Desert Messenger

July 11, 2018 www.DesertMessenger.com 9 Don't let your personal data end up on the Dark Web BARB I' S PL A C E GREAT Home Made Take-Out Food WE'VE MOVED! ...just across the street in General Store Lot! OPEN TUES THRU SAT 8 -3 Call, Text, or Visit our Facebook Page Call in Orders & Delivery 928-322-2862 Daily Breakfast & Lunch Specials! NOW SERVING SHAKES! TACO TUESDAYS! MOUNTAIN QUAIL C AFE Open 7am - 7pm 7 DAYS/ WEEK 928-927-8890 & Gift Shop 500 N. Moon Mt. Ave., Quartzsite (corner of Moon Mt. & Quail Trail) B-10, Main St. Moon Mountain X Quail Trail N Hwy. 95, N. Central • DAILY SPECIALS • Friday FISH Special • Sat. PRIME RIB • Sunday POT ROAST Enjoy our Famous Bread Pudding ! Home Style Cooking! BREAKFAST ALL DAY! SOFT SERVE ICE CREAM! Chicken Quesadilla Quail Burger Arizona Omelet Crepes Arizona Burger Refried Potatoes ~ Free Wi-Fi ~ Ask About our Delicious Desserts! We're open Every Day! 175 W. Main St. 928-927-5585 www.sillyalspizza.com SILLY AL'S PIZZA Famous Gourmet Pizza TUES THUR FRI • 7PM • KARAOKE Serving Quartzsite Since 1987 WED • 7PM • DJ SERVING ARIZONA CRAFT BEER & GROWLERS TO GO! HAPPY HOUR 10-12 and 3:30-5:30 SUMMER HOURS DURING CONSTRUCTION: FRI & SAT 11-9 (Check Facebook for updates) Private Parties Welcome! 725 N. Central Blvd. (Hwy. 95) Quartzsite, AZ 85346 (928) 927-4485 50¢ WINGS! ~ Cheeseburger & Fries $7.50 1/2 Fish, Fries & Slaw $7.50 (StatePoint) Consumers today give out personal information all the time -- from shopping online to signing up for special promotional offers to fi lling out job applications. However, there are millions of identity theft vic- tims each year, and when your information is sto- len by a cyber-criminal, it will likely be sold on the dark web. Your social security number, for exam- ple, could be sold for as little as $1, according to Experian, one of the nation's three credit bureaus. The end result is that criminals can open a credit card account in your name, steal your tax return, try to hack into your fi nancial accounts and con- duct other malicious activities. The Dark What? The dark web is a mystery to many. Only one in four people know what it is and what it's used for, according to the Experian Cybersecurity Survey. It essentially allows criminals to conduct illegal activities in the deepest pockets of the Internet, undetected. For identity thieves, the dark web is a market- place for personal information, including phone numbers, email addresses, account passwords and social security numbers that can be used to commit identity theft and fraud. While it's doubtful that your local dry cleaner or gym will be targeted by an identity thief, any database is attractive to a cyber-criminal. Com- panies can also be victims of rogue employees, and smaller operations have less security. It's best to err on the side of caution when giving out personal information. Better Manage Personal Data "Having your personal information exposed can be a threat to your identity and fi nancial future, but there are ways to take control," says Brian Stack, vice president of Dark Web Intelligence at Experian. "In a digital world, all of us are at some risk for identity theft and fraud. One step to get peace of mind is enrolling in an identity theft protection product so you are notifi ed if credit is opened in your name or your personal data is on the dark web." To proactively protect your identity, take the following key steps: • Only provide personal information when it's required. • Change online account passwords periodically and use a unique password for each account. • Never access the Internet with unsecured pub- lic Wi-Fi. Only use secured public Wi-Fi with a password for browsing -- don't shop or access ac- counts, including social media and email. • To log into accounts, enable authentication questions as well as two-factor authentication when available (and don't use real answers such as your mother's actual maiden name). • Several times per year, check your credit re- ports from all three credit bureaus for possible fraudulent accounts. Wondering if there's already cause for concern? Experian offers a free Dark Web Triple Scan that searches thousands of dark web pages, networks and forums for your phone number, email address and social security number. This scan will inform you if any of this information is on the dark web. Learn more at experian.com/triplescan. Your daily routine doesn't have to lead to a dark- ened outlook. Taking proactive steps can help you stay vigilant and offer you better protection.

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