Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS); incometax efiling portal of United States (https://www.irs.gov)
have suggested some best practices one can follow to protect one’s tax
and financial information. The suggestions are very much relevant for
all similar incometax online portals including
incometaxindiaefiling.gov.in. The suggestions are extracted hereunder :
1.
Give personal information over encrypted websites
only. If you’re shopping or banking online, stick to sites that use
encryption to protect your information as it travels from your computer
to their server. To determine if a website is encrypted, look for “https” at the beginning of the web address
(the “s” is for secure). Some websites use encryption only on the
sign-in page, but if any part of your session isn’t encrypted, the
entire account and your financial information could be vulnerable. Look for https on every page of the site you’re on, not just where you sign in.
2.
Protect your passwords. The longer the password, the tougher it is to crack.
Use at least 10 characters; 12 is ideal for most home users. Mix
letters, numbers and special characters. Try to be unpredictable – don’t
use your name, birthdate or common words. Don’t use the same password
for many accounts. If it’s stolen from you – or from one of the
companies with which you do business – it can be used to take over all
your accounts. Don’t share passwords on the phone, in texts or by email.
Legitimate companies will not send you messages asking for your
password. If you get such a message, it’s probably a scam. Keep your
passwords in a secure place, out of plain sight.
3.
Don’t assume ads or emails are from reputable
companies. Check out companies to find out if they are legitimate. When
you’re online, a little research can save you a lot of money and reduce your security risk.
If you see an ad or an offer that looks too good, take a moment to
check out the company behind it. Type the company or product name into
your favorite search engine with terms like “review,” “complaint” or
“scam.” If you find bad reviews, you’ll have to decide if the offer is
worth the risk. If you can’t find contact information for the company,
take your business and your financial information elsewhere. The fact
that a site features an ad for another site doesn’t mean that it
endorses the advertised site, or is even familiar with it.
4.
Don’t overshare on social media
– Do a web search of your name and review the results. Most likely, the
results will turn up your past addresses, the names of people living in
the household as well social media accounts and your photographs. All
of these items are valuable to identity thieves. Even a social media
post boasting of a new car can help thieves bypass security verification
questions that depend on financial data that only you should know.
Think before you post!
5.
Back up your files. No system
is completely secure. Copy important files and your federal and state
tax returns onto a removable disc or a back-up drive, and store it in a
safe place. If your computer is compromised, you’ll still have access to
your files.
6.
Save your tax returns and records. Your federal and
state tax forms are important financial documents you may need for many
reasons, ranging from home mortgages to college financial. Print out a
copy and keep in a safe place. Make an electronic copy in a safe spot as
well. These steps also can help you more easily prepare next year’s tax
return. If you store sensitive tax and financial records on your
computer, use a file encryption program to add an additional layer of security should your computer be compromised.
Thanks & Regards,
Meetesh Shiroya
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