Back to College Security Awareness Needed

College students are indifferent when it comes to their personal security. What’s worse, they not only put their own identities at risk, but also those of their parents, according to a poll by the Identity Theft Resource Center, San Diego, and uni-ball Pens. 

“It’s common practice among college students to use their parents’ names, bank account numbers and other personal information to co-sign loans and leases, write tuition and housing checks, register online to receive grades and more,” said Robert Siciliano, a college security expert associated with the poll. 

Some results: 

■ Only 44 percent of students are concerned with having their laptop/mp3 player/purse stolen. 

■ Forty percent regularly leave their apartment or dorm doors unlocked. 

■ One in 10 admit to allowing people whom they do not know into their apartment/house. 

■ Only 13 percent said check fraud was a key concern. 

A second, unrelated survey from Webroot, Boulder, Colo., uncovered risky practices by young people in relation to social networking through such platforms as Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and Twitter.   

It found that those who are 18 to 29 years old are more likely than the overall population to: 

■ Use the same password across multiple sites. 

■ Accept a friend request from a stranger. 

■ Share personal information that may compromise online privacy. 

■ Experience a security attack.

It is important for parents to discuss the importance of protecting personal information with their children.  First State Bank is pleased to provide a FREE Identity Theft Resolution service for all of our consumer customers.  Included in this service is a website that provides helpful tips on how to better protect yourself and your family.  Please visit www.identitytheft911-fsbcentral.com for more information.

Information provided from the ABA Risk News August 2009.  ABA Bank Risk News is published monthly and distributed by the American Bankers Association.