Warning: Peer to Peer/ File Sharing software could be used to steal your identity.

Warning: Peer to Peer/ File Sharing software could be used to steal your identity.

Gregory Kopiloff, age 35, of Seattle Washington has been arrested for using the information he found on peer-to-peer networks for identity theft purposes. The documents he was able to find on these sites included tax returns, credit card numbers, and student aid applications.

“In peer-to-peer file sharing, people download software allowing them to connect to networks such as LimeWire, Kazaa, Soulseek, eMule and Morpheus, which gives them access to every other laptop or PC that is part of those networks.” *

Most people using these programs are not aware of the fact that they could potentially be sharing EVERYTHING on their computer to the network, not just what is placed in their “to share” file.

Protect your information. Make sure the safety settings on your filesharing software are set to only look at specific files. Encrypt files you do not want accessed by others.

To read more on how you can protect yourself please see our Solution 19   File Sharing and Peer-to-Peer Software Safety

* Origional article found at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer  Man accused of exploiting peer-to-peer software   http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/330676_idtheft07.html