Yahoo deletes IDs of inactive email accounts starting with July 15!
E-Crime Expert recently launched a series (see the first blog post here) on how you control your data stored online by different (e-mail) Service Providers. This could be done directly (by setting up an inactive account deletion time for your Google account) or indirectly (by not signing in your Yahoo account).
For those who have a Yahoo account and who have not signed in for the past year, their personal data stored under their account will be automatically deleted with no opportunity to recover it or to transfer it to anyone else by expressing their WILL as Google provides for example by offering the Inactive Account Manager tool.
Warning!
If you are not planning to have your account deleted and all your data erased (emails, pictures, chats, etc), please note that Yahoo Inc. plans to release the inactive accounts unless the current owner logs on again before July 15 (2013). After that, the (deleted) identifications will be available to all comers (as a fresh Yahoo account) and will be ready to use again in mid-August, while the data of the original user will be permanently erased!
Yahoo is resetting email accounts that have not been used for at least 12 months and issuing them to other users as they are trying to attract new users (by freeing unused email accounts) and retain current active users with IDs of their choice, the company is also giving inactive users the opportunity to retain them:
“All you have to do is log on to any Yahoo! product before July 15th. In future, these accounts will remain active by signing in at least once every 12 months, according to a Yahoo help notice, titled “We want you back.”
According to the above statement, All you have to do is log on to any Yahoo! product before July 15th, if you haven’t logged into Yahoo! for over a year, but want to keep your Yahoo! ID, and/or to log on any Yahoo! product at least once every 12 month if you want to keep your Yahoo! account active!
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How to control your electronic assets when you become inactive: Google
E-Crime Expert starts today a series that enables users to manage their online data (electronic assets) if they become inactive (i.e accident, jail time, passed away, etc). Let’s say this is a WILL (testament) for electronic assests which is similar in scope to a WILL for material assests (i.e. house, boat, car, etc).
Google has a program called Inactive Account Manager, that allows those who use Google services decide exactly how they want to manage their online data stored with the company (i.e. Gmail, Picasa, YouTube, blogs, Wallet, etc).
What should happen to your photos, emails and documents when you stop using your account? Google puts you in control.
You might want your data to be shared with a trusted friend or family member, or, you might want your account to be deleted entirely. There are many situations that might prevent you from accessing or using your Google account. Whatever the reason, Google gives you the option of deciding what happens to your data.
Using Inactive Account Manager, you can decide if and when your account is treated as inactive, what happens with your data and who is notified.
i. How to set up your Inactive Account Manager
First, go to
https://www.google.com/settings/account
Then, go to the bottom of the page to “Learn more and go to setup” (fig. 1)
Fig. 1
ii. Timeout period
You set a timeout period, after which your account can be treated as inactive. The timeout period starts with your last sign-in to your Google account. Click Setup (fig 2).
Fig. 2
Follow the instructions in the picture bellow (fig. 3).
Fig. 3
iii. Alert me
Inactive Account Manager will alert you via text message and optionally email before the timeout period ends (fig. 4).
Fig. 4
iv. Notify contacts and share data
Add trusted contacts who should be made aware that you are no longer using your account. You can also share data with them if you like (fig. 5, fig. 6 and fig. 7).
Fig. 5 (the time period after which your Account will be timed-out and the auto-response message after the account is timed-out)
Fig. 6 (auto-response-do not forget to click “save”)
Fig. 6.1 (click add trusted-contact)
Fig. 6.2 (insert email address for your trusted contact and click next)
Fig. 6.3 (select data to be shared with your trusted contact)
Fig. 6.4 (prepare email for the trusted contact when receiving your data. Click “save”)
Fig. 7 (Click enable to set up the Inactive account manager)
Fig. 8 (disable the Inactive account manager)
v. Optionally delete account
If you wish, instruct Google to delete your account on your behalf.
Fig. 9 (click “yes” for “delete my account” under “Optionally Delete Account”. Click “Enable”)
Fig. 10 (select either Delete Account + Content or Delete your entire Google profile)
Fig. 11 (select your choice as outlined in the Figure bellow. Click “Delete Google account”)
Any questions can be submitted to: dan@e-crimeexpert.com
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Do you know what is your child’s age requirement to sign up online?
As the Internet permeates every aspect of the economy and society, it is also becoming an essential element of our children’s lives. While it can bring considerable benefits for their education and development, it also exposes them to online risks such as access to inappropriate content, harmful interactions with other children or with adults, and exposure to aggressive marketing practices.
Children online can also put their computer systems at risk and disseminate their personal data without understanding the potential long-term privacy consequences.
In addition, there are other risks for children using online environments, such as:
-Privacy risks
-cyber-bullying
-cyber-stalking
-age-inappropriate content
-online grooming
-identity theft
-emotional implications.
Beside support and guidance from parents when using the online environment, an appropriate mental development and understanding is important for a child when using an online platform. For these reasons, in both the United States and the European Union, a minimum age requirements for accessing the “online world” was set as a legal requirement.
E-Crime Expert thinks that the minimum age requirements a child should meet when signing up for an email account, Facebook, etc., should be a topic of interest for parents. For these reasons, we researched the minimum age requirements on some of the most popular online sites and platforms.
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in United States applies to the online collection of personal information by persons or entities under U.S. jurisdiction from children under 13 years of age. It details what a website operator must include in a privacy policy, when and how to seek verifiable consent from a parent or guardian, and what responsibilities an operator has to protect children’s privacy and safety online including restrictions on the marketing to those under 13. While children under 13 can legally give out personal information with their parents’ permission, many websites altogether disallow underage children from using their services due to the amount of work involved.
In the European Union, the European Commission released in January 2012, a Proposal on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (General Data Protection Regulation).
This Proposal has specific requirements with regards to Children. They deserve specific protection of their personal data, as they may be less aware of risks, consequences, safeguards and their rights in relation to the processing of personal data. To determine when an individual is a child, this Regulation should take over the definition laid down by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
“Article 8
Processing of personal data of a child
For the purposes of this Regulation, in relation to the offering of information society services directly to a child, the processing of personal data of a child below the age of 13 years shall only be lawful if and to the extent that consent is given or authorised by the child’s parent or custodian. The controller (i.e. the person in charge with the collection, use and disclosure of personal data) shall make reasonable efforts to obtain verifiable consent, taking into consideration available technology”.
Following, are the minimum age requirements for children using different Internet websites or Social Networking Services and other online platforms:
1. Facebook:
How old do you have to be to sign up for Facebook?
In order to be eligible to sign up for Facebook, you must be at least 13 years old.
The minimum age requirement on Facebook is more or less enforceable. Simply lying about your birthdate easily circumvents the policy.
The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) mandates that websites that collect information about users aren’t allowed to sign on anyone under the age of 13. As a result, Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities require users of the social network to be at least 13 years old (and even older, in some jurisdictions).
According to MinorMonitor, over 38 percent of children with Facebook accounts are 12-years-old and under. Even more worryingly, 4 percent of children on Facebook are reported to be 6-years-old or younger, which translates to some 800,000 kindergarteners on Facebook.
These results come from a survey of 1,000 parents of children under 18-years-old who use Facebook. The company provides a free, web-based parental tool that gives parents a quick view into their child’s Facebook use, including potential dangerous activities such as the friending of online predators, cyberbullying, violence, drug and alcohol use, as well as sexual references.
2. Google:
Age requirements on Google Accounts:
- United States: 13 or older
- Spain: 14 or older
- South Korea: 14 or older
- Netherlands: 16 or older
- All other countries: 13 or older
Some Google products have specific age requirements. Here are a few examples:
- YouTube: When a YouTube video has been age-restricted, a warning screen is displayed and only users who are 18 or older can watch it. Learn more about age-restricted videos.
- Google Wallet: 18+
- AdSense: 18+
- AdWords: 18+
3. Yahoo
When a child under age 13 attempts to register with Yahoo!, they ask the child to have a parent or guardian create a Yahoo! Family Account to obtain parental permission.
Yahoo! does not contact children under age 13 about special offers or for marketing purposes without a parent’s permission.
Yahoo! does not ask a child under age 13 for more personal information, as a condition of participation, than is reasonably necessary to participate in a given activity or promotion.
Yahoo! is concerned about the safety and privacy of all its users, particularly children. For this reason, parents of children under the age of 13 who wish to allow their children access to the Yahoo! Services must create a Yahoo! Family Account. When you create a Yahoo! Family Account and add your child to the account, you certify that you are at least 18 years old and that you are the legal guardian of the child/children listed on the Yahoo! Family Account. By adding a child to your Yahoo! Family Account, you also give your child permission to access many areas of the Yahoo! Services, including, email, message boards and instant messaging (among others). Please remember that the Yahoo! Services is designed to appeal to a broad audience. Accordingly, as the legal guardian, it is your responsibility to determine whether any of the Yahoo! Services areas and/or Content are appropriate for your child.
4. Hotmail
As on Hotmail’s Terms of Use is no reference to the age requirements to join the service, we did our own registration and it appears that 13 is the age requirement for joining Hotmail, as shown below:
I. Attempt indicating the user is 6 years old
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
II. Second attempt, indicating the user is 13 years old.
Step 1
Step 2
5. MySpace
- You must be at least 13 years old to have a Myspace profile
- If you’re under 16 years old, you’re not allowed to list your age as over 16 and make your profile public (your profile must be set to private)
- If you’re under 18, you’re not allowed to list your age as over 18
- Users under 18 are not able to make changes to their listed age
Notes & Tips
- If you break any of the above rules, MySpace will be forced to delete your profile for safety and security reasons (it’s all in their Terms of Use)
6. Skype
Skype not directly sets up an age restriction within their Terms of Use.
“Jurisdiction’s Restrictions: If the law of Your country prohibits You from downloading or using Skype Software because You are under the age limit or because the Skype Software is not allowed in Your country, please don’t use it”.
According to this, for US the minimum age requirement is 13 + (COPPA).
7. LinkedIn
PRIVACY POLICY, 18!
In terms of LinkedIn’s Privacy Policy:
”Children are not eligible to use our service and we ask that minors (under the age of 18) do not submit any personal information to us or use the service.”
8. Twitter
Age screening on Twitter
Age screening is a way for brands and others to determine online whether a follower meets a minimum age requirement, in a way that is consistent with relevant industry or legal guidelines. This makes it easier for advertisers and others with content not suitable for minors (e.g. alcohol advertisers) to advertise on Twitter.
There apparently, is now age restriction for setting up an account on Twitter (as we set it up without being asked about our age). See below:
Step 1
Step 2: Done!
For more advice on how children could stay safe online (you could also share this with your child), click here to visit the material E-Crime Expert specially created for this purpose.
Any questions can be submitted to: dan@e-crimeexpert.com
Additional information can be found at: www.e-crimeexppert.com
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What to do in case of credit/payment card fraud: real life example!
This weekend E-Crime Expert encountered a financial fraud which happened to us in real life. Money was fraudulently withdrawn from our (Dan’s) account. Luckily, we immediately identified the fraud which enables us to cancel the card and report the fraud in order to be reimbursed.
1. How it could be detected:
i. Go log into your online banking account (Fig. 1)
(I am using a mobile platform for my online banking)
Fig. 1.
ii. Type your user name or card number and password (Fig. 2)
Fig. 2
iii. Select one of your accounts and then go through your transaction records carefully and see if there is any transaction you do not recognize (this is how I identified the fraud in my VISA account).Fig. 3.
Fig. 3
iv. Most likely the fraudulent transaction will be from a service provider or vendor that you had nothing to do with it (as it happened in my case) Fig. 4.
Fig. 4
2. What to do if you suspect fraudulent activity:
Despite your best efforts, there is still a chance that you will become a victim of payment card fraud. You will save yourself time and worry by following the steps below:
- Call your financial institution immediately. You can find the phone number easily on the back of your card (Fig. 5).
Fig. 5 
It may want to cancel your current card and mail you a new one. Check to verify that your mailing address has not been changed.
- If you still have your card, but fraudulent purchases have been made on the account, call your financial institution, and ask them to issue you a new one.
- Contact the national credit bureaus to let them know you are a victim of fraud. They will place a “Fraud Alert” on your file. You can also request copies of your credit report, which you should review carefully. For North America: Equifax: 1-800-465-7166 or www.equifax.ca
TransUnion: 1-866-525-0262 or www.tuc.ca - Diligently check your statements in the following months to make sure the problem has been completely resolved.
- Report the fraudulent activity to the proper authorities, including the police or to the Internet Crime Complaint Center:
i. Mastercard:
To successfully fulfill your mission of how to contact MasterCard fraud,
- you can call 800-627-8372.
- If you’re not in the United States, contact MasterCard fraud by calling 636-722-7111.
- If it’s an emergency related to possible fraud, MasterCard will accept international collect calls.
ii. Visa:
- Call the bank or other organisation that issued your card, if you know the telephone number. They will immediately block your card and organise a replacement
- If you do not have your card issuer’s telephone number, use the menu on the Global Card Assistance Directory page for help.
To use the Global Card Assitance Service Directory Click here.
From the pull-down menu choose the country you are in now. Call the telephone number that appears in the right-hand box. Calls might be free but may carry local telecom fees if one dials using a mobile phone or calls from within a hotel.
If outside the US please make a reverse-charge call to +1 303 967 1096, if within the US, simply dial +1 800 847 2911.
3. What you need to be prepare to provide when calling:
- The name of your card issuer
- The type of card — for example, Visa Electron, Visa Classic, Visa Gold
- The country where the card was issued
It will help if you can also tell them:
- Your 16-digit Visa/MasterCard account number
- If you have your own card account or a partner card
- Your name as it is printed on the card
- The address where your statement is sent
- Your home telephone number
- How the card went missing or what transaction you find illegitimate
- Other personal details that will be used as a security check to confirm your identity
- The identity of the primary cardholder, if you are the secondary cardholder.
4. Tips to stay safe:
i. How to prevent identity theft
Identity theft involves acquiring another person’s identification information (such as a social insurance number or any unique identifier) without a person’s knowledge for the purpose of impersonating him or her to commit fraud. The best defense against identity theft is to prevent thieves from getting the information in the first place.
Here are guidelines to follow:
- Never leave your purse or wallet unattended – keep your personal data and information guarded at all times.
- Sign your credit and debit cards in permanent ink as soon as you receive them.
- Call your card issuer if a new or reissued card does not arrive when expected.
- Don’t carry your social insurance card, birth certificate, or passport in your wallet or purse unless it’s absolutely necessary. Cancel any inactive payment card accounts.
- Never throw away receipts in a public trash container. When disposing of receipts or old statements, be sure to destroy the areas where the account number is visible. In general, you should keep all your receipts in a safe place to refer to if you suspect suspicious activity.
- Check your statements frequently and carefully. Be sure you are familiar with all account activity on the statement. If you find an unauthorized or questionable transaction, call the appropriate organizations immediately.
- Do not write your credit or debit card account number on a cheque, or use it for identification when paying by other means.
- If your social insurance card or driver’s license is missing, contact the appropriate agency immediately.
- Never give any payment card, bank, or social insurance information to anyone by telephone, even if you made the call, unless you can positively verify that the call is legitimate and there is a true need for the information.
- Keep a list of all your credit accounts and bank accounts in a secure place so you can quickly call the issuers to inform them about missing or stolen cards. Include account numbers, expiration dates, and telephone numbers of customer service and fraud departments.
- Make a note of when your financial statements arrive each month. If your statements stop arriving, contact your bank immediately.
- Obtain a copy of your credit report once a year from one of the national credit bureaus. You are entitled to a free copy of your report if you are denied credit. Otherwise, most credit bureaus will charge a small fee. If the report data is incorrect, write the credit bureau immediately and keep a copy of your letter.
ii. How to prevent fraud while using your payment card
Payment cards are used everyday by billions of people throughout the world. By following the steps below, you will significantly reduce the chances of fraudulent activity occurring on your account:
- When making a purchase, keep your card in view at all times. Retrieve the card as soon as the transaction is complete and make sure it is yours.
- Memorize your passwords and personal identification numbers (PINs) so you do not have to write them down. Be aware of your surroundings; make sure no one is watching you input your PIN.
- Never sign a blank receipt slip. Draw a line through any blank amount lines that appear above the total amount line.
- Save all of your receipts so you can refer to them at a later time. Never discard your receipt in a public trash container.
- Do not provide your account number over the phone unless you are positive the call is legitimate and there is a legitimate purpose to disclose your account number. Never provide your number over the phone if you didn’t initiate the call.
- Avoid saying your account number aloud at a merchant location or over the phone if others can hear.
iii. How to prevent fraud while shopping online
Shopping online opens up a world of choices and convenience – as well as some risks that require extra vigilance. Here are some tips to ensure that your online shopping experience remains safe and enjoyable:
- Make sure you are doing business with a reputable Internet merchant. Check with the Better Business Bureau or provincial and local consumer agencies to find out about past complaints or experiences from other customers. You can also look for the following information on the website to check if a merchant is reputable:
- Privacy policy – A reputable website often has a clearly stated privacy policy in an accessible place. Read the privacy policy so you know exactly how the merchant intends to use your information.
- Information about the offer – make sure you learn all you can about the offer, including the delivery date, terms of warranty, cancellation policies, how to contact the company if you have questions, etc.
- Information about the merchant – make sure to find the company’s physical address and telephone number.
- Security – Reputable websites often provide information about how they protect your financial information when it is transmitted and stored.
- Guard your personal information. Don’t provide information that you are uncomfortable giving. Never give anyone the password that you use to log on to your Internet Service Provider or online bank account.
- Keep records. Print out all information about your online transaction and keep it in a safe place to refer to at a later time.
- Pay with a payment card – as this is often the safest way to pay online. In North America, the cardholder has the right to dispute charges if the goods or services were misrepresented or never delivered. Also, you are not responsible for fraudulent purchases made on your account.
- Make sure the merchant that you are dealing with has proper security measures in place. Your computer browser can tell you if the place where you are about to send the information is secure. Look for an unbroken key or closed lock at the bottom of the browser window. If you cannot determine this, do not put your credit or debit card information over the Internet.
- Hover the weblink on the browser you are using to see if there is no hidden link from a fake or illegitimate cloned website.
iv. Setting up your best security for your Visa Card:
Visa has developed several layers of fraud prevention and detection systems and programs, giving you multiple checkpoints for security to protect your business and make transactions more secure. Visa’s Layers of Security complement each other and work together, so by implementing multiple services you can help reduce your risk of fraud.
The Layers of Security:
Layer # 1 – Chip & PIN
Many Visa cards now contain a micro-computer chip that securely stores encrypted information to complete transactions. As well, Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) are used for cardholder authentication when chip cards are used in Canada. This helps make counterfeiting virtually impossible.
Layer # 2 – Verified by Visa
The Verified by Visa (VbV) program is a worldwide service that confirms a cardholder’s authenticity in real time. This helps protect merchants from fraudulent transactions and chargebacks, while protecting cardholders from unauthorized use of their Visa cards.
Layer # 3 – Three-digit Code (CVV2)
The CVV2 is a three-digit security code on all Visa cards that helps ensure a customer making an online or phone purchase has a genuine Visa card in hand.
Layer # 4 – Address Verification Service (AVS)
When fraudsters try to order online, by mail or by phone, AVS can help stop them in their tracks. Account number information obtained from a receipt or a stolen card does not include an address or postal code. AVS checks a cardholder’s address and/or postal code against the card issuer’s records in real time, giving you the opportunity to stop a transaction if desired.
Layer # 5 – Visa Advanced Authorization (VAA)
Available through most card issuers, VAA lets you immediately identify and respond to emerging fraud patterns and trends. As transactions are processed through VisaNet® Advanced Authorization, VAA evaluates an authorization request data in real time and assesses and assigns a risk rating – helping you better identify potential fraud.
5. Additional contact numbers for Canada only:
MasterCard Issuer Security Phone Numbers in Canada:
| ATB Financial: | 1-800-661-2266 | |
| BMO Bank of Montreal: | 1-800-361-3361 | |
| Bridgewater Bank: | 1-866-398-4404 | |
| Canadian Tire Bank: | 1-800-459-6415 | |
| Capital One Canada: | 1-800-481-3239 | |
| CIBC: | 1-800-663-4575 | |
| Citibank Canada: | 1-800-305-7259 | |
| Credit Union Electronic Transaction Services: | 1-800-567-8111 | |
| Direct Cash Bank: | 1-888-466-4043 | |
| GE Money Canada: | 1-800-243-2222 | |
| HSBC Bank Canada: | 1-866-406-4722 | |
| MBNA Canada: | 1-800-379-2744 | |
| National Bank of Canada: | 1-888-622-2783 | |
| Peoples Trust: | 1-866-452-1138 | |
| President’s Choice Bank: | 1-866-246-7262 | |
| RBC Royal Bank: | 1-800-361-0152 | |
| Sears Canada: | 1-800-288-9965 | |
| Walmart Financial Services Canada: | 1-888-925-6218 | |
| Wells Fargo Financial: | 1-888-295-0050 | |
If you have any question you could contact: dan@e-crimeexpert.com
Additional information can be found at: www.e-crimeexppert.com
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