limits, but not a total budget cap.

That's basically how bidding works. Here's how to redeem an AdWords coupon, if one came with your web hosting:

Step 1: Find your code

This will differ depending on your web host, but most users will find this in their control panel. Here we used HostGator, since it uses the widely used cPanel. You'll find it under Marketing Services:

You should then see a page like the one below. Copy the code (here represented by a series of X's), and follow the link to Google's AdWords page.

Step 2: Register for AdWords

If you don't already have a basic Google account (such as a Gmail account), you'll have to create one. Then you'll have to create an AdWords account:

After you create your account, follow the steps of setting your time zone and currency, and verifying your account. Once you've verified your account, you can log in and get to work.

Step 3: Enter your code

In order to use your ad credits, click the "Billing" tab.

This is where you'll have to input payment information for the aforementioned $5.00 setup fee,  as well as any spending you might do beyond your ad credit (which Google hopes you'll do). After that, click the link next to  "Do you have a promotional code?" and enter the code in the box that appears.

Step 4: Create and Bid

We won't go through the process of making an ad, since Google offers pretty good documentation on how to do that. Beyond your $5.00 set-up fee, you don't have much to lose. If you use your web site to sell something, there's no reason not to try it out. Just make sure you keep track of how much you're spending through your AdWords control panel on Google. Also, there may be an expiration date depending on your web host's offer, so check that too before you begin.

What you may not realize is that college students are just as susceptible as children, if not more so. Many colleges and universities continue to use students' Social Security numbers for identification purposes, which means that these sensitive digits could be plastered on ID cards, grades, and other official paperwork. Students are often bombarded with preapproved credit offers, and may also receive letters regarding financial aid. Since students move frequently and may neglect to forward their mail, sensitive information is more likely to fall into the wrong hands. And since almost 30% of college students ignore their checking and credit card balances, they are far less likely to notice if they do become victims of fraud.

We have compiled a list of tips to help college students prevent identity theft.

1. Protect your sensitive personal information.

Your sensitive personal information can be used to withdraw money from your bank account, make fraudulent charges on your credit cards, or to accumulate debt in your name. Sensitive personal information includes your Social Security number, credit card and bank account numbers, any other personal finance data (such as paperwork regarding financial aid), your driver's license number, medical information, and even your date of birth, address, and phone number.

Your Social Security number is the key to your identity. In the hands of an identity thief, it can be used to open new accounts in your name. You should never carry your Social Security number or card with you in your wallet. If you haven't already memorized your Social Security number, do so. You might consider leaving your Social Security card at your parents' house, and making a photocopy of it that can be locked up and brought out only when needed. If your college uses Social Security numbers as your student ID, request a new student ID with a randomized number that is not tied to your Social Security number. When filling out paperwork, you should only provide your Social Security number when absolutely necessary. In many cases, you will be asked for your Social Security number as a matter of course rather than necessity, in which case it is perfectly acceptable to decline.

Paperwork that includes sensitive personal information should be stored in a safe, unobtrusive place, such as a locked file cabinet. Don't leave these types of documents in your backpack or purse, and keep track of your wallet. Your dormitory and campus may feel safe and comfortable, but it is not uncommon for identity thieves to take advantage of that trusting environment. Your roommate and new friends may seem perfectly nice, but there's no need to tempt them by leaving your sensitive personal information lying around for the taking.

2. Protect your laptop.

Your laptop almost certainly contains a wealth of sensitive personal information. This access to your identity is far more valuable than the computer itself. That's why it's crucial to take a few basic precautions to protect your laptop and the information it contains.

One of the best ways to prevent laptop theft is to be conscious of the fact that laptops are extremely tempting and relatively easy targets for thieves. Never leave your laptop unattended in a library, café, or other public place. Don't leave your laptop in your dorm room with the door unlocked. You may want to consider purchasing a lock that secures your laptop to a desk or table. There are also alarms that will alert you if someone attempts to move your laptop, or if you and your laptop are separated by more than a set distance, as well as laptop tracking and recovery services. At the very least, you should label your laptop with your name and contact information, write down the serial number, and put a brightly colored sticker or other identifying mark on your laptop so that you can recognize it easily.

Use passwords to protect the information stored on your computer. Ideally, you should not store any passwords on your computer, or allow your web browser to remember passwords. If you must, at least be sure to use a strong primary log-in password to prevent unauthorized access to your laptop. Memorize this password, and don't save it or write it down anywhere on or around your computer. Whenever you are finished using your laptop, be sure to log out. For additional protection, you can encrypt sensitive data and disable instant message logging.

And of course, Internet security software is essential. Hackers use spyware, viruses, and phishing to gain access to your files, your passwords, your bank account and credit card numbers, and your PINs. The best way to thwart cybercriminals is to install software that offers thorough protection against a variety of threats, and set that software to update automatically. Since hackers take advantage of vulnerabilities in your operating system, web browser, and other software, you should promptly install all recommended patches and updates whenever they become available.

3. Be savvy when using the Internet, especially social networking websites.

Internet security software is a necessity, but there is no substitute for common sense. Understand the risks associated with social media and be smart when browsing the web.

Sharing personal data can make you an easy target for online attacks. An identity thief could use information about your classes, your network of friends and family, or your hobbies and interests to impersonate a trusted friend or convince you that they have the authority to request personal or financial data. They might also be able to guess your passwords or the answers to password security questions. Use privacy settings and common sense to avoid scammers. Most social networking sites allow you to control how much of your profile is revealed to users inside and outside your network. Adjust these settings to meet your individual needs, but in general, you should limit the amount of personal information you post. For example, never publish your full name, Social Security number, birth date, or address. Limit your circle of contacts. Consider restricting access to your page to a select group of people and setting your profile to "private" to prevent uninvited members from viewing your personal information.

Whether you are on a social networking site or any other website, you should always exercise caution when clicking on links or downloading files. Avoid opening links or downloads from strangers. Shortened URLs from shortening services such as TinyURL and Bit.ly can be used to obscure the true link destination and trick you into downloading malicious software. Phishing emails that seem to be from a financial institution or social networking site can send you to a spoofed website designed to capture your username and password. When in doubt, type the website address into your browser, or use a link in your bookmarks menu, rather than clicking on a potentially misleading link in an email. Never enter your password or account number unless you've verified the site's authenticity. Above all, pay attention and follow your instincts. If a website seems suspicious, click away.

Don't use a public computer to shop online or conduct online banking. And when using a public computer for any reason, remember to log out of all websites and the computer itself once you are finished.

4. Don't ignore snail mail.

Postal mail can provide many opportunities for identity thieves. Bank and credit card statements and routine paperwork from your college or university contain all the personal data necessary to open fraudulent accounts. Identity thieves can also use unsolicited, preapproved credit card offers to apply for credit cards in your name through the mail.

You should always shred preapproved credit card offers before discarding them. If you wish, you can prevent financial companies from sending these preapproved offers by filling out a request form at OptOutPrescreen.com. To reduce other types of junk mail, visit the Direct Marketing Association's mail preferences service website and ask that your name be removed from marketing mailing lists.

Consider signing up for online bank and credit card statements and discontinuing paper statements. As with all paperwork that contains sensitive information, store your statements in a safe place or, if you discard them, shred them thoroughly first.

You may want to think about getting a post office box for your personal mail, or maintain your parent's address as your permanent address. The latter will reduce the chance of mail going to an out-of-date address. Otherwise, make sure to fill out a change of address form at the post office when you move, to ensure that your mail gets forwarded to the current address.

5. Take responsibility for your finances.

Whether you have been earning and budgeting your own money for years or you still rely on an allowance from your parents, it's time to take responsibility for your own finances. Review your bank account and credit card statements regularly, and report any unauthorized charges immediately.

You should also begin to give some thought to your credit history. If you have not already done so, you should check your credit report for fraudulent or erroneous information. Since some businesses only report to one credit bureau, it is best to request your credit report from all three (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to ensure that you have not already been victimized without your knowledge. If an identity thief opens a new account in your name, that information should appear on at least one of your three reports. For more information about establishing and protecting your credit, check out Credit 101, another NextAdvisor.com guide specifically created to educate young adults.

Avoid signing up for a credit card with vendors on campus. If you are interested in signing up for a credit card, it is safer to contact the credit card company directly.

6. Consider a proactive identity theft solution.

There are several companies that provide comprehensive protection against identity theft. These services work to prevent, detect, and, if necessary, resolve identity theft on your behalf. Depending on the service, protective measures include fraud alerts to help prevent new lines of credit from being opened in your name, junk mail reduction, public and private database scanning for misuse of your personal information and more. To learn more about identity theft protection and the various companies that offer this service, take a look at our reviews and comparison chart.

7. Take action immediately if you think you have been victimized.

If your credit or debit card is lost or stolen, call the bank or credit card company right away and cancel the card. You should also notify your bank right away if you notice any unfamiliar activity on your bank or credit card statements.

If you suspect that you may have become a victim of identity theft, contact the fraud departments of the three major credit bureaus and request that fraud alerts be placed on your files.

Equifax: 800-525-6285

Experian: 888- 397-3742

TransUnion: 800-680-7289

Review your credit reports for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts that you can't explain. Check that your personal information is correct. If there is any incorrect information, contact the relevant credit bureau to have it removed. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. And file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and with your local police.

If you subscribe to an identity theft protection service or a credit monitoring service, your service provider will handle these steps as well as providing additional guidance and assistance.

8. Help curb identity theft by sharing these tips with other students.

College students may find it difficult to muster up much concern about identity theft. You have a sense of invincibility, your campus feels like a safe and friendly environment, and you have more interesting and immediate things to think about. But the risk of identity theft is very real, and unfortunately, it will likely be a growing risk for years to come. Restoring your identity can be an expensive and time consuming process. It is far better to take a few sensible precautions than to suffer the consequences of becoming a fraud victim. In addition to protecting yourself, you can help curb the threat of identity theft by sharing this guide with your friends and classmates.

The first thing you should do is get comfortable with your web host's control panel. The control panel is the fundamental way you manage your web hosting. This includes installing your blog, looking at visitor statistics, changing settings, managing files, installing web site creators, adding subdomains, the list goes on. In fact, there are so many things that most control panels are a little overwhelming. Here's the popular cPanel control panel, which powers a number of web hosting solutions, including Web Hosting Pad, Just Host, Host Gator, HostPapa, IX Web Hosting, and others :

There are a lot of choices here (click here for a full view). In fact there are way more than you probably need, at least right now. The good news is that you don't really need to know all of them. On the left you'll find a bunch of statistics related to your account. You'll find this more useful further down the road. Right now, a lot of it will be blank. Taking up most of the page is the menu of options, looking a bit like a Windows operating system circa 2001. The nice thing is, you can actually rearrange these panels, so you can drag the ones you use least down at the bottom.

The most common modules you'll probably want to use first are Email Accounts (located under Mail), and the various blog and sitebuilding add-ons grouped together as Fantastico Deluxe (under Software/Services).

Email is very easy to set-up on cPanel, simply choose a user name and a password (it will even create one for you, if you prefer). The mailbox quota is optional, and best left at its default. cPanel will create your email address and then provide you with the configuration settings for your email program.

Fantastico De Luxe is a different beast altogether, in fact it's a whole other control panel. It's your one-stop shop for add-on modules like WordPress (for blogging), CubeCart (for creating a shopping cart), 4Images Gallery (for building an image gallery), and Soholaunch (for creating a website). It looks like the Macintosh operating system circa 2001. On the left you see your options. Next to that, you see the add-ons you have installed (if any).

For the sake of demonstration, let's install WordPress. WordPress is the web's most popular platform for blogging. First, click the WordPress link on the left. When you see the WordPress installation screen, click "new installation."

Now you need to make some decisions, the most important being where you'd like to install your blog. If you want it to be the page that people see when they arrive at your website, just leave this space blank. If you plan on having the blog as part of a bigger website, you might want to put this at a directory like: blog (so type "blog" into that box).

You'll also need a username for the blog. It's also time for another password. Since WordPress does not ask you to confirm the password make sure you write it down. Or, better yet, copy and paste it into a text file. Your admin nickname will be visible to people who view your blog, so choose something you want people to see. Next, enter an email address (notifications will be sent to you at this address). Your blog needs a name, which doesn't have to be the same as your domain. Finally, you can enter a description, which can be as simple or complex as you want. You can always change title and description later.

You will get one more screen telling you everything is working right and ready for installation. You can ignore the bit about the MySQL user, because you won't need to know that. Just click "finish installation." When it's been installed correctly, you'll see a confirmation of your information, including the url where you will administer your blog. As Fantastico suggests, you should bookmark it.

The process of installing other modules will be similar. If you want to get back to your cPanel, just click the "control panel" icon at the upper left.

Those are the basics. If you've done the above you'll now have your own email address and blog set up.

What's next? Try building a site. Depending on your web host, some site builders are located in the Fantastico panel, and some will be found in the cPanel. Or try an offline site builder like Adobe Dreamweaver, Apple iWeb, or Microsoft Expression.

Have realistic expectations

Dieters with unrealistic expectations about how long it will take to reach their weight loss goals are more likely to give up on dieting altogether. They are also more likely to fall into a cycle of starving themselves and then overeating. Many people would like to lose a great deal of weight very quickly, but slow and steady weight loss is healthier and more likely to lead to long-term success. Smaller, more attainable goals are more productive.

Losing one to two pounds each week would be a reasonable goal, for example. Focusing on short-term goals can also help dieters stay on track. If your long-term goal is to lose 25 pounds, you should assume that this will take at least three months, and keep yourself motivated by concentrating on losing the first five pounds, or on getting through the day without eating too much.

Determine your weight loss goals before you begin a new diet, and plan accordingly. Consider factors such as your age and body type when setting these goals. Genetics do play a role in determining your body type, but they provide a range of weights that are possible, depending on your diet and exercise habits. And your metabolism slows as you age, which means that you sometimes have to change your diet and exercise habits if you want to avoid gaining weight.

Ask yourself why you want to lose weight, how much you want to lose, whether you will be willing to move past minor setbacks or plateaus, whether you will be able to focus on your weight loss goals, and whether you're committed to losing weight for yourself, rather than for someone else.

If you have trouble setting realistic weight loss goals for yourself, there are many valuable online resources that can help. The diet programs reviewed here at NextAdvisor.com include tools that can help you create a solid, realistic plan.

Choose the right diet for you

One of the most crucial steps toward achieving your weight loss goals is choosing the right diet. Most diet plans will help you lose some weight initially, but the best diets will also help you keep the weight off permanently. Fad diets that promise immediate weight loss often do more harm than good when it comes to losing and maintaining weight, and diets that advertise easy or painless weight loss are not usually effective. A good diet is flexible, and doesn't usually require you to completely give up certain types of food. It is much harder to stick to a healthy eating plan if it is overly strict.

When choosing a diet plan, it helps to take your personality and lifestyle tendencies into account. If you tend to be impulsive, you may need to concentrate on avoiding temptations. If you tend to snack mindlessly, you should avoid situations where you are likely to eat without paying attention, such as snacking in front of the television. If you eat to alleviate anxiety, boredom or depression, you should focus on breaking those habits.

With so many diet plans to choose from, you may find the diet analysis services offered by eDiets helpful in determining which plan is the best for you. This online diet program also gives users access to registered dietitians, who will answer questions and give advice.

Eat nutritious meals in sensible portions

It may seem obvious, but a strong emphasis on sensibly portioned, nutritious meals should be an integral element of any good diet plan. You may find that strictly monitoring your calorie intake works best for you, or you may prefer a more low-key approach to dieting, but either way, you should strive to make healthy decisions about food.

If you're hungry, eat something. Don't skip meals or starve yourself, because you'll probably wind up overeating later on.

If you can, cook your own meals as much as possible. When you make your own food, you know exactly what you're eating. It is easier to make healthy choices when you are in control, such as using low-fat plain yogurt in place of sour cream and mayonnaise and buying low-fat cheese and milk instead of full-fat versions. You're also more likely to slow down and connect with your food, rather than eating quickly and mindlessly. It it's difficult for you to find time to cook, plan ahead by making extra food when you do have time and then freezing it for future use. eDiets, WeightWatchers and other online diet services offer meal planning tools, recipe databases, and grocery shopping list generators to help you. If you simply don't have time to cook, meal delivery services from Nutrisystem, eDiets DeliciouslyYours and Diet-to-go make eating well-balanced, correctly portioned meals nearly effortless. These services provide breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as snacks and desserts.

When you do eat at a restaurant, you can still strive to make healthy choices. Many of the online diet services reviewed at NextAdvisor.com include guidance and nutrition information to help you when ordering at a restaurant. Skip the bread. Eat slowly, since it can take up to 20 minutes for your body to register that you are full. Don't count on the restaurant to determine the correct portion size for you; ask how generous the servings are, and if they're big enough, either share with your dining companions or plan to bring some food home for another night.

Most of us are conditioned to believe that we are supposed to clean our plate, but our plates often contain far more food than we should be eating. There can be a great deal of pressure to eat more than you should at family gatherings, for instance. Don't let your family derail your diet plan. Be polite but firm when you've had enough to eat.

If your stomach is grumbling between meals, there's no need to suffer until dinnertime. Eating snacks between meals can help you avoid eating too much later in the day. The trick is to eat healthy snacks, and only eat them when you are actually hungry. Try to eat foods that you don't normally have during meals. Moderate amounts of fruits, vegetables, nuts, cheese and yogurt make good, healthy snacks. If you must eat cookies or candy, keep your portions small. When you buy chips or other snack foods, read the nutrition information to find out how many calories, grams of sugar you will be eating, and avoid anything with "partially hydrogenated vegetable oil." You should also check the serving size, which frequently turns out to be much less than the amount you actually eat at one sitting. The perfect snack should fill you up and give you energy for around 100 calories or less. It should include some carbohydrates, about 5 grams of fiber, at least 5 grams of protein, and a little bit of unsaturated fat. If you find yourself tempted to snack on unhealthy foods at work, plan ahead by bringing a supply of healthy snacks to your office. Avoid resorting to the vending machine. If you find yourself snacking due to stress or boredom rather than hunger, try chewing gum instead.

If you do indulge in foods that aren't part of your diet plan, don't give up. An occasional treat isn't going to ruin your diet, but giving up altogether definitely will. If you find yourself in a situation in which you can't avoid eating foods that are not part of your diet plan, don't beat yourself up about it. Drink water, so you can at least feel good about your beverage choice, and move on by planning to eat extra healthy the next day.

Exercise regularly

The best way to lose weight is to combine diet and exercise. When you embark on a new diet plan, you should also begin exercising regularly. In many cases, a new exercise routine will actually make it easier to eat healthier foods. And if you've eaten more than you should have, you can always compensate by taking a brisk walk or going for a run to burn those extra calories.

The most effective exercise routines combine cardio, which burns calories, with weight lifting, since building muscle increases the number of calories your body burns while at rest. An online diet service such as eDiets or WeightWatchers can be especially helpful in this regard, offering personalized fitness plans and access to certified fitness trainers as well as fitness news and tips.

Track your progress

Dieters who weigh themselves regularly and track their progress generally find it easier to notice missteps and stick to their diet and exercise plan. Recording your progress helps you stay focused on your weight loss goals and move past challenges. The online diet services reviewed at NextAdvisor.com include a variety of tools to help track your progress, as well as online support systems to help keep you motivated.

Building a credit history may not seem like a priority for you right now, but planning ahead will benefit you immensely in the future. Paradoxically, in order to receive any type of credit, you will nearly always be required to demonstrate a history of using credit responsibly. This means that your credit can determine whether or not you can qualify for a student loan or an auto loan, for example, and if you do receive a loan, your credit will impact your interest rate. Your credit will also determine whether or not you can lease a car, and it may affect your payments. Renting an off-campus apartment will require a credit check. Some utilities, including cell phone plans, require a credit check and if you have poor credit, they may demand a hefty deposit or even refuse service. Sometimes, potential employers check credit reports. Good or excellent credit is required in order to qualify for credit card offers with the best terms and rewards programs.

Your credit report is a record of your payment history for all types of loans and lines of credit. It includes information on whether you pay your bills on time, where you live, and whether you've ever filed for bankruptcy or been sued. If you pay your bills on time every month and stay within your credit limits, you should have a high credit score. If you have defaulted on loans, have a history of late bill payments, or carry a large amount of debt in proportion to your available credit, your score will be lower. To learn more about credit reports and scores, see our FAQ.

Your credit score is similar to your GPA. If you earn very poor grades as a freshman, it will be possible, but more difficult, to raise your GPA when you are a senior. But if you earn good grades during your first few semesters, it will be much easier to maintain a high GPA throughout the rest of your time in school. You can repair poor credit through hard work and diligence, but it is much better to establish a good credit history, and a high credit score, when you are young and have a blank slate.

It is not enough to pay your bills on time and make sure to stay well below the limits on your credit cards. If you are serious about building and maintaining good credit, you should also review your credit report from time to time, and you should keep a close watch on any open credit accounts. This is important because of the risk of identity theft.

Identity theft occurs when a criminal obtains sensitive, personal information such as a credit card number, bank account number, or Social Security number, and uses the stolen data to fraudulently open new accounts in someone else's name. Identity thieves frequently target children, in which case the crime often goes undiscovered for many years, until the victim grows up and attempts to open his or her first credit account only to find that his or her credit has already been destroyed. Living in a dorm at college can also put you at additional risk for identity theft, since more people are likely to have access to your mail, your credit and debit cards, any personal documents you might have, and your computer.

Earlier this year, Rolling Stone published a story about a Drexel student who started out shoplifting but soon moved on to stealing Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, bank account information and passports from her neighbors and using the pilfered information to open credit cards and bank accounts in other peoples' names. Her boyfriend rigged all the Internet accounts in their building to run through his own computer and installed Spyware on their neighbors' computers. The couple created fake driver's licenses and stole credit and debit cards from their friends at Drexel and the University of Pennsylvania. Their story shows how easy it can be to steal peoples' identities, especially in a college setting.

The best way to detect and prevent identity theft is with an identity theft protection service, which will either set fraud alerts with the credit bureaus to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name without your approval, or simply monitor your credit file and alert you to any changes. To learn more about identity theft protection services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

Another option is to sign up for a credit monitoring service, which will provide you with free copies of your credit report and in some cases, your credit score, and explain what factors are helping or hurting your credit score. A credit monitoring service will also alert you to any chances in your credit file. To learn more about credit monitoring services, see our reviews and comparison chart.

Once you have checked out your credit report to make sure there are no negative or erroneous items that need to be dealt with, you may decide that it's time to apply for your first credit card. There are many credit cards specifically designed for students who have no prior credit history. It is a good idea to begin establishing your credit history with a student credit card, because if you wait until after you have graduated, you may have difficulty qualifying for any credit card offers. The sooner you begin establishing credit, the longer and the better your credit history will be. A few years can make a dramatic difference in your credit score, especially when you are young and your credit report does not yet contain a great deal of information.

There are many other benefits that will come with having your first credit card, in addition to establishing credit and improving your credit score. A credit card is invaluable in case of emergencies. Sometimes, a credit card is required to make reservations at hotels, restaurants, salons, or spas. When shopping, and especially when shopping online, it is much safer to use a credit card than a debit card, because credit cards give you the chance to dispute a charge that you believe to be incorrect. With a debit card, your money will already be gone before you recognize a problem. The ability to dispute a charge can also come in handy in the event of a disagreement with a retailer.

Most credit cards come with a number of other perks. Many offer extended warranties, which means that if you buy something with your credit card and the item breaks after the merchant warranty has expired, your credit card company may still refund the purchase price. There is also retail purchase protection, which will reimburse you up to $500 if a purchase is stolen, destroyed, or accidently broken within the first 90 days. Most credit cards also offer automatic car rental insurance and roadside assistance, and some have a dedicated concierge service to assist cardholders. Certain credit cards give cardholders access to airport lounges or tickets to exclusive events.

When selecting a credit card, it is important to read the terms carefully and to compare a number of credit card offers before making a decision. Some schools allow credit card companies to set up tables on campus, where credit card representatives lure students with t-shirts, candy bars, or other free gifts. You should beware of these attempts to convince you to apply for a credit card without carefully considering the terms. Having several credit cards, especially at a young age, is often a recipe for disaster.

There are many factors to consider when comparing credit card offers. (And a free t-shirt should not be one of them!) The ideal credit card would offer cardholders a low APR, no annual fee, and an excellent rewards program. Realistically, though, it is more likely that you will have to decide which of these criteria are most important to you when considering credit card terms. Other factors to consider are the credit limit and the various fees and finance charges associated with the card. Take your own financial situation into account when comparing offers. Are you likely to carry a balance, or will you pay your credit card bill in full each month? Realistically, will you take advantage of a points or travel miles rewards program, or would you be better off with cash rebates?

NextAdvisor.com's student credit card reviews explain the more significant differences between different credit card offers, and should be helpful in determining what type of card is right for you. And for more information about credit cards plus definitions for many common credit related terms, see our credit card FAQ page.

Identity theft is quite a bit different now. It has evolved into a sophisticated and profitable underground economy, characterized by specialization of the production of goods and services, outsourcing of production, multivariate pricing and adaptable business models. On hidden online message boards, anonymous users advertise and trade stolen information and illegal services.

Many of these black market forums are run from computer servers in Russia, China, Romania or other regions in which Internet security practices or legislation are not yet well developed. These data trafficking websites last for around six months before being rerouted through a new server in order to evade law enforcement. The most popular sites are in Russian, although there are also Vietnamese, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and English websites. The variety of languages and geographical limitations also make it virtually impossible for authorities to prevent this online trafficking.

Registered board members buy and sell stolen credit card information, including card numbers, CCV numbers, expiration dates and cardholder names. Stolen credit cards have a relatively brief shelf life before the theft is discovered and the account is closed, so this type of data is usually bought in bulk and must be replenished constantly. According to Symantec's most recent Internet Security Threat Report, 50 credit card numbers sell for around $40.00 and 500 credit card numbers cost $200.00, making each card worth $0.40 to $0.80, when bought in bulk. An individual card number may cost as much as $20.00. The price of credit card numbers has been steadily decreasing over the past few years, which indicates that availability is increasing. Cards from the European Union cost more than those from the United States, presumably because there are approximately eight times as many credit cards circulating in the United States than the European Union. Rarer cards, such as those from smaller countries or smaller credit card companies, are typically twice as expensive as their more popular counterparts.

Banks accounts are the most commonly advertised item for sale, according to Symantec. In some cases, there are online forms that allow criminals to indicate the various types of data they have to sell or would like to purchase: address, date of birth, Social Security number, driver's license number, mother's maiden name, PIN numbers, passwords, etc. Account information that includes additional personal details and accounts with higher balances are advertised for considerably higher prices.

Thriftier shoppers can purchase raw data by the megabyte, then sort through the data themselves and sell it for more money. High-rollers can buy complete identities, which include all the information one would need to open new accounts in someone else's name. In bulk, 50 identities cost roughly $100.00. Full identities are very popular on the black market, probably due to their versatility and ease of use.

Hackers, phishers, spammers and other cybercriminals also advertise their services on these message boards. Programmers sell malicious code that gathers confidential information in various ways. Phishers create fake websites that imitate real websites or emails that appear to come from a bank or other trustworthy entity in the hopes that victims will be fooled into revealing passwords and other sensitive information. Spammers help the phishers reach their intended victims by gathering email addresses and sending phishing emails. Some criminals sell encoding devices and others sell blank credit cards and algorithms that can be used to encode the magnetic strip with a stolen account number, producing a usable card. Cashiers take the encoded plastic to ATMs and make daily withdrawals until the account id depleted. Droppers receive merchandise purchased with stolen credit cards at secure drop points.

Sometimes, sellers must pay a fee in order to advertise on black market forums. Site administrators or reviewers verify the integrity of the goods or services offered before they can be posted for sale. Registered users build a reputation rating based on peer reviews, similar to eBay. This prevents users from attempting to cheat one another by refusing to pay for goods or services rendered, or failing to provide promised goods or services once payment is received. The untrustworthy criminals who engage in this sort of scam are called rippers, and black market forums work hard to expose them as such.

The actual trading occurs off the message board, either via private messages sent through the forum or over anonymous online chat programs like ICQ. Payments are made using online payment systems like PayPal or money wiring services. Transactions may also be made in WMZ's, which are electronic monetary units equivalent to American dollars, issued by a company Moscow called WebMoney Transfer. Large transactions are sometimes split up, and sometimes cybercriminals are paid in merchandise or large numbers of compromised accounts.

E-gold, another electronic currency that claims to be backed by gold bullion, has been one of the most popular payment systems among cybercriminals. In July, E-gold Ltd. and its corporate affiliate, Gold & Silver Reserve Inc., pled guilty to conspiracy to engage in money laundering and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. How this will impact financial transactions within this underground economy remains to be seen.

In addition to facilitating illegal transactions, these black market forums also provide a venue for aspiring identity thieves to learn tricks of the trade. Veteran criminals offer their shared wisdom, advising newcomers on how to make payments and the best time of the month to make purchases with a stolen account.

In 2004, the United States Secret Service arrested 28 key members and ringleaders of a group called Shadowcrew for their involvement in facilitating the cybercriminal black market. "Operation Firewall," as it was called, revealed some of the first details of this underground economy. Since then, the cybercrime economy has expanded and matured, becoming more profitable and more difficult for the authorities to infiltrate. The Symantec Internet Security Threat Report states that "organizations and individuals currently operating within this underground economy appear willing and able to change their business models or adopt new ones in response to changes in the threat landscape."

The extent of this black market economy for personal information is certainly shocking. Luckily, there are many steps that consumers can take to help limit the risk that they will be victimized by identity thieves.

Guarding your own personal information is the first and foremost way to avoid becoming an identity theft victim. There are many precautions you can take to protect yourself.

Although cybercriminals now rely on an arsenal of increasingly sophisticated technology to steal data, some identity thieves are still doing things the old fashioned way. Dumpster diving is still a very real threat, so you should continue shredding sensitive documents and consider opting out of preapproved credit card offers.

Many attempts to gain access to your personal data through the Internet can be thwarted by security software. Firewalls and updated virus and spyware protection will prevent malicious software from forcibly installing itself on your computer. All of the Internet security software providers included in our reviews and comparison chart also offer anti-phishing protection that will alert you when you are visiting a suspected phishing site. Regardless of what type of Internet security software you have, you should always be vigilant and skeptical when downloading files and clicking on unknown links. Phishing sites imitate well-known financial or social networking sites and attempt to lure potential victims into downloading malicious software or revealing their log-in information.

You should also avoid revealing sensitive personal information online, particularly on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. According to Symantec's Internet Security Threat Report, an unnamed two social networking sites, believed by industry executives to be the two biggest, MySpace and Facebook, were together the target of 91% of U.S.-based phishing attacks. For more about how to safeguard your identity while using social networking sites, see our Facebook and MySpace Identity Theft Protection Guides. A lost or stolen laptop or iPhone can also put you at risk for identity theft. Symantec reports that theft or loss of computer or other data-storage medium is the cause of the most data breaches that could lead to identity theft, accounting for 57% of the total during the second half of 2007. For more information, see our guides on how to safeguard your personal information in the event of a missing laptop or iPhone.

Unfortunately, common sense safety measures like creating strong passwords and canceling a lost credit card can only protect you to a certain extent. Symantec's report shows that educational institutions account for the most data breaches that could lead to identity theft and that government is the top sector for total identities exposed. If your credit card or bank account information or your Social Security number is included in a government database, a business's database or the records of an educational institution, you are at risk of having your personal information compromised by a data breach. You cannot prevent this from occurring, but there are services that can help keep you as secure as possible.

TrustedID, Identity Guard, LifeLock and Identity Truth are all identity theft protection services that specifically address the risks of the Internet's black market for stolen personal data. Each of these services utilizes advanced technologies to scour thousands of websites where criminals buy and sell stolen credit card numbers, Social Security numbers and other information. Additionally, each of these services offers proactive protection against various forms of financial identity theft and varying levels of recovery assistance in the case that a subscriber is victimized by identity thieves. While it would be great if these services could prevent all identity theft, the truth is that none of them is totally fool proof. That being said, we believe that these services represent some of the best identity theft protection available. You can learn more by visiting the NextAdvisor.com identity theft protection service reviews and comparison.

What to do BEFORE your iPhone is lost or stolen

Guard against identity theft with an identity theft protection service. To an identity thief, a lost or stolen iPhone is a potential goldmine of information. Losing your iPhone could expose your online bank account, online brokerage account, name, address, telephone number, and email address, passwords, e-mails and other personal data to a criminal. If your iPhone does go missing, an identity theft protection service will help prevent and detect identity theft.

Password protect your iPhone. Setting a a password on your iPhone is very simple and adds an immediate layer of security should it be stolen.

From the home screen of your iPhone:

• Click on the Settings button
• Click on General
• Click on Passcode Lock
• You will be prompted to enter and confirm a four digit passcode for your iPhone

Your iPhone passcode is now set and you will be prompted to enter the four digit number any time you attempt to access your phone. This simple step can greatly decrease the chance that a criminal is able to access your personal information on your iPhone if it is lost or stolen. While having a passcode will potentially prevent unauthorized access to information stored on your iPhone, it is still possible to make outbound calls. So, it is important to alert your wireless carrier immediately after you discover that your iPhone is lost or stolen so you are not potentially liable for calls made by someone else.

Download GadgetTrak from the iTunes App store. GadgetTrak is a free iPhone application that can geo-locate your phone from any web browser. GadgetTrak is available for all versions of the iPhone and iPod Touch. This application is probably more useful for cases where your iPhone is lost rather than stolen because a knowledgeable thief could simply disable the application. Despite this downside, we strongly suggest that iPhone owners download GadgetTrak since it is a free application and could be very helpful if your iPhone is lost or stolen. You can visit the GadgetTrak website for more information.

Write down your iPhone's IMEI Number. Your iPhone's IMEI, or International Mobile Equipment Identity, is a fifteen digit number that can be used by wireless carriers to identify your specific device. It is located on the back of your iPhone near the FCC ID and serial number (you may also want to write down your iPhone's serial number for your records, although this information is not really that useful in helping with recovery). Keep the IMEI number in a safe place so you can easily find it if your iPhone is ever lost or stolen.

Keep your iPhone backed up by frequently synching with iTunes. It is a good idea to always make sure that all of the information on your iPhone is also backed-up on your computer by frequently syncing through iTunes. This will make the process of recovering the data from your lost or stolen iPhone relatively painless. For even more protection you may want to consider using an online backup service to store copies of all of the files on you computer. This way you still be able to restore your files if both your iPhone and computer go missing at the same time.

Treat your iPhone like its cash equivalent. You wouldn't leave two crisp hundred dollar bills lying around so don't be as careless with your $199 iPhone. Treat your phone with the same level of security and care you use when safeguarding your wallet, purse or other important items.

What to do AFTER your iPhone is lost or stolen

Guard against identity theft with an identity theft protection service. If you didn't sign up for a service before your phone went missing, we recommend you do this as soon as possible since identity thieves will usually start working as soon as they get your information. Losing your iPhone could expose your online bank account, online brokerage account, name, address, telephone number, and email address, passwords, e-mails and other personal data to a criminal. If an identity theft does try to use information from your iPhone, an identity theft protection service will be your best defense as well as provide you the services you need to recover from identity theft should the worst happen.

Notify your cellphone carrier. You should contact AT&T, the exclusive cell phone carrier for the iPhone, as soon as you realize that your phone has gone missing. AT&T will be able to deactivate the wireless account associated with your iPhone which will prevent criminals from running up big cell phone bills in your name that you could potentially be held liable for.

File a police report. While some police will not be particularly interested or concerned about helping you recover your iPhone, others are surprisingly helpful. We have read online accounts from a police detective that claims to have recovered four out of five stolen iPhones in cases brought to his attention. This is when it is useful to have the IMEI number available.

Notify your contacts. All of the personal information stored on your lost or stolen iPhone is now potentially accessible by anyone, especially if it is not password protected. It is important for all of the contacts stored in your phone to know that their personal contact information is potentially in the hands strangers. It is not uncommon for criminals to perpetrate crimes against those listed in the phone's contact list by posing as the rightful owner.

Notify your employer. If your iPhone is linked to your company's network or has confidential business information stored within, you need to notify your employer immediately. It is a good idea to let your supervisor or other company official know as soon as you realize your phone is missing. Make sure to change the password on your work email address immediately if it is linked to your iPhone. This will prevent the phone from being able to download additional email messages.

Change all your online passwords. Your iPhone has a powerful web browser with the ability to store any of your online passwords for easy access to web based accounts. Whoever has your lost or stolen iPhone in their possession can now potentially gain access to your online bank and brokerage accounts, email, PayPal, eBay, Amazon and any social networking websites you belong to. Change those passwords now to prevent your online accounts from being compromised.

You may also be interested in our lost or stolen laptop recovery guide.

What to do BEFORE your laptop is lost or stolen

Consider laptop tracking with LoJack for Laptops: LoJack provides tracking software that can locate your laptop via IP address when the thief logs onto the Internet. Their Absolute Theft Recovery Team promises to work with the police to get your laptop back (see site for more details).

Backup your files with an online backup service. The loss of important and valuable files such as financial documents, emails, digital photos and music can be far more frustrating and problematic than the loss of the laptop itself. By storing copies of all your files with an online backup service, you can be sure that if your computer goes missing or your hard drive fails, all those files can be easily recovered. Online backup services are easy to use, totally secure, and can save you a great deal of time, money and aggravation.

Guard against identity theft with an identity theft protection service. To an identity thief, a lost laptop is a goldmine of information. Losing your laptop could expose your online bank account, online brokerage account, name, address, telephone number, and email address, passwords, e-mails and personal accounting data to a criminal. If your laptop does go missing, an identity theft protection service will help prevent and detect identity theft.

Protect sensitive data. Make passwords work for you, not against you. Ideally, you should not store any passwords on your computer. This includes passwords that are stored in your web browser, tool bars or in a plain text format. Many Firefox users are not aware that under a default setting, Firefox stores all your passwords in plain text, alongside usernames and web addresses. To access and erase your stored passwords, go to your menu bar and select Tools, and then Options, and then click the Security tab. From the Security tab, you can go to Saved Passwords and then select Remove All.  If you must store passwords on your computer, you should at least be sure to use a strong primary log-in password to prevent unauthorized access to your laptop. Memorize it, and don't save it or write it down anywhere on or around your computer. Firefox also offers users the option of creating a master password, which must be entered once per session and protects other saved passwords. You can do this by going to the Security tab in the Options menu. There are several websites, such as GoodPassword.com, that will help you create very secure passwords. You can also encrypt sensitive data and disable instant message logging.

Use a laptop tracking and recovery service. There are a variety of products and services that are designed to either prevent laptop theft and loss or locate a missing laptop. If you are concerned about laptop theft at your office or in a hotel room, you can purchase a lock that is similar to a bicycle lock, which will deter thieves. There are also various alarms that will either alert you if someone attempts to move your laptop, or if you and your laptop are separated by more than a set distance. There are many different recovery services that use GPS to track a lost or stolen laptop when it connects to the internet. Some tracking software can be removed by reformatting the hard drive, but others are embedded into the computer itself and are more difficult for thieves to deactivate. Adeona offers high quality laptop tracking software that can be downloaded for free at their website.

Insure your laptop against loss or theft. Some computer manufacturers and distributers offer warranties that cover loss or theft. You can also purchase laptop insurance through a third party, or as part of your homeowners or renters insurance.

Label your laptop with your name and contact information. It is a good idea to label your laptop with your name and phone number in case it is lost and someone finds it and attempts to return it to you.

Be sure that you have the serial number for your computer recorded somewhere in your home. Reporting a missing laptop will be easier and more likely to be effective if you have the make, model and serial number on hand.

Be aware of the risk of laptop theft. One of the best ways to prevent laptop theft is to be conscious of the fact that laptops are extremely tempting and relatively easy targets for thieves. Do not leave your laptop unattended in public. At airport security checkpoints, pay attention to your laptop as it goes through the x-ray machine. Put a brightly colored sticker or other identifying mark on your laptop so that you can recognize it easily.

What to do AFTER your laptop is lost or stolen

Subscribe to an identity theft protection service. If you haven't already, you should definitely subscribe to an identity theft protection service as soon as possible after a laptop loss. Once your personal information has been compromised, there is no way of getting it back. But an identity theft protection service such as LifeLock or Identity Guard can help prevent criminals from using that information to open accounts in your name.

File a police report. While some police will not be particularly interested or concerned about helping you recover your laptop, others are surprisingly helpful. This is when it is useful to have the make, model and serial number available.

File a complaint with the FTC. If your laptop is stolen, this will serve as a record of the crime. It helps the FTC to analyze and detect patterns of wrong-doing, and may be helpful in the event of an investigation into the theft of your laptop or any identity theft that occurs as a result of your lost laptop.

Change all of your online passwords. Whoever has your computer can now gain access to your online bank and brokerage accounts, email, PayPal, eBay, Amazon and any social networking websites you belong to. Change those passwords now to prevent your online accounts from being compromised.

If your laptop contained information relating to any financial accounts, notify the financial institution immediately. If you use Quicken or other personal finance software, it is likely that your computer contains a map to all of your financial accounts. You should notify the fraud departments of each of the accounts you believe may have been impacted. Representatives from each of these companies will be able to provide you with information on what to do next, which may include changing the personal information on accounts or even closing them entirely.

Notify your employer. If your computer contained confidential corporate information pertaining to your job, you should notify your employer so that your company's IT staff can take precautionary measures to protect other peoples' personal data. In some cases, failure to do so could mean that you are breaking the law.

Keep an eye on Craigslist and eBay. It's a long shot, but if you are really desperate to get your computer back, you could try monitoring Craigslist and eBay. You could also check local resale stores and computer repair shops. There's always a chance that it might turn up.

We have reviewed the major features of LifeLock's service and compared them with the steps you could take to accomplish the same thing. We have also provided our own opinion as to which approach is more consumer friendly and effective.

Setting Fraud Alerts

Fraud alerts are annotations made on your credit file that let potential lenders know that your identity may have been compromised. When a lender sees a fraud alert on your credit file he or she must take reasonable measures to confirm your identity prior to extending you an offer of credit. This process makes it difficult for identity thieves to open new accounts with credit card companies, cell phone carriers or any other service provider that reviews your credit report. However, fraud alerts only help prevent new account identity theft. They will not prevent identity thieves from accessing existing credit card, banking or other accounts.

Fraud alerts stay active on your credit file for ninety days and must be renewed in order to be effective. You technically only need to set a fraud alert with one credit bureau every ninety days as each credit bureau is required to notify the other two when a fraud alert is set. However, it is a good practice to set fraud alerts with all three credit bureaus directly if you believe you are at risk for identity theft. This prevents any type of technical glitch or administrative error that could prevent notification of your fraud alert from being transmitted from one credit bureau to another. You can learn more about fraud alerts by visiting our Guide to Fraud Alerts and Credit Freezes.

The LifeLock Way

LifeLock sets fraud alerts on behalf of each of its subscribers when they sign up for the LifeLock identity theft protection service. Additionally, they renew those fraud alerts every ninety days on behalf of their customers to ensure that the fraud alerts do not lapse.

The Do-It-Yourself Way

Each of the three credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, has a separate processes for setting fraud alerts. In order to be effective, you will need to set fraud alerts every ninety days and we recommend setting fraud alerts with each of the three credit bureaus.

Equifax: 1-877-576-5734; www.equifax.com

Experian: 1-888-397-3742; www.experian.com/fraud

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; www.transunion.com

NextAdvisor.com Opinion

We give the edge to LifeLock. It is true that setting up fraud alerts can be a very simple process for the do-it-yourselfer. That being said, we feel that LifeLock's ongoing maintenance of fraud alerts ensures that subscribers never have to worry about the alerts lapsing.

Opting Out of Pre-Approved Credit Offers

One of the most common ways that identity thieves perpetuate identity theft is by stealing your mail. The mail that you receive every day is full of personal information and can easily enable an identity thief to either open new accounts in your name or to access existing accounts without you knowing. This typically happens in one of three ways.

First, identity thieves may file a change of address form with the United States Postal Service and have your mail re-routed to another address. This allows them full access to any information that you receive in the mail. The USPS has actively cracked down on this by requiring additional verification from the requester to have mail forwarded. As such, this type of mail theft is decreasing in popularity.

Second, identity thieves may go "dumpster diving". This is the practice of literally going through your garbage to retrieve sensitive documents and mail that you have thrown away without properly destroying it.

Finally, identity thieves may simply steal your mail right from the mailbox by grabbing it before you do. There have also been reports of postal employees or their associates that have "gone bad" and lifted sensitive mail prior to it even reaching the intended recipient.

In each of these cases, some of the most potent identity theft fuel that criminals can get their hands on when stealing your mail is pre-approved offers of credit or other financial offers that are sent to you by banks, mortgage companies, insurance companies or other institutions. These pre-approved offers can be used to perpetrate new account identity theft in which the identity thief opens new financial accounts in your name and runs up charges on them that you may be liable for paying.

The financial companies that make these offers of credit to consumers determine your creditworthiness by using information on your credit report without your authorization (this is called a "soft inquiry" or "soft pull"). While such inquiries are totally legal and do not impact your credit in any way, it is possible to opt out from any future preapproved or prescreened offers of credit.

The major credit bureaus, including Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, jointly created the website OptOutPrescreen.com to enable consumers to do just that. The site allows you to opt-out from receiving prescreened offers of credit for five years or permanently. You can also opt back in if at some time in the future your situation changes and you would like to begin receiving firm offers of credit again.

The LifeLock Way

When you sign up for the LifeLock service it automatically opts you out of receiving pre-approved credit offers and will even help you reduce other marketing offers and junk mail you receive. Additionally, LifeLock will resubmit your opt-out and junk mail requests as they lapse.

LifeLock also recently released an innovative feature called TrueAddress which monitors change of address forms submitted to the United States Postal service in the name of any LifeLock customer. This helps prevent identity thieves from stealing your mail by rerouting your postal mail.

The Do-It-Yourself Way

Here is how to process a five year opt-out of receiving any preapproved or prescreened offers of credit through OptOutPrescreen.com:

1. Visit OptOutPrescreen.com

2. Select the 5 year opt-out from the list of options on the screen and click on the submit button.

3. Enter the required information on the following screen. OptOutPrescreen.com will attempt to opt you out even if you don't provide your social security number or date of birth, however it is possible that your opt-out request could fail without this information. Since the OptOutPrescreen.com website uses significant security measures, you shouldn't worry about submitting this information directly. Keep in mind that your social security number and date of birth are NOT REQUIRED to process an opt-out from firm offers of credit.

4. Click on the "confirm" button to submit your information to OptOutPrescreen.com and initiate your opt-out request.

Once your request is submitted your opt-out will be processed within 5 business days. You may still continue to receive prescreened offers over the next several weeks following your opt-out, but potential creditors will no longer be able to prescreen your credit for firm offers of credit.

It is also possible to process an opt-out request by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688).

NextAdvisor.com Opinion

OptOutPrescreen.com makes the process of opting out of prescreen offers very simple. However, the addition of TrueAddress service makes LifeLock's protection from criminals targeting postal mail superior to anything consumers could easily do on their own.

Ordering Your Free Annual Credit Report

Under the terms of the Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) every American adult is entitled to one free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus each year. These reports can be ordered all at once from each of the three credit bureaus or they can be ordered at different times. Either way, you may request one free credit report from each credit bureau every twelve months.

The LifeLock Way

LifeLock orders your free annual credit report for you each year. You never need to request your free annual credit report from any of the three credit bureaus as long as you are a LifeLock customer.

The Do-It-Yourself Way

The three credit bureaus created AnnualCreditReport.com to simplify the process of requesting the FCRA mandated credit reports to consumers. Credit reports can be requested online or by phone. If you request a credit report online you will receive it immediately, but those requested by phone will take up to 15 days to be processed. Learn more by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.

NextAdvisor.com Opinion

It is a dead heat between LifeLock and the do-it-yourselfer when it comes to ordering annual free credit reports.

Replacing Stolen Personal Documents

If your wallet, purse, briefcase or backpack is stolen chances are the thief got away with some or all of your important documents. This may include identification such as a driver's license or passport, credit cards, Social Security card, insurance card, checkbooks or travelers checks.

Identity thieves can use this type of information to perpetrate any number of crimes against you. For example, they may siphon money from your bank accounts, run up charges on your credit cards, gain access to your Social Security administration account or even hijack your medical benefits.

The LifeLock Way

LifeLock offers the unique WalletLock service. If your wallet, purse or any individual personal documents are lost or stolen, you simply call LifeLock and let them know. From there, a WalletLock specialist will contact all the appropriate financial, state and federal institutions to ensure that your accounts are cancelled and documents replaced.

There are a few caveats. LifeLock obviously can't replace personal items such as pictures, and any cash that is stolen or lost will not be covered. However, this service, which is free to all LifeLock customers, will undoubtedly save you time, money and frustration if you do experience loss or theft of your personal documents.

The Do-It-Yourself Way

The process of replacing all of your personal documents will greatly vary based on the type and number of items that are stolen from you. However, it is likely that you may have to do some or all of the following:

• Credit cards will need to be cancelled and reissued. If you have multiple credit cards from multiple issuers this means a number of calls.
• Bank account numbers will need to be changed and checks will have to be cancelled and reissued.
• Driver's license or identity card will need to be reissued by your state's Department of Motor Vehicles.
• Social Security card will need to be reissued by your local security administration office.
• Passport will need to be cancelled and reissued at your local post office or embassy (if you are traveling abroad.
• Insurance cards will need to be reissued.

This likely means many, many phone calls and in-person errands to successfully replace all of your missing documents and to insure that the stolen items can't be used to perpetrate any number of identity theft crimes against you.

NextAdvisor.com Opinion

There is no contest between LifeLock and the do-it-yourselfer when it comes to replacing lost or stolen personal documents. The ease of LifeLock's WalletLock service is a huge time saver for subscribers and is far more efficient than trying to replace personal documents without LifeLock's assistance.

Recovering From Identity Theft

At this point, every American is at legitimate risk of having their identity stolen. Hundreds of thousands of people are victimized by identity theft each year in the United States and that trend shows no signs of slowing. It is important for consumers to understand their recovery options since there is no 100% foolproof way to prevent identity theft.

The LifeLock Way

In the unfortunate case that a LifeLock subscriber is victimized by identity thieves, he or she must notify the company within 30 days of first learning of the crime. Once LifeLock has been notified, a customer support representative will be assigned to the case and will work to verify the claim.

Once a claim has been verified, LifeLock will assign a third party recovery specialist to engage with the consumer, evaluate the identity theft incident and take all the necessary steps to fix the problem. Each identity theft crime is different so the steps taken to recover the subscriber's identity will vary from incident to incident. The recovery specialist is both an educational resource that can inform victims of their rights and the course(s) of action that may be taken to remedy the situation and a proactive advocate that will work on the victim's behalf to obtain information, complete applicable forms and generally guide the subscriber through the recovery process.

While much of the heavy lifting can be completed by the recovery specialist, there are some key actions required by the LifeLock subscriber while the company is working to recover his or her identity. First, the subscriber must file a police report in person with his or her local authorities. This is not only required by LifeLock, but many identity theft experts, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), suggest that this is the first step that any identity theft victim should take.
Some examples of steps that LifeLock may take to assist a victimized subscriber may include:

• Contracting an expert to help re-establish the individual's credit score back to where it was prior to the incident as necessary
• Canceling and replacing all identity cards, driver's license, passport, credit cards or other important documents as necessary
• Spending up to $1 million dollars to restore the identity of the victimized subscriber (excluding restitution and lost wages)

According to LifeLock, most identity recovery cases are resolved within 30 days of notification by a victimized subscriber.

The Do-It-Yourself Way

Where do we begin? The actual steps to recover a stolen identity will vary, but it likely means hours spent on the phone with attorneys or private investigators, researching solutions and completing required forms and reports. The average identity theft victim spent $1,884 and 231 hours to recover his or her identity, according to a recent study by the Identity Theft Resource Center.

NextAdvisor.com Opinion

We believe that LifeLock's recovery assistance and million dollar service guarantee are one of its biggest selling points. There is no question that recovery from identity theft with LifeLock is much better than the DIY option.

After reviewing LifeLock's service features and the options available to the do-it-yourselfer, we are confident that most people are simply better off with LifeLock protecting their identities than without it. We encourage our readers to learn more about LifeLock and identity theft protection services in general by visiting our guide to identity theft protection services.

In this guide we are going to walk through a sample version of Equifax's online credit report with FICO score. If you don't already have your Equifax credit report you can get instant online access to an Equifax or three bureau credit report and FICO score at Equifax.com. This service will provide you with a free Equifax credit report, a free FICO credit score and a free trial of a credit monitoring service that will help you keep an eye on any changes to your credit file. Since Equifax offers a 30 day free trial, you can sign up without any risk.

You are also entitled to one free credit report per year from annualcreditreport.com. Keep in mind that credit reports ordered through annualcreditreport.com do not include a FICO score, which is a good indicator of your overall credit health. If you choose to order your Equifax credit report through annualcreditreport.com or purchase a credit report without a FICO score, however, this guide will still be applicable, after the first section.

We will explain how to read each section of the report and how to spot potential errors that may be lowering your credit score and costing you money or impacting your financial life in other ways. Like most of the other credit report and monitoring services, Equifax offers consumers the option to purchase what is known as a "3-in-1" or "three bureau" credit report which includes information from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Keep in mind that if you purchase a three bureau credit report from Equifax, which we strongly suggest since it will give you insight into how lenders view you across all three bureaus, the information from the Experian and TransUnion sections of the report will have been provided by the respective bureaus.

So, even though you will be able to view the information side by side, any disputes on non-Equifax information will need to be taken up directly with the appropriate credit bureau. The first installment of our "How to read, analyze and dispute credit reports" series explains how to review information from Experian, and a future installment will explain how to review information from TransUnion.

With that said, let's dive right into your Equifax credit report.

Section #1: Credit Score

This section tells you your FICO credit score, explains what factors are affecting your score, what your score means, and how you can improve it.

The score summary section gives you your FICO score, which is a number between 300 and 850, and tells you whether your score falls in comparison to other consumers. It also breaks down the major factors affecting your score.

The section titled "Understanding Your Score" breaks down the reasoning behind your FICO score in more depth, and lists the specific factors that are both hurting and helping your score. This section also offers suggestions on how to mitigate any of the detrimental factors.

The next section explains what your FICO score means to lenders, and how it will impact their perception of your loan risk.

The FICO Simulator is a useful tool that predicts how your score might change over time. The first three tabs let you play with different scenarios to see what actions could raise or lower your score, and the fourth tab advises you on the best strategy for improving your score.

Section #2: Credit Summary

The purpose of this section is to provide a quick snapshot of your current and prior credit history by showing the total number of open and closed credit accounts in your name, your outstanding balances for different types of credit accounts in your name and your history of delinquent accounts.

This section lists a variety of information all of your credit accounts. The types of accounts in this section include:

• Mortgage – this section includes accounts related to real estate that you have purchased.
• Installment – this section includes fixed amount credit accounts such as auto loans. Installment accounts are typically for a fixed amount and are paid off over time.
• Revolving – this section includes revolving credit accounts such as credit cards. They are called revolving accounts because although they may have an upper limit on what can be borrowed at any given time you can use as much credit as you have available.
• Other – this section includes additional accounts that don't fit into any of the other category types.

For each type of credit account listed above this section will list the following information:

• Total Number – the total number of credit accounts by type that have been reported to Equifax throughout your recorded credit history. This number will include both open and closed accounts. For example, if the count for your installment accounts is ‘2? then it would mean that Equifax has data about two different installment accounts in your name, even if some of those accounts have been closed by you or the creditor.
• Balance – the outstanding balance of all accounts of a particular type. This is what you owe to all the creditors of this particular credit account type according to information reported to Equifax and will be listed as an actual dollar amount.
• Available – the unutilized credit remaining on each account.
• Credit Limit – the maximum amount of allowed credit for each account.
• Debt to Credit Ratio – the percentage of your available credit that you are currently using.
• Monthly Payment Amount – the amount that you pay each month.
• Accounts with a Balance – the number of accounts of each type that carry an outstanding balance.

Here are some important things to look for in this section:

• Make sure that the number of accounts of a specific type, total accounts or total balances don't seem higher than they should be.

If you see any inaccuracies in any area of the credit summary section you should move immediately to the account history of your credit report which will have more detailed information on an account by account basis. This will help you further investigate whether or not your credit report contains errors.

Section #3: Accounts

The purpose of this section is to provide detailed information on all credit accounts that you have ever opened that have been reported to Equifax.

For each account listed in this section, there will be specific information about the type of account, the current status, dates and payment amounts, and any negative information associated with

This section also includes an 81 month payment history of each account listed that gives potential creditors insight into how you have kept up on your existing accounts. This information is represented graphically to show your account performance in each month.

The information that is reported in account payment history includes:

• * – This account is paid on time and in full.
• 30/60/90/120/150/180 – The number of days the account has been past due.
• CA – This account is outstanding and has been sent to a third party for collection.
• CO – This account is outstanding and the creditor is no longer attempting to collect payment.
• F – Property related to this account has been foreclosed.
• VS – Property related to this account has been voluntarily surrendered.
• R – Property related to this account has been repossessed.
• NR – No data is available for a particular month. This is usually because either the account was not open or the creditor has not reported information to Equifax in a given month.

Here are some important things to look for in this section:

• Make sure that the information in this section is accurate. Pay especially close attention to any information related to delinquency, collections or past due accounts either in the account details area or in the 81 month payment history, as all of these things negatively impact your credit report and credit score.
• Make sure all of your accounts in good standing are represented. Not all creditors report account data to all credit bureaus, so Equifax may not have access to information on all of your positive account information (of course, this means that they may not have access to negative account information as well). If you don't see an account that you believe to be in good standing listed in your Equifax credit report then contact your creditor and ask them if they report your account information to Equifax.
• Make sure you recognize all of the creditors and accounts listed in this section. Any unrecognized accounts could mean that your financial information may have been compromised and that identity thieves may have opened accounts in your name.

Keep in mind that different creditors report information to Equifax in different cycles so some information, such as the balance listed on your account, may not be totally up-to-date. This is fine as long as you have verified that it is an account that you recognize and that the information listed was accurate at some point in the recent past. If you don't see this type of information update over time it is a good idea to contact your creditor to see if there are any problems with your account or ask how frequently they report your account information to Equifax.

Section #4: Inquiries

The purpose of this section is to show what companies have requested your credit report from Equifax. This includes inquiries that may impact your credit rating, and inquiries that do not. Equifax treats these two types of inquiries very differently.

Inquiries that may impact your credit rating (hard inquiries):

• Are generated as a result of action taken by you such as completing a credit, insurance, mortgage or other loan application or due to the transfer of an account by the creditor to collections.
• Remain on your Equifax credit report for up to two years.
• Are viewable by creditors when they review your credit report.

Inquiries that do not impact your credit rating (soft inquiries):

• Are generated when a company pulls your credit report to evaluate you for an offer of credit that you have not requested. Pre-approved offers from credit card companies that you receive in the mail are typically generated as a result of a soft inquiry by the creditor who sent the offer to you, for example.
• Have no impact on your credit report or credit score.
• Are not viewable by anyone other than you.

For each inquiry, whether it is a hard or soft inquiry, the following information will be listed:

• The name of the company that requested the inquiry.
• The type of business that company operates. For example, if you filled out a credit card application with your bank the resulting inquiry would be listed as ‘Banks & S&Ls'.
• The date the inquiry was requested.

Here are some important things to look for in this section:

• Make sure that all of the hard inquiries are accurate. If you don't recognize the name of a company listed in this section then research it to find out whether or not you had actually initiated a credit inquiry with them. Keep in mind that some organizations have consumer brand names that are different than their actual corporate names, so you may not recognize the name listed in the report even if it is a valid inquiry. Searching for the company name in an Internet search engine such as Google or Yahoo is a good way to find out who they are.
• Make sure to take note of the total number of hard inquiries and their dates. Since hard inquires stay on your credit report for up to two years and have some negative impact on your credit report and credit score it is good to be aware of the number and age of hard inquiries that have been reported to Equifax.

If you find hard inquiries that don't appear to be accurate it is best to contact the company that made the inquiry first. The creditor will be able to research the purpose of the inquiry and assist you with getting it removed from your credit report if it was mistakenly reported to Equifax.

While soft inquiries won't impact your credit report or credit score in any way, as they are only viewable by you, there are ways to eliminate or at least limit the number of soft inquiries you receive. The fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) allows consumers to opt-out of receiving pre-screened offers of credit by calling 888-567-8688 or by visiting optoutprescreen.com.

Section #5: Negative Information

The purpose of this section is to document any information that could hurt your credit score. This includes negative accounts, accounts that have been turned over to a collection agency, and public record information. Public record information includes federal district bankruptcy records, state and county court records, tax liens and monetary judgments that have been levied against you. In some states overdue child support is also reported in this section. Public record items typically will stay on your credit report for 7 to 10 years.

The negative accounts section will list any ‘past due' accounts that have been reported to Equifax in your name. These include both open and closed accounts. Creditors will typically report a delinquent account to Equifax if it has gone unpaid for at least 90 days, although it can technically be reported sooner.

The collections section will list any accounts that have been turned over to a collection agency by one of your creditors because they believe the account has not been paid as agreed.

The public records section will list information about any bankruptcies, judgments and tax liens.

Here are some important things to look for in this section:

• Make sure that the number and dollar amount of delinquent accounts for each type of credit looks accurate. This is an important area to focus on because errors by creditors or accounts fraudulently opened in your name by identity thieves are likely to become delinquent accounts before they are sent to collections. By catching delinquent accounts early you can prevent them from being sent to collections, which can have a significant negative impact and, often, a higher cost to you.
• Make sure that the number of collections accounts looks accurate. Once an account has been sent to collections it will begin to have a significant negative impact on your credit score. Whether you simply have not been able to pay your bills, the creditor has made a reporting error or you have fallen victim to identity thieves, the collections section should be carefully scanned for accuracy.
• Make sure that any public record items are accurate.

Section #5: Personal Information

The purpose of this section of your credit report is to document your personal information such as name(s), age, address and work history.

The specific information listed in this section includes:

• Full legal name
• Any alternative names you may currently or have previously used to obtain credit
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Current and previous addresses
• Current and previous employers
• Any alerts that have been placed on your credit file

Here are some important things to look for in this section:

• Make sure that your name is correctly displayed and that any alternative names or alias are accurate. If there are alternative names listed that you have never used then it could be a sign that Equifax has confused your credit file with that of another consumer with the same or a similar name.
• Make sure your year of birth is accurate. Again, an error in this section of your credit report could mean that you are being confused with another consumer.
• Make sure that there are no addresses where you have never lived or employers that you have never worked for listed in the respective sections. Keep in mind that it may take some time for these sections to update when you move to a new residence or take a new job. For this reason, it is fine if the information is outdated as long as it is still accurate. For example, it is not a problem if you have recently changed jobs and your credit report still lists a former employer as your current employer. However, if your credit report were to show that you currently or previously worked for an employer by whom you were never employed, then you may have a problem.

Section #6: Dispute File Information

If you find information that you believe is inaccurate on your credit report it is important to act quickly as these errors could not only be costing you money, but could also be early warning signs of possible identity theft. Luckily, Equifax makes it fairly simple to dispute any credit report item that you believe to be inaccurate.

From this section of your credit report, you can simply click the link that says, "Click here to begin an online investigation of information found in your file." This will take you to an online dispute resolution form. Be ready with the confirmation number located at the top of your credit file. When submitting your dispute, provide an explanation as to why you believe that the particular item is inaccurate. You should be as descriptive as possible. Just saying "This is wrong" or something similar will not be sufficient. You should provide specific reasons as to why you believe the information on your Experian credit report is erroneous as well as any supporting evidence that you may have. Equifax will review your request and notify you within 30-45 days of their decision on the dispute. If the dispute is resolved in your favor, Equifax will remove or correct information that is inaccurate or cannot be verified during their investigation.

If you would like to receive the results of your dispute through mail as opposed to email, you should submit your dispute by mail or by phone.

In addition to disputing inaccurate information with Equifax, we strongly suggest that you contact the company that reported the account information to them in the first place. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) both the credit bureau and the company that reported the information are responsible for the accuracy of account information on your credit report. If you believe that one of your creditors has reported inaccurate information then you should contact them directly. Each company has a different dispute resolution process but it is a good idea to contact their customer service department as a first step, as they will likely be able to provide you with the appropriate steps to take.

Conclusion

Your credit report is like your resume for potential lenders. It gives insight into the positive and negative elements of your credit history based off of information reported by your previous creditors. It is important to not only limit the number of negative items on your report by practicing healthy credit usage habits, but to make sure you have insight into any potential erroneous or inaccurate information as those errors may be costing your thousands of dollars or more.

We invite you to check out our online credit report monitoring service comparison guide where you can learn more about credit reports and monitoring from a variety of service providers.

We hope this guide has been a helpful tool in enabling you to better understand the information on your Equifax credit report and, just as importantly, get a better idea as to how potential lenders may view you. Stay tuned for our next installment where we will cover the specifics of reviewing your TransUnion credit report.

In the meantime, let us know if you have any feedback on this guide or if there are any additional questions you may have about your Equifax credit report by leaving us a note in the comments.

Tip #1: Decide how public you want your MySpace profile to be, and select your privacy settings accordingly.

MySpace does offer some privacy settings, although they are not nearly as comprehensive as the privacy settings on Facebook. You can access these settings by clicking on the "My Account" link near the upper right hand corner of any page on the MySpace website. From the "My Account" page, click the "Privacy" link. This will take you to the "General Privacy" page, where there are six options for restricting your visibility.

Online Now: Whether you choose to show people when you are online is up to you, but bear in mind that the more "time and place" data that you expose, the easier it will be for people to determine what your daily routine is like. That knowledge could be used to victimize you. (See Tip #3.)

Birthday: This is an important piece of personal information that can potentially be used by identity thieves. It is safest not to make it visible, particularly if you accept friend requests from strangers.

Profile Viewable By: Who you allow to view your profile is a very important decision, as it should determine how much information you decide to publish. If you choose to make your profile visible to everyone, or everyone 18 and over, you should treat it like a personal website and keep personal information to an absolute minimum. If you choose to make your profile only viewable by your friends, and only accept friend requests from people you know, then you can basically follow the six Facebook security tips.
Photos: It is almost never a good idea to encourage the circulation of personal pictures on the Internet. We suggest that you uncheck this option.

Block Users By Age: This is at your discretion, although you should seriously consider preventing users under 18 from contacting you if you are a teacher or work in some other profession where you are a figure of authority for minors. Also, bear in mind that many users' MySpace profiles do not reflect their actual age.

Block Users: While this may be a useful feature for you, it will not really help protect you from identity thieves, since you can't possibly know who they are ahead of time.

Tip #2: Limit the amount of personal information available on your MySpace profile.

If you do choose to make your MySpace profile visible only to your friends, and only accept friend requests from people you know, then the six Facebook security tips apply here as well. Many MySpace users, however, either make their profile visible to everyone, or accept friend requests from strangers, or both. If your profile is visible to strangers, you should be especially careful when publishing any information about yourself.

Exposing your full name, date of birth, phone number, email address, or home address to the general public is extremely foolish. Revealing personal information about your spouse or significant other can put you both at risk of having your identities stolen.

Identity thieves can use your phone number and home address to submit a change of address form with the United States Postal Service and have your mail forwarded, allowing the thief to gain access to financial or other sensitive information that would allow them to open a credit card or other accounts in your name. They might also use contextual information in your profile to deduce what your user names and passwords could be for various accounts, and hack into these online accounts with this information.

Our recommendation is to limit the amount of information available on your MySpace profile. Specifically:

• Do not list your full date of birth, phone number, or home address on your MySpace profile.
• Limit the amount of contextual password clues on your profile pages. Identity thieves know that many people use personal information, such as birthdays, a spouse or significant other's birthday or name, anniversary dates, mother's maiden name or pet's name as password on their personal account. It is also a good idea to refrain from using personal information in your online passwords, as this makes your personal accounts much more vulnerable to being hacked.

Tip #3: Limit the amount of "time and place" data that you expose through MySpace.

MySpace users often publish information about their schedule and whereabouts on their profile, or in MySpace's forums. Information about the exact location of your home, school, or office, as well as information about your immediate or upcoming plans can help criminals victimize you in a number of ways. Personal photographs can be even more revealing, since any number of seemingly insignificant details could be used to uncover information about your whereabouts or daily routine.

By revealing when you will be away from your home, even indirectly or unintentionally, you put yourself at risk. Criminals can use this information to determine when your home may be most susceptible to a burglary, which could open you up to any number of forms of identity theft or worse.

Tip #4: Remember that even people you know can be identity thieves.

Even if you do make your MySpace profile visible to only your friends, and only accept friendship requests from people you know, you should still be very cautious when revealing personal information online. Several recent studies show that a significant number of identity theft victims know the person that victimized them.

According to Javelin Research, 17% of identity theft crimes are perpetrated by people that the victim knows, such as friends or family members. The credit bureau Experian found that 55% of identity thefts perpetrated against children were committed by someone the victim knew.

Even if you believe that all your MySpace friends are people you know and trust, we strongly recommend that you still follow all of these security tips to avoid falling victim to MySpace identity theft.

Tip #5: Read and follow the safety tips provided by MySpace.

MySpace recently added an extensive section to the website dealing with safety. You can access this section by clicking on the "Safety Tips" link at the bottom of any page on the MySpace website. These safety recommendations are mainly directed at teenagers and their parents, but there is other information that should be helpful and valuable to any user.

Tip #6: Consider an identity theft protection service.

Identity theft, whether online or in the real world, is a real and growing threat. We recommend that all consumers consider using a proactive identity theft protection service to protect their identities. Two such services that we have reviewed and recommend are Identity Guard and LifeLock.

Each identity theft protection service is different, but most will:

• Set fraud alerts with the 3 major credit bureaus so that new accounts cannot be opened in your name without your knowledge.
• Provide you with identity theft insurance that will reimburse you on costs and expenses you incur as a result of being victimized.
• Provide you with copies of your credit report.

You can learn more about the various benefits of identity theft protection services and learn more about the specific services we have reviewed by visiting our identity theft protection service guide and comparison.

While social networks like MySpace can be fun and productive services, it is important for users to be aware of the risks that they pose. We believe that taking proactive steps to protect your identity on MySpace will only improve the amount of enjoyment you can get out of the service.

Since not everyone may be as familiar with the process of setting up online backups with Mozy, we have put together a simple thirteen step walkthrough of the process. You can use this guide as reference while your are configuring your Mozy account or simply review it beforehand to get comfortable with the process of setting up your Mozy account.

Make sure you click here to sign up for a Mozy account before you get started.

Step 1: Registration

Registering for Mozy is as simple as providing your name, email address, a password of six or more characters and the type of account you want to create. It is a good idea to write down your password since you will need it later on to access your Mozy account. Your Mozy username will be the email address you enter on this screen. Consumers should choose MozyHome Unlimited while businesses should select MozyPro, which is for office use. For the purposes of this guide we will select the consumer MozyHome Unlimited option.

Step 2: Computers and Billing

At this point must choose the number of computers you would like to be able to backup and the frequency you would like to be billed. Each computer you plan on backing up with the Mozy service will cost you $4.95 per month but you can prepay to receive a slight discount. Mozy offers three separate billing options. You can either pre-pay for one or two years of service, which include one and three months of free online backup service respectively, or select monthly billing which will charge your credit card $4.95 per month. We recommend selecting one of the prepaid billing plans because there is a slight cost savings and it eliminates the need to worry about the monthly charges. For the purpose of this guide we will be selecting a monthly billing option on one computer. If you have a promotional code you can also enter it on this screen for additional savings. It is not required to move forward, so if you don't have a Mozy promotional code, don't worry.

Step 3: Purchasing Mozy

It is time to pay for your newly created MozyHome Unlimited online backup account. Before your process your credit card payment you should confirm that the number of computers, billing options and charges match up with what you selected in the previous step. Mozy accepts all major credit and debit cards, so it is a quick and easy process to pay for your new online backup service.

Step 4: Mac or PC Mozy Download

In this step you will select the type of computer you are going to be backing up with the Mozy online backup service. Mozy works with both Mac OSX and Windows based PCs. Select the appropriate type of software based off of your needs and the download will begin. For the purpose of this guide we will be downloading the Mozy software to a Windows PC. This step also allows you to enter the referral code of anyone who may have referred you to the Mozy service. If you don't have a referral code (and you won't if you came from NextAdvisor.com) don't worry. You can skip that portion of this step.

Step 5: Getting Started with Mozy on Your PC

Now that you have downloaded the Mozy software for your computer you can begin configuring the automated backups. Once you begin the process of configuring your Mozy online backups by clicking 'Next' on the first screen, you will be asked to read and accept the Mozy license agreement. Like most license agreements this spells out the basic terms and conditions you must agree to follow as a Mozy subscriber. It is pretty straightforward in nature but we encourage you to at least scan the agreement to make sure you understand the terms.

Step 6: Select Mozy Download Destination Directory

Now it is time to download the Mozy software on your PC. The first step is to decide where you would like to have the Mozy software stored on your computer. By default the Mozy online backup software will be saved in the program files of your computer's hard drive. Advanced users may want to save the Mozy files somewhere else, but most users can simply click 'Next' to continue the configuration process. Clicking on the 'Next' button will initiate the download of the Mozy software on your computer.

Step 7: Complete Mozy Software installation and Begin Configuring Online Backups

Once the Mozy software installation you will be presented with a screen that allows you to begin configuring your automated hard drive backups using the Mozy online backup service. Check the box marked "Launch MozyHome Configuration Wizard" and click 'Finish' to complete installation and move on to the configuration process.

Step 8: Login to Configure Automated Online Backups

Enter your username and password to login to your MozyHome Unlimited account. Your username is your email address and your password is the one you created in step one. Click the 'Next' button to move on to the next step.

Step 9: Establish Your Encryption Settings

User managed encryption is an advanced feature of Mozy. Advanced users may want to utilize a personal encryption key but most users should simply opt to utilize Mozy's default 448-bit key. Don't know the difference between an encryption key and a house key? Don't worry. We recommend using Mozy's default encryption settings so simply click the 'Next' button to move on to the next step.

Step 10: Select Which Files to Backup

Now it is time to choose which files you would like to securely backup online using your new MozyHome Unlimited account. Simply select or deselect the files that you do or do not want to include with your automated backups. Since Mozy offers unlimited storage for just $4.95 per month we suggest that you backup all of your files for the optimal level of protection. If you choose to backup only some files we recommend items such as important financial records and documents, digital pictures and music files, all of which may not be easily replaced. Again, there is no limit on how much data you can store with your new Mozy account so we think most consumers should simply choose to backup all their files.

Step 11: Test Your Upload Speed

Your Internet connections upload speed determines how quickly information can be processed from your computer to Mozy's servers where it will be securely stored. The faster your upload speed, the faster your files can be backed-up. Mozy's bandwidth test will determine your upload speed and the amount of data that can be transferred during a 24 hour period. This is really only important for your very first backup which will require uploading all the files you selected in the previous step. All future backups will only need to transfer the files that have been added or changed since the last backup which typically only takes minutes to complete.

Step 12: Selecting Backup Speed

Now it is time to determine how quickly Mozy will process your automated file backups. Mozy allows you to select how fast you would like these backup to run by sliding an arrow to along a spectrum. There is a direct relationship between how fast the backups run and their impact on the speed of your computer. The faster the online backup process runs the slower your computer will run. Mozy recommends selecting about 3/4 speed since they say that at this level your backups will run quickly but the impact on your computer will be minimal. Ultimately, it depends on your habits. If you will be processing backups in the background while you work at your computer then you may want to select slower backups. However, if you have periods of downtime during the day or plan on processing your backups while you are not using your computer at all, then choose quicker backups. This setting can be changed at any time, so if you aren't sure of your needs simply keep the default 3/4 speed backup setting in place. This step will also provide you an estimate of how long your initial backup may take.

Step 13: Start Your First Backup

Congratulations! You have successfully completed the Mozy online backup automated backup setup process. We recommend that you process your initial backup with with new MozyHome unlimited account immediately to ensure full protection of your files.

As you can see, setting up automated backups with Mozy is a simple and painless process. Plus, you can now rest easy that your important files are safe and secure. To learn more about Mozy or other online backup services read our online backup service comparison and reviews.

Editor's Note: Contributing Editor Josh Steffen provided research for this guide.

We have compiled detailed information about both fraud alerts and credit freezes below as part of our ongoing attempt to educate consumers on the best ways to help protect themselves from the ongoing risk of identity theft.

Fraud Alerts

Fraud alerts are annotations in a credit report that let potential lenders know they should take additional action to confirm your identity before issuing credit in your name. There are two types of fraud alerts:

1) Initial Fraud Alert. An initial fraud alert is meant to be a temporary marker on your credit file and lasts for 90 days from the time you set the alert. When a lender runs your credit report and sees that there is a fraud alert in place they are legally obligated to use reasonable policies and procedures to verify that the person applying for credit in your name is actually you.

Initial fraud alerts are a good option for consumers that believe they are at risk for what is called new account fraud. This is where a criminal uses your personal information to sign up for new financial accounts such as credit cards, bank accounts, cell phone providers or any other service that may pull a credit report and extend you some for of credit.

Keep in mind, however, initial fraud alerts provide little or no protection for other forms of identity theft. For example, an initial fraud alert will not prevent an identity thief from accessing your existing financial accounts and making unauthorized charges or liquidating your financial accounts. We point this out because some experts point to initial fraud alerts as a magic bullet for preventing identity theft which may give some consumers a false sense of security. If you believe that your existing accounts may be at risk for identity theft then it is a good idea to contact the institutions with which you maintain accounts directly and let them know of the risk. Some of the identity theft protection services we have reviewed will also assist in notifying your bank, credit card company or other institutions on your behalf.

Setting an initial fraud alert requires contacting one of the three credit bureaus and requesting the fraud alert be set. Technically you only need to set the fraud alert with only one of the three major credit bureaus, including Equifax, Experian or TransUnion. However, if you believe you may be at risk for identity theft or simply want an extra level of identity theft protection from new account fraud, we suggest setting fraud alerts with all three bureaus by using the contact information below.

Equifax
1-800-525-6285
www.equifax.com
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian
1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
www.experian.com
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion
1-800-680-7289
www.transunion.com
Fraud Victim Assistance Division
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

Initial fraud alerts are free to set and can be renewed every 90 days. LifeLock, one of the identity theft protection services we have reviewed in our identity theft protection service comparison, protects and renews initial fraud alerts for their subscribers. The do-it-yourselfer may be fine with setting and keeping up with initial fraud alert renewals, but if you believe that the process may be cumbersome or you may not have the time to do so then LifeLock may be a good option for you.

2) Extended Fraud Alert. While an initial fraud alert stays active for a relatively short 90 days, an extended fraud alert stays on your credit report for seven years. Additionally, if you have an extended fraud alert on your credit file a potential lender is required to actually contact you or meet with you face to face to verify your identity before providing credit in your name.

In order to qualify for an extended fraud alert you typically need to demonstrate that there is a high likelihood that you have or will be victimized by identity theft. This typically means showing inconsistencies in your credit report or other evidence that you are at risk of being victimized. As such, setting an extended fraud alert is slightly more complex than setting an initial fraud alert.

The first step in setting an extended fraud alert is filing an Identity Theft Complaint with both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and your local law enforcement agency. The FTC has an online Identity Theft Complaint Form which can be submitted securely over the Internet and then printed out so that it can be provided to your local law enforcement agency.

Take the Identity Theft Complaint to your local police or other law enforcement agency to file a report. In addition to your completed complaint you will also need to provide your local authorities with a government issued photo id (such as driver's license or id card), something with your name and mailing address on it that will establish your residency (such as a utility bill, pay stub or rental agreement), a copy of your credit report(s) that shows the inaccuracies you believe may have been caused by identity thieves and any other supporting documentation including information on the identity thief if available.

Your local law enforcement agency will review your information and, if warranted, provide you with a copy of the official police report. make sure this report includes or is attached to your Identity Theft Complaint.

Once you have received the official police report of your identity theft incident your are ready to move on to the next step of setting an extended fraud alert which is notifying the three major credit bureaus. Send a copy of your police report, Identity Theft Complaint, any supporting documentation and a brief cover letter requesting that an extended fraud alert be set on your credit report. You can mail the information to each of the credit bureaus using the addresses below. You can also call them or visit their website if you have any questions on how to proceed.

Equifax
1-800-525-6285
www.equifax.com
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian
1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
www.experian.com
P.O. Box 9532
Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion
1-800-680-7289
www.transunion.com
Fraud Victim Assistance Division
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

Once you have sent your extended fraud alert request and documentation to the three major credit bureaus they will review the information and notify you to either let you know that an extend fraud alert has been set or to request any additional information. The FTC also strongly suggests that you send your identity theft related documentation to the fraud departments of any of the companies where you hold accounts, or where accounts have been opened in your name, that you believe have been impacted or may be impacted as a result of your suspected identity theft crime.

The process for contacting each of these companies will vary. It is best to contact their customer support department to get more information on how to contact their fraud prevention team.

Once an extended fraud alert is set it will be active on your credit report for seven years. It is possible to remove an extended fraud alert before it expires by making a written request to each of the three credit bureaus.

Given the time and effort required to set an extended fraud alert, we only suggest that consumers who have seen specific inconsistencies in their credit report or other proof that they are at imminent risk for identity theft opt to set them up. Consumers that feel their is a potential risk because they have been part of a data breach, for example, or are just looking for an additional layer of preventative protection would be better off using an initial fraud alert. Initial fraud alerts can be set by the individual or by using an identity theft protection service such as LifeLock.

Credit Freezes

Credit freezes lock down your credit report so that only you or any companies where you have a pre-existing relationship may have access it. No new lenders will be able to access your credit file at while a credit freeze is in place. This means that even if you attempt to legitimately apply for credit in your name with a new lender they will not be able to access your credit information. It is possible, for an additional fee, to temporarily remove a credit freeze if you need to allow a new lender to access your credit report for any reason.

Credit freezes are extremely effective tools in preventing the new account fraud type of identity theft since they essentially take your credit report "off the market". They are also a good tool for the elderly or other people that don't anticipate any need for new credit in the foreseeable future since credit freezes eliminate the risk of new accounts being opened fraudulently. Like fraud alerts, however, credit freezes are only effective at preventing account fraud and do little or nothing to prevent identity theft perpetrated against existing accounts or accounts where a credit file is not used to issue credit (this is the case with some utility or cell phone accounts).

The process of setting a credit freeze varies greatly from state to state. For example, most states allow anyone to set a credit freeze while others require that a consumer be able to prove they are at risk for identity theft before they can be set. Consumer Reports offers and excellent guide to the credit freeze laws by state which includes information on how to set freezes. You can view that guide here.

Generally, setting a credit freeze requires contacting the three major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, and paying a fee to each of about $10. The credit freeze will remain in effect until it is either temporarily lifted or removed. If you set a credit freeze and want to temporarily remove it you will have to make a request to each of the three credit bureaus and pay an additional fee to each to have the freeze lifted. You must then contact each of the credit bureaus in order to have it reset. A credit freeze may be permanently removed by making a request with each of the three credit bureaus.

TrustedID, one of the identity theft protection services we have reviewed, is the only service we have found which allows consumers to set credit freezes with all three credit bureaus over the Internet. As a subscriber to the TrustedID service, you may set and manage your credit freezes through your TrustedID account. We see this as a major benefit and convenience for any consumer that feels a credit freeze is right for them.

Credit freezes are really only realistic for consumers that know they are actively being victimized by or in imminent danger of identity theft or for people that have no need for additional credit in the foreseeable future.

Conclusion

If you are at risk for identity theft or a current victim, the choice whether to set an initial fraud alert, extended fraud alert or credit freeze will greatly depend on your personal circumstance.

Initial fraud alerts are a fairly easy to set up and maintain way to get a good layer of protection for new account fraud. They are relatively easy to set up yourself or can be managed by third party identity theft protection services such as LifeLock. While initial fraud alerts will add a layer of additional complexity when you try to legitimately obtain new credit in your name they are unobtrusive enough to be kept in place over long periods of time. Although, admittedly, this is not their intended use.

The credit bureaus would likely prefer that only identity theft victims set initial fraud alerts as there is the potential risk that lenders could stop taking initial fraud alerts as seriously if too many consumers have them set on their credit reports. That being said, it is up to each person to determine whether they feel that they need this type of protection. Some people may believe, given the explosive growth of identity theft in this country, that any consumer could reasonably be at risk for identity theft at any time. LifeLock is an identity theft protection service that sets and manages initial fraud alerts on behalf of their subscribers.

Extended fraud alerts are a more thorough level of protection above initial fraud alerts. They are best suited for those that are either being victimized or have seen inconstancies in their credit report that lead them to believe they may be victimized by new account identity theft. Extended fraud alerts are also a better option than credit freezes for consumers that believe they will have an imminent need to legitimately secure credit from lenders in the future since they don't completely lock off access to your credit report by enders.

Credit freezes are most effective for those consumers that believe they are currently being victimized or are at risk of new account fraud and don't believe they will have any need to secure credit from lenders in the foreseeable future. The elderly, many of whom may not need additional credit in the future, are an good example of a population that could benefit from the use of credit freezes. TrustedID is an identity theft protection service that allows consumers to set up and manage credit freezes online.

It is important to reiterate that any of these solutions are only effective in preventing certain types of identity theft including new account fraud. We recommend that consumers educate themselves on the risks of identity theft and identity theft prevention techniques by reading the FTC identity theft prevention website. Additionally, those interested in learning more about identity theft prevention services should read our guide to identity theft protection services.

Finally, don't forget that identity thieves are increasingly targeting children. Read our guide to Child Identity Theft Protection to learn more about safeguarding your kids from identity thieves.

1) Eliminate junk mail

We have posted previously on the hidden identity theft risk in junk mail, but in honor of earth day, we also wanted to point out that junk mail and other marketing communications you receive in the mail are very bad for the environment. Check out the original post for more tips on eliminating junk mail.

Additionally, we came across a new service today called Catalog Choice which allows you to select which catalogs you would like to receive. The service is free and allows you to opt out from receiving catalogs that you no longer wish to receive while still allowing those you want reach your mailbox.

2) Receive your credit report online

Whether you are ordering your free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com or from one of the credit report monitoring services we have reviewed and compared make sure you opt for online delivery of your credit report. Not only will this lower the overall carbon footprint of your order because the reports don't need to be printed or transported by postal mail, but you will also receive immediate access to your credit file information.

3) Go paperless when you have the option

Opt for paperless billing where you can. VoIP services such as voip.com and Vonage offer a paperless billing option and so do other companies such as cell phone providers and credit card companies. Accessing your billing information online is not only more eco-friendly but it is also more convenient.

4) Attend an online college or university

Think of going back to get a better job or just for personal enrichment? Consider an online college or University. We have reviewed and compared dozens of e-learning institutions and found that they are every bit as reputable as their traditional counterparts with the added convenience of being able to attend classes from your home computer. Since you don't have to commute to and from a physical campus and most of the course information is distributed digital the impact on the environment is greatly reduced.

5) Store your data "in the cloud"

Use an online backup service such as Mozy to store the information on your computer's hard drive. Online backup services are much more environmentally friendly than the hardware based alternatives because they cut down on the number of home storage devices that have to be produced and shipped all over the globe.

Do you have your own eco-friendly and convenient tips that you would like to share? We would love to hear from you! Just leave a note in the comments below.

If you already have a Facebook account simply visit the Facebook "Report a Fake Profile" page and enter the requested information.

If you don't have a Facebook account you can ask a friend that does have an account to report the fake page on your behalf. Alternatively, you can send an email to "login@facebook.com". Briefly explain that a fake profile has been created in your name and provide your contact information so that a member of the Facebook support team may contact you to investigate the matter further.

Someone setting up a fake Facebook profile in your name may be a sign of even more serious identity theft. Read our Facebook identity theft protect guide and guide to identity theft protection services to learn more.

Besides being a nuisance some junk mail may actually help enable identity thief. For example, preapproved credit card offers sent through the mail could be used by criminals to perpetrated new account fraud against the intended recipient.

While we still believe that most consumers will greatly benefit from having their identity protected by a professional identity theft protection service, there are some relatively simple steps that consumers can take to eliminate the amount of unsolicited junk mail they receive from banks, insurance companies and other marketers.

In this guide we will detail the simple steps you can take to stop receiving unsolicited postal mail from financial institutions, catalogers and other marketers.

Step 1: Stop receiving preapproved credit card offers in the mail with OptOutPrescreen.com

Preapproved or prescreened offers of credit are unsolicited mailings by creditors, such as banks or insurance companies, sent to consumers to make them aware of a particular financial offer they are qualified for. These offers are typically for credit cards, auto insurance, mortgage refinance or other financial services.

The financial companies that make these offers of credit to consumers determine your creditworthiness by using information on your credit report without your authorization (this is called a "soft inquiry" or "soft pull"). While such inquiries are totally legal and do not impact your credit in any way, it is possible to opt out from any future preapproved or prescreened offers of credit.

The major credit bureaus, including Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, jointly created the website OptOutPrescreen.com to enable consumers to do just that. The site allows you to opt-out from receiving prescreened offers of credit for five years or permanently. You can also opt back in if at some time in the future your situation changes and you would like to begin receiving firm offers of credit again.

We recommend that most consumers opt-out for the five year period for two reasons. First, this process can be completed very simply online in minutes whereas the permanent opt-out requires the additional step of mailing in an opt-out form. Second, the five year opt-out gives you the flexibility of receiving offers of credit in the future if you decide after five years that you would like to receive them again without having to opt back in. With a permanent opt-out you would be required to opt back in through OptOutPrescreen.com if you decide you would like to receive credit offers in the future.

Here is how to process a five year opt-out of receiving any preapproved or prescreened offers of credit through OptOutPrescreen.com:

1. Visit OptOutPrescreen.com
2. Select either a 5 year opt-out from the list of options on the screen and click on the submit button.
3. Enter the required information on the following screen. OptOutPrescreen.com will attempt to opt you out even if you don't provide your Social Security number or date of birth, however it is possible that your opt-out request could fail without this information. Since the OptOutPrescreen.com website uses significant security measures, you shouldn't worry about submitting this information directly. Keep in mind that your Social Security number and date of birth are NOT REQUIRED to process an opt-out from firm offers of credit.
4. Click on the "confirm" button to submit your information to OptOutPrescreen.com and initiate your opt-out request.

Once your request is submitted your opt-out will be processed within 5 business days. You may still continue to receive prescreened offers over the next several weeks following your opt-out, but potential creditors will no longer be able to prescreen your credit for firm offers of credit.

It is also possible to process an opt-out request by calling 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688).

Step 2: Stop receiving other marketing offers in the mail with DMA's Mail Preference Service

While OptOutPrescreen.com will remove you from financially related preapproved offers of credit, it will not opt you out of other standard marketing communications sent through the postal mail. There is no totally fool proof way to eliminate all junk mail, although you can greatly decrease the amount you receive by managing your preferences with the Direct Marketing Association (DMA).

The DMA is a marketing industry organization that works with major marketers and catalog companies to establish best practices in how they market to consumers. They manage a Mail Preferences Service (MPS) that these companies use to determine which consumers they will send unsolicited postal mail to. The DMA MPS allows consumers to determine which types of communications they like to receive and those which they do not.

Here is how to set your DMA MPS postal mail preferences:

1. Visit the DMA MPS website at https://www.dmachoice.org/MPS/mailpref.php
2. Completely fill out the web based form and include all possible versions of your name that a sender may address mail to. You should minimally include the version of your first name that you commonly use in daily life as well as the "formal" version of your first name.
3. Submit your credit card information to verify your identity. The DMA will NOT cahrge you for web based MPS requests. However, if you choose to process your request over postal mail there is a $1.00 processing fee. Because of this additional cost and the extra step involved, we suggest that you process your request over the Internet.

Once you have submitted your credit card information and your identity has been verified, yoiu will be presented with three options. You will want to choose either Option A: "Remove your name from individual organization lists" or Option C: "remove your name from DMA member prospect list".

Selecting Option C may result in you not receiving some pieces of unsolicited mail, such as catalogs or coupons that you may actually want. If this is a concern, you may want to invest the time and effort into selecting Option A. This will require you to identify every single marketer that you want to stop receiving junk mail from and, therefore, could be very time consuming. It also doesn't prevent you from receiving new unsolicited mail in the future since new marketers may decide that you meet their targeting guidelines.

We suggest that most consumers select Option C if they are concerned with the amount of unsolicited postal mail they are receiving. Just as with the prescreen opt-out process you can opt back in at any time, so if you feel that you are missing out on marketing messages that you really do want to receive you can do so by adjusting your preferences at the DMA MPS website.

Once you have selected the appropriate opt-out option and submitted your request your preferences will be updated immediately and marketers that subscribe to the DMA MPS list will stop sending you new postal mail. The DMA estimates that it will take 30-90 days for you to stop receiving all mail from DMA member companies because some postal mail campaigns are queued up several weeks or months in advance.

Again, keep in mind that the DMA MPS opt-out will not eliminate all junk mail, but you should see a noticeable drop in mail sent to you as a result of proactively setting your preferences.

Conclusion

It is relatively simple to decrease the amount of unsolicited mail you are receiving which will limit the waste, annoyance and identity theft threat that junk mail represents. However, it is only one step in proactively protecting yourself from identity theft. While we strive to provide consumers with useful and actionable information, we strongly suggest that if identity theft is a concern of yours that you consider an identity theft protection service.

Visit our free online comparisons and reviews to learn more about identity theft protection services that will help you eliminate junk mail and protect your identity.

We would like to know what type of identity theft protection guides you would like to see from our team in the future. Let us know by leaving us a note in the comments below. Or, if you have a blog of your own, simply post your idea for a new identity theft protection guide on your blog with a link to this post.
We would also like to thank several great bloggers that have helped us spread identity theft protection awareness by posting links to our guides on their blogs including:

• Ryman at Eternalmoonlight.net who added our Facebook identity theft protection guide to his third version of Life Tips
  
• Marc Majers at LeadingHands.com who posted about our child identity theft protection guide
• Damian at WhatDayJob.com who referenced our Facebook identity theft guide while discussing risks in "the cyber world"
• Wayne Parker at the About.com Fatherhood blog who blogged about our child identity theft guide as a resource for dads

Arizona has the dubious distinction of having more identity theft complaints per hundred thousand residents than any other state in the Union at 137.1. Additionally, six cities in Arizona made the top 50 list of cities with the most identity theft complaints in the Unites States. 3.4% of the nearly 256,000 identity theft complaints made to the Federal trade Commission (FTC) in 2007 came from Arizona residents.

We have compiled a list a list of identity theft facts, trends and resources for Arizona residents. If you know of any other resources, have additional information to add or simply want to give us some feedback, please leave a comment below.

Arizona Identity Theft Facts and Trends:

• There were 8,688 identity theft complaints in Arizona in 2007 which is up 48% from 2002.
• Arizona has the highest rate of identity theft complaints of any state with 137.1 identity theft complaints per hundred thousand residents.
• Six Arizona cities made it to the top 50 list of most identity theft complaints in the United States including Flagstaff (9), Lake Havasu (13), Yuma (15), Prescott (17), Sierra Vista (20), Phoenix (29) and Tucson (34).
• There were 3,122 employment fraud identity theft complaints in Arizona which makes it the largest and fastest growing segment of identity theft complaints in the state. Employment fraud in Arizona is up 71% from 2002-2007.

Arizona Identity Theft Protection and Recovery Resources:

Both State and Local Governments in Arizona provide a variety of very helpful identity theft prevention and recovery resources. Here are some of the most informative identity theft resources for Arizonians.

• State of Arizona Crime Victims Service AZVICTIMS Identity Theft Page
• Arizona Attorney General Stop Identity Theft Guide
• State of Arizona Identity Theft Legislation
• Maricopa County Attorney's Office Identity Theft Website

National Identity Theft Protection and Recovery Resources:

There are several excellent identity theft protection and recovery resources available from the Federal Government and national non-profit organizations. NextAdvisor.com has also created several helpful guides for consumers looking for more information on identity theft protection.

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Identity Theft Website
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Identity Theft Victim Online Complaint Form
• United States Postal Service (USPS) Identity Theft Tips and Resources
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Active Duty Military Identity Theft Protection Guide
• Child Identity Theft Protection Guide from NextAdvisor.com
• Guide to Identity Theft Protection Services from NextAdvisor.com