On October 13th, Microsoft will release its biggest ever security update which includes 13 fixes aimed to tackle 34 vulnerabilities. 8 of these bulletins are rated as critical with one relating to an issue with Internet Explorer 8 running in the new version of the operating system Widnows 7.

Prior to this security update, Microsoft’s biggest ever update was released in June 2009. That package of 10 fixes tackled 31 vulnerabilities.

If your PC has auto-updates turned on, you will get the updates automatically but links to download them can also be found on Microsoft’s security pages. Once applied to a PC, the machine will need to be re-started before the fixes take effect.

Due to its huge popularity as the operating system of choice for millions of individuals and businesses, Microsoft Windows it always a target for cyber criminals who use a selection of hi-tech malware to cause disruption.

Identity Theft Expert does recommend turning on auto-updates on your PC if you use Windows XP or Vista. The latest version, Windows 7, is due to be released on October 22nd 2009.

A report carried out by the Centre for Economics and Business Research for LV Home insurance has published some disturbing findings:

• The number of people in the UK whose credit rating is damaged by identity theft is predicted to double of the next five years to 2014. Since 2000, identity theft has increased by around a third each year to date.
• Identity fraudsters have already affected the credit ratings around half a million people in the UK, and a further 440,000 are predicted to be affected by 2014.
• On average, identity theft costs the victim £2,100 to resolve, with 40% of these saying they refused banking services, 6% turned down for a mortgage application, and 8% having to pay for legal services to rectify the situation.

Identity Theft Expert recommend that you should take every possible precaution to protect your personal information, and check your credit file on a regular basis. There are companies such as www.Fraudlock.co.uk that provide unlimited access to your credit file with credit monitoring services for a reasonable monthly fee. Certainly, paying £100 a year is certainly cheaper that the average £2100 cost of becoming a victim, and you also need to put a price on your time,with the average case taking between 300 and 500 hours, and a lot of phone calls to resolve.

Online Privacy

The importance of your identity

All aspects of our lives today are inextricably linked to a complex web with our identity at the centre.

If someone were to ask you who you were, you would most likely answer with your name and this in most social situations establishes your identity. However, there is much more that constitutes an identity such as your address, national insurance number, bank details.

If a criminal has a few of these details, then they can assume your identity, and use it to run up bills and apply for credit leaving you liable to pay it.

When this occurs, it can be very difficult to rectify, often being a time consuming and difficult process. Identity Theft Expert recommend checking your credit file on a regular basis and follow advice to minimise the risk.