Technology & Security

  • What is Identity Theft Tax Refund Fraud?

    Identity theft tax refund fraud occurs when identity thieves use stolen personal identifying information (PII) to file fraudulent tax returns to receive a tax refund check from the Department of Treasury. Identity thieves commonly steal PII through phishing scams, Dark Web auctions, hacking databases, installing malware, and employee unauthorized access. Return to Taxing Subjects Frequently…

  • What is Personally Identifiable Information?

    Personally identifiable information (PII) is any sensitive private data that can be used to apply for entertainment subscriptions, financial services, and utilities. There is a remarkable amount of information crossover between credit card accounts and streaming subscriptions, which is why the Security Summit recommends taking steps to protect your PII when online.  Identity thieves can…

  • What is remote desktop connection software?

    Remote desktop connection software, like Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol, is a program that allows users to remotely control another device via a network connection, like the Internet. These applications are one method used to facilitate telework arrangements, giving employees a direct, secure tunnel to operate computer workstations and access private intranets that are housed on-site…

  • What is the Dark Web?

    The Dark Web makes up roughly five percent of the entire Internet, and it is used for clandestine and illegal activities. Criminals use the Dark Web to facilitate human trafficking and sell illicit goods, like drugs and stolen personally identifiable information (PII). Identity thieves buy and sell personally identifiable information (PII) on the Dark Web.…

  • What is the Deep Web?

    The Deep Web is the part of the Internet that is not visible to search engines like Google. This content generally requires credentials to access, and some estimates project that it represents 96 percent of online content. While academic and business databases make up the bulk of the Deep Web, some of it is only…