3.1 Data Theft? Data theft occurs when a fraudster steals
identifying information--names, addresses, financial data--from
an unsuspecting victim and sells the information or uses it for
personal gain. Keyloggers can skim Web users' e-mail addresses
and passwords by using software that surreptitiously captures
the keystrokes they type, for example. Phishing scams use bogus
e-mails and Web sites that seem legitimate but are actually
designed to trick users into revealing personal and financial
information. Computer criminals can then use the data to spy on
or blackmail users, hijack their online accounts (including bank
accounts), spread rumors, or operate under the victim's
identity. Although minors don't risk as much financial loss as
adults, they are in danger of exposure to interlopers aiming to
hijack or share their online identity. Children are especially
vulnerable because they're often unable to identify and report
data-snatching malware, and because they tend to be less
cautious about sharing sensitive