Because tax returns contain a lot of valuable and private information, including names, addresses, social security numbers, and bank account numbers, hackers come out in droves this time of the year. The number of tax-related scams and schemes is also on the rise year over year, indicating that Internet users need to utilize appropriate caution to minimize their risk when they file their taxes online.
"Despite the security risks, e-filing is still an efficient and relatively simple way to submit tax returns and ensure the expediency of receiving rebates and refunds," said Laura Yecies general manager of Check Point's ZoneAlarm consumer division. "Users just need to use caution, common sense and follow a few key tips and they can file online, trouble free."
Five Tips for Safe Online Tax Filing
1. Before you start, make sure your computer is in a safe state. Update your security software and run system scans to be sure your machine is free of viruses and spyware, which could put your private information at risk. Also make sure to update your Windows operating system and install the latest security patches.
2. If you are using a wireless Internet connection at home, make sure your wireless router's security features are enabled to keep prying eyes from snooping at your return. Do not file your taxes at public wireless hotspot. These networks are not always secure.
3. Protect your passwords. Do not tape them to your monitor or write them down nearby. When selecting passwords for your online tax filing accounts, use a combination of numbers, letters and special characters. Don't use common passwords that a thief could easily guess or figure out (like a pet's name or your place of birth).
4. Back-up your tax return to a CD or portable media device and then delete it and all associated files from your hard drive. This ensures that if your desktop or laptop is compromised in the future, your tax information, including your Social Security number and other sensitive information will not be revealed.
5. Beware of online phishing scams. During tax seasons scammers often send out fraudulent spam emails that appear to be from the IRS or from tax filing services. Never click on links or attachment in emails and if in doubt, visit www.irs.gov or call them directly at 1-800-829-1040.
Check Point offers a range of award-winning software security solutions that help protect users' important data. ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite provides comprehensive, integrated firewall, antivirus, antispam and anti-spyware protection. ZoneAlarm ForceField is a lightweight, easy-to-use browser security program that utilizes virtualization technology to protect consumers' from the latest malware and Web attacks. ForceField is currently being offered as a free beta, which can be downloaded at www.zonealarm.com. ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite is also available for download from the ZoneAlarm Web site for a special price of $24.95 for up to three PCs.
About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is the leader in securing the Internet. Check Point offers total security solutions featuring a unified gateway, single endpoint agent and single management architecture, customized to fit customers' dynamic business needs. We are unique in this offering as a result of our leadership and innovation in the enterprise firewall, personal firewall/endpoint, data security and VPN markets.
Check Point's pure focus is on information security. Through its NGX platform, Check Point delivers a unified security architecture to protect business communications and resources, including corporate networks and applications, remote employees, branch offices and partner extranets. The company also offers market-leading endpoint and data security solutions with Check Point Endpoint Security products, protecting and encrypting sensitive corporate information stored on PCs and other mobile computing devices. Check Point's award-winning ZoneAlarm solutions protect millions of consumer PCs from hackers, spyware and identity theft. Check Point solutions are sold, integrated and serviced by a network of Check Point partners around the world and its customers include 100 percent of Fortune 100 companies and tens of thousands of businesses and organizations of all sizes.
(C)2003-2008 Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved. Check Point, AlertAdvisor, Application Intelligence, Check Point Endpoint Security, Check Point Express, Check Point Express CI, the Check Point logo, ClusterXL, Confidence Indexing, ConnectControl, Connectra, Connectra Accelerator Card, Cooperative Enforcement, Cooperative Security Alliance, CoreXL, CoSa, DefenseNet, Dynamic Shielding Architecture, Eventia, Eventia Analyzer, Eventia Reporter, Eventia Suite, FireWall-1, FireWall-1 GX, FireWall-1 SecureServer, FloodGate-1, Hacker ID, Hybrid Detection Engine, IMsecure, INSPECT, INSPECT XL, Integrity, Integrity Clientless Security, Integrity SecureClient, InterSpect, IPS-1, IQ Engine, MailSafe, NG, NGX, Open Security Extension, OPSEC, OSFirewall, Pointsec, Pointsec Mobile, Pointsec PC, Pointsec Protector, Policy Lifecycle Management, Provider-1, PureAdvantage, PURE Security, the puresecurity logo, Safe@Home, Safe@Office, SecureClient, SecureClient Mobile, SecureKnowledge, SecurePlatform, SecurePlatform Pro, SecuRemote, SecureServer, SecureUpdate, SecureXL, SecureXL Turbocard, Security Management Portal, Sentivist, SiteManager-1, SmartCenter, SmartCenter Express, SmartCenter Power, SmartCenter Pro, SmartCenter UTM, SmartConsole, SmartDashboard, SmartDefense, SmartDefense Advisor, Smarter Security, SmartLSM, SmartMap, SmartPortal, SmartUpdate, SmartView, SmartView Monitor, SmartView Reporter, SmartView Status, SmartViewTracker, SMP, SMP On-Demand, SofaWare, SSL Network Extender, Stateful Clustering, TrueVector, Turbocard, UAM, UserAuthority, User-to-Address Mapping, UTM-1, UTM-1 Edge, UTM-1 Edge Industrial, UTM-1 Total Security, VPN-1, VPN-1 Accelerator Card, VPN-1 Edge, VPN-1 Express, VPN-1 Express CI, VPN-1 Power, VPN-1 Power Multi-core, VPN-1 Power VSX, VPN-1 Pro, VPN-1 SecureClient, VPN-1 SecuRemote, VPN-1 SecureServer, VPN-1 UTM, VPN-1 UTM Edge, VPN-1 VSX, Web Intelligence, ZoneAlarm, ZoneAlarm Anti-Spyware, ZoneAlarm Antivirus, ZoneAlarm ForceField, ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite, ZoneAlarm Pro, ZoneAlarm Secure Wireless Router, Zone Labs, and the Zone Labs logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. or its affiliates. ZoneAlarm is a Check Point Software Technologies, Inc. Company. All other product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The products described in this document are protected by U.S. Patent No. 5,606,668, 5,835,726, 5,987,611, 6,496,935, 6,873,988, 6,850,943, and 7,165,076 and may be protected by other U.S. Patents, foreign patents, or pending applications.
SOURCE: Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Check Point Software Technologies Heather Haas, 650-628-2070 (Media) press@checkpoint.com Kip E. Meintzer, 650-628-2040 (Investors) ir@us.checkpoint.com
More News:
Market Updates |
Stock Alerts |
All Trading News |
Stock Index
|
|
