The ease of filing income tax returns via the Internet or other electronic means is lulling consumers into a false sense of personal security , identity-protection experts warn.
A common misconception is that important files with sensitive information such as Social Security numbers stored on a home computer are risk-free, according to Todd Feinman, an identity-theft-prevention expert.
"Hackers may access your computer in various ways at any time via viruses, trojans and botnets," said Feinman, chief executive of Identity Finder software. "Confidential information on PDFs is not safe."
Many viruses are transmitted via e-mail attachments, though some data-stealing programs disguise themselves as trusted Web sites.
The explosion of online tax filing, coupled with residential broadband and wireless Internet connections, has created an abundance of opportunities for hackers to invade home computers that lack proper firewall protection.
Nationally, nearly 89.9 million taxpayers -- about 58 percent -- filed their 2007 returns electronically.
In 2008, a record 9.9 million adult Americans -- roughly one in 23 -- fell victim to identity theft, according to Javelin Strategy & Research.
Consumers have come to believe in several myths, including that electronic transmissions of confidential data to seemingly safe recipients such as the IRS are secure, Feinman said.
The best fix is to be sure your computer's firewall is working.
"Your personal information is at the greatest risk when it is en route from one location to another," he said.
Even paper copies of tax information are accessible to identity thieves. A common mistake is to leave tax filings in home mailboxes for collection.
Another identity-theft trick is to hack into public photocopiers at tax time, particularly those that store the image in memory.
"Identity thieves are incredibly creative," Feinman said.
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