Check your credit file

Do you check your credit rating regularly? Even if you have a good credit history this is a prudent measure to take. If anyone is attempting to steal your identity you will be aware of it as early as possible. Also, if applying for mortgages, loans or credit cards you can check your credit report before applying to ensure it is accurate and see what is on your file.

A great service for this is Credit Expert from Experian, the UK's largest credit reference agency. They offer a free 30 day trial and thereafter, a very reasonably priced service for regular access to your file - excellent when you are borrowing and a valuable tool to ensure you are not the victim of identity theft or fraud.

Internet Security

Internet security and identity theft are real issues for anyone using the internet regularly, particularly when visiting financial sites and filling in online application forms. If somebody steals your identity, it is likely to wreck your credit rating as the thieves will use your identity to run up credit card debts, borrow money and steal from your accounts.

Most commonly, people tend to store passwords using the automatic option in their browser's memory cache - this makes them vulnerable to hackers that might access their computer, even if a firewall is installed. Another common problem is known as phishing where fake e-mails are sent asking you to access a financial site - these fake but authentic looking sites are then used to steal your account details and passwords. A further problem occurs if keystroke software is installed on your computer, often through suspicious spyware programmes or unscrupulous websites. And last but not least, most people do not use very smart password systems - firstly, they are often easy to crack and secondly, most people tend to use the same passwords for several sites, so if a thief obtains one of your passwords they are likely to be able to access several sites and accounts.

Fortunately, there is a really simple but wonderfully effective solution available - and it is absolutely FREE for private individuals. RoboForm is a unique tool that can only be opened by you with a single password that you must memorize. Not only does it enable you to automatically complete forms online but it produces a unique, encrypted password for each site that you register with. This eliminates the problem of phishing and keystroke software, enables you to clear your browser's memory cache of any existing passwords and provides you with complete peace of mind. There is even a portable version of RoboForm that can be used with a USB key. The RoboForm tool can also be purchased by business users for a very reasonable license fee.