"Every 79 seconds a thief hacks a computer, steals the victims identity and then goes on a spending spree"

How safe is your identity when online?

Identity theft occurs when someone gathers enough information about you to successfully impersonate you online, by mail, over the telephone, or in person. This information can then be used to conduct business in your name - like, opening bank accounts, setting up loans or arranging access to internet banking.

A study on the aftermath of an identity theft by the non-profit 'Identity Theft Resource Centre' found that victims spend 600 hours recovering from the crime because they must contact and work with credit cards, banks, credit bureaus, and law enforcement. The time can add up to as much as $16,000 in lost wages or income.

The same study found that the business community loses between $40,000 and $92,000 per name in fraudulent transactions.

Your online identity can be a combination of user name and password, passphrase, or PIN code that is used to open or access a secure site or a credit card used to purchase or pay for good and services online. As nearly all commercial online sites provide you protection when connecting to them, the only 'hole' is the point of access - your PC.

Many methods are used today to get your personal details with E-mail Phishing most publicised, but the real threat to identity theft is what's called 'crimeware'.  Common crimeware applications utilising two forms of data capture a key logging software device and a screen capture on mouse click - so each time you press your mouse it will take a picture of the screen you are working on. These simple yet effective programs are easy to deliver via e-mail, visiting fake web sites and even in some software downloads catching unsuspecting users everywhere.

A Key logger's primary task is to record and send back to the 'hacker' every key stroke you perform, in every application you use. So if you purchase online, the hacker will have your credit card number, expire date and 4 digit security code, if you online bank, the hacker have your user name and password that is used to 'open and access' your banking details.

The Screen Capture image grabber just takes a picture of the screen view - by timer or more  effectively each time you mouse click.

Maxiworks Can Protect Your Identity

Maxiworks provides two unique and distinctive solutions to this growing concern,

1. All Maxiworks Desktop and Server software has an anti-key logging system integrated into the local administration service - LAS. When you install Maxiworks the anti-key logging system begins automatically. From that moment on every key stoke (regardless of the software application you are using - so it even protects you when using non Maxiworks software) is protected from being captured by a key logger.

2 Maxilock Identity Safe - is a completely stand alone application designed specifically to protect your identity when you exchange data and information online. Maxilock Identity Safe contains proactive anti key logging and anti screen capture functionality. In addition by using Maxilock as your preferred and only method of accessing web sites that require a log-in, will help reduce the possibility of visiting a fraud site. Maxiworks' Maxilock Identity Safe completes the secure internet cycle by providing  multiple layers of security at the point of entry - your computer.

NOTE - Anti-virus, anti adaware and firewalls do not stop all key loggers. They may identify that your system may have one, but then again it may not. These technologies are reactive meaning they can only fix a problem after they find out about it and in many cases after the fact is just too late!