User:RinehartLudwick591

As people rely more and more on the internet for various transactions, it gets increasingly harder to keep personal and financial details out of public view. Although most sites use encryption and other security methods, hackers manage to come up with ways to get sensitive information. Unless you are prepared to forego many online conveniences like buying products or services, using social media, or research resources, you will be required to provide information time and again-- information that can eventually be used to steal your identity.

What are the implications of identity theft? From a personal vantage point, having your identity stolen could lead to all sorts of potentially embarrassing situations, such as access to your personal life and data. On a more sinister level, identity theft could result in significant financial losses as criminals would naturally waste no opportunity to gain money by using your name. For example, they could access your bank accounts and transfer out all your hard-earned savings; they could max out your credit cards and leave you to settle with creditors; worse, they can even open new lines of credit and make you liable for huge sums of money without you being the wiser. Ultimately, these things will impact your credit rating.