The Internet. What a wonderful tool. It has become a staple of many people's lives; nearly everyone can research a subject, get in touch with friends and family, and find information about almost anything imaginable. And, with just a click of the mouse, shoppers can buy nearly any product online -- from groceries to cars, from insurance policies to home loans. Paying bills online has never been easier, most banks and credit card companies offer bill-pay options that allow their customers to make payments from their computer with a few clicks.

But, as great as the Internet is, there are those individuals who are up to no good and are looking to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals. Identity theft and identity fraud have become an ever increasing problem. Social engineering, spoofing, phishing attacks, and keystroke loggers are a few of the methods criminals use to try to get personal information from you. If successful it’s just a matter of time before someone uses your information to open accounts for credit cards, utilities, or obtain a driver's license or official ID card.

The Internet can also be a wonderful resource for kids. They can use it to research school reports, communicate with teachers and other kids, and play interactive games. But that access can also pose hazards, an innocent Google search with a misspelled word may return some unexpected results, some of which may contain pornographic material. That's why it's important to be aware of what your kids see and hear on the Internet, who they meet, and what they share about themselves online.

This site is intended to be a resourece for those who are concerned about identity theft and Internet safety. We have tried to include information for everyone interested in this topic; how identity theft happens, preventing identity theft, and how to recovery if you are a victim of identity theft and information for anyone using the Internet concerned about security and safety.