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Ways Technology Threatens Your Privacy (and How to Protect Yourself)

by Riva Richmond on May 14, 2009 at 02:14 PM



2) Malware and spyware

Another way fraudsters collect your sensitive personal information is by planting malicious programs onto your computer. In the old days, they spread viruses through e-mail. Today, the method of choice is to use malicious Web sites to quietly download programs through security holes in the software on your PC. To avoid infection, keep your software up-to-date -- especially oft-targeted Microsoft software -- and use antivirus and other security programs. And steer clear of sketchy Web sites, like porn and file-sharing sites and anything pushed in spam e-mails.

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