Illegal data trade has grown in 2012 with experts attributing this to password theft or breaches in online security. In the first four months of 2012, 12 million pieces of data were illegally traded on the internet. Most of the data was password and login details. The statistics of Jan-April 2012, have already outstripped the online theft record in 2010 which was 9.5 million.

The main cause of this increase in password theft is due to the rising number of online accounts. Some consumers are maintaining 10-40 online accounts. Internet surfers increase their vulnerability by using the same log-in details and passwords for their multiple accounts. Moreover, consumers register profiles with valuable personal and financial information. These include social network profiles, shopping accounts and email addresses.

Password and log-in details account for nine out of ten illegally traded data and are access keys to crucial data such as address books and other personal valuable information. These facts alone are enough to heighten awareness for consumers to adopt cautious methods of securing their online data.

There are a few key factors to consider when selecting a password to any online account.  First of all, avoid being too obvious but also go with digits or initials that you will remember. For multiple account holders, use different password and log-in details for every account. It is also advisable to change your log-in and password details on a regular basis.

The business of online theft can prove lucrative to many computer savvy individuals.  It’s something you can do from home, so there is an increased feeling of safety from getting caught.  However, with this increase in data theft also comes more intense scrutiny of the internet.   More and more perpetrators are now being caught for criminal online activity. Depending on the level of punishment, the courts now often mandate online theft classes are taken as part of the criminal’s retribution.

Theft classes online have become increasingly popular to fulfill court ordered requirements.  Stealing in most cases is more of a personal disorder than a vice. There are those who possess kleptomaniac instincts which they are unable to resist. Or, those who just like the thrill they get from breaking the law without getting caught.  For such individuals, theft classes are meant to help them fight their addiction and direct their negative energies elsewhere. Theft classes also apply to those who get in to theft because of peer pressure, poverty, joblessness or drug addiction.

In theft classes, thieves are enlightened of their actions and the consequences thereof. Individuals get to question their actions and are able to see the implications. Theft lessons aim at teaching empathy to the perpetrators, sparking a reaction of self realization. Professional therapists may be involved in theft lessons to help in the psychological aspect of stealing and can be accessed by a simple phone call during the work week.

Taking a course online can be extremely helpful to the client because they can fulfill the requirement from the convenience of their own home from a web-based computer from anywhere in the country.  No more driving across town during rush hour to try and meet a preordained schedule.  Classes can be taken from home at any time of the day or night, so they alleviate the need to miss work or school.

This allows the individual more privacy, as no one in the community needs to know that they are taking the class.  The length of class, anywhere from 4 – 16 hours, is mandated by the court and a certificate of completion is awarded to the client once he has passed the final exam.  This certificate of completion is turned into the judicial system to prove the individual has fulfilled the requirement.  The bottom line is that getting caught involved in any type of theft will ruin your life.  Taking online theft classes is a way to help overcome the addiction, in the least intrusive environment as possible. 

The term Grand Theft means stealing an amount exceeding a predetermined state statutory amount and is a way of ranking how severe the crime is.  Each state has a slightly different definition of what that amount is.  For example, in California Grand theft is committed when the value of the stolen property exceeds $400.00.  The value of  stolen property in Texas must be more than $500, while in New York, it consists of stealing property worth $1,000 or more.  Items included in this definition are usually firearms, motor vehicles, animals (such as horses, farm animals or assistance dogs) and even the United States flag. 

Many people who have been convicted of grand larceny are not who you would expect.  They are not poor or homeless but rather individuals with a great deal of money that either have mental issues or do it for the thrill.  Some of the most interesting stories that deal with theft include celebrities. Probably one of the most well known shoplifting cases is the 2001 arrest of Winona Ryder for stealing $5,500 worth of designer clothes and accessories from a Saks Fifth Avenue store in Beverly Hills.  She was able to plea bargain and ended up with 3 years probation, 480 hours of community service, $3,700 in fines, $6,355 in restitution to Saks and was ordered to attend psychiatric and drug counseling programs.

Coincidentally a woman last year was accused of stealing $2,500 worth of clothes from a San Francisco Neiman Marcus store. The woman seemed like she had the funds to pay for the items she paid for (she is married to a judge and holds a position as a lawmaker).  There are many theft addicts that have the desire to feel the rush of stealing. The people who find themselves facing prosecution for grand theft are the ones that never get their theft addiction problems resolved. 

As you can see from the results of Winona Ryder’s arrest, punishment can be severe and completely disrupt your life.  In her situation, she took a 4-year hiatus from acting to get counseling and get her career back on track.  During that time she had trouble making movies because insurance companies wouldn’t insure her due to her history of erratic behavior. 

Before you let your life get to this point, get help!  One good way of beginning this process is by taking online classes designed to help individuals overcome their desire to steal.   Theft classes online can be taken from the convenience of your own home, from any Internet based computer.  These classes are completely private so no one else needs to know that you are taking them.  They will help you understand why you have the impulse to steal and how this behavior can be altered and prevented.  If you choose a quality course, then a qualified practicing therapist is available to speak with for additional support as well.  

Online Theft classes are also available for individuals who have already been convicted of shoplifting or theft and need to fulfill a court mandate.  Confirm with the court that they will accept a high quality online course, and you alleviate the cost and hassle of having to drive to and from a classroom at a specific time.  A certificate of completion is issued at the end of these courses to prove that you successfully took the course and passed the final exam.  

Shoplifting is defined as the act of stealing items of any kind from any store, especially retail ones. This is commonly known as taking things from a store without paying for them or having the intention of paying for them. When a person is caught shoplifting there are a variety of negative repercussions.

Initially, the individual can rightfully be detained by the respective retail store as long as it has a probable cause. This means that if a store has justified suspicion about an individual taking something from the shelves and concealing it, then they can stop the person from leaving the store. Besides concealing items from the store, any activities that include modification, movement or failing to pay for items, gives the store a mandate to detain a suspect. The store can also determine if the shoplifter should return the item and declare a ban on the individual if necessary. The store may also be allowed to prosecute them and impose a fine on the offense.

If you are with a friend that decides to shoplift, get away from the situation.  You may not want anything to do with your friend's behavior and just stand there watching the act unfold.  However, if you don’t get yourself away from the scene, you can be considered an accomplice just by being together with the person who does the crime.  You will also be qualified to be charged.  A charge also applies if you help the shoplifter conceal the item by distracting the staff at the store or acting as the lookout. You are also considered to be shoplifting if you alter the price tag of merchandise or just take a piece of the item for consumption or sampling.

The severity of your punishment when getting caught shoplifting is often up to the judgment of the manager or owner of the store.  For example, as in the case of Lindsey Lohan walking out of a jewelry wearing a piece of jewelry, the owner could have believed her story that it was a mistake and let it go.  Instead he chose to press charges which got her in a great deal of trouble.  Punishment may range from community service all the way to a jail term. Judges almost always include that a theft education class be taken to show retribution as well. 

Online theft classes provide a high quality way to fulfill this court ordered mandate.  Taking them online is beneficial because it eliminates the stress of having to miss work or school to drive to a classroom at a specific time.  If you take an online course, you can take them 24/7 and can drop in and out of the program at your own convenience.  No one is watching over you to make sure you’ve accomplished a certain amount of the course.  It is strictly up to your own judgment and convenience.  At the end of the course, a certificate of completion is issued.  This is a document that is similar to a diploma and proves to the court that you have successfully fulfilled their request.  Classes are also low-cost, so you are not only saving gas money but the expense of supporting the rent of a traditional classroom setting.  If you choose a course that is designed by a licensed and practicing therapist, you will be satisfied with an interesting and educational experience.

Identity theft on social networking sites has become every social media enthusiast’s worst nightmare. Facebook is undoubtedly the fastest growing social networking site in the world and has over a billion active users with another half a million new ones signing up per day. However, some of those characteristics that make it a great social site, also expose its users to varied crimes of identity theft. To protect your identity on social media sites, follow these tips:

1)     Be proactive about managing your Facebook privacy settings

Since Facebook is a networking site, its configurations are by default, set to make you easily accessible to other people. Facebook for instance, allows you to join groups made up of individuals who have a common characteristic, like having attended the same college or living in a certain town. Be aware that by joining these groups, it means that every member of that group can access your profile information at will.  Fortunately, the Facebook user has the option of control over his/her privacy settings by using the "My Privacy" section of this site which is accessed by clicking on the "Privacy" link. From here one has full control of his privacy settings and can micro-manage it to choose who will be viewing what aspects of his profile or activity on Facebook.

2)     The less personal details, the better

Most people list their full names, phone number, email address and phone number on their profile. Some even provide very critical data like their spouses name and date of birth. This is the kind of information that identity thieves use to perpetuate all types of identity theft. The savvy ones might use this information to aid them to hack into your accounts since such detailed personal information can tip them off to some potential username or passwords. Once they have accessed any of your online accounts, they can then use it to cause you further harm like shopping online using your credit card details. 

3)     Accept friend requests only from those you know

It is common practice to find users accepting friend requests they have received from those that they do not know. By doing this, one potentially opens himself up to identity thieves and other cyber criminals. It is therefore advisable that one only accepts friend requests from those they already know.  If you must extend your friends list then at least choose people that you have quite a number of mutual friends with.

4)     Give very minimal data about your location

Criminals across the nation have begun to use Facebook to victimize people. Do not give such crucial information as when you will be on a vacation or when you will be attending a certain event out of town.   Burglars can take advantage of your absence to break into your home.  You might think that a close friend would never do this to me.  However, it’s not the close friend, but the friend of a friend who hears or sees the information.  

Studies have shown that quite a number of victims of identity theft know those who perpetrated this crime. Taking the above steps will definitely go a long way in helping you protect your identity from criminals, as well as improve the amount of fun you can derive from Facebook. 

If you have already been caught performing these criminal activities, the judge will most likely mandate that you take a course to teach you skills in overcoming this behavior.  Theftclassonline.com is a high quality class designed by a licensed and practicing therapist.  This theft education program is designed for the user to take at home in a relaxed and anonymous atmosphere.  The classes are available online 24/7 so the user can simply drop-in and out at his own pace.  Simply check with the court for approval of this course, then log-on and an interesting, informative program will unfold.

Shoplifting is a criminal act that occurs year-round, but many storeowners believe that it increases during the summer months. Kids have more unsupervised free time on their hands and will often hang out at malls to beat the heat.  Boredom, peer pressure, the thrill of the moment all contribute to teenage shoplifting.  If you have made this mistake this summer and have been caught, there are a number of issues that you are going to have to deal with.

The first is obviously the public embarrassment of getting caught stealing in the first place. Unlike a burglar who may get caught in the act by the police on his own, a shoplifter is more often than not caught by a store employee or security guard and marched through the entire store back to the office to await the police.  And, of course, you have probably been caught with a group of friends hovering around who may or may not be doing the same thing but haven’t been caught.  This whole scene is then followed by the private shame when your parents are notified.

The police will take you to the station where you will be booked and a court date will be set.  At the arraignment, the judge will determine what type of sentence to hand you based on your previous record and the situation at hand.  If it is a first-time offender, the judge will most likely impose a fine, community service and to take a theft class. 

At this point, you’ve probably lost all privileges at home, your parent’s are furious with you and you’ve taken up a great deal of time and energy to deal with the situation.  The best way to fulfill the learning portion of your sentence is to take a theft class online.  Classes are available by licensed therapists who have put together educational, high-quality and interesting programs.  Your parents will be happy because they don’t have to drive you to a traditional classroom.  You can take them from the convenience of your own computer any time of the day or night 24/7.  You can drop-in and out of the classes as your schedule allows, so you are in control of how quickly you accomplish completion.  Another huge benefit is that they are completely private and confidential.  No one needs to know that you have to take them since you do not need to show up in a public place so you don’t have to endure further embarrassment.

The main emphasis of online shoplifting classes is not on the fact that you have been caught doing something wrong, but on why you are doing it. The hope is that once you truly understand why you have committed or continue to commit this crime, you will be able to resist the temptation. This is a fairly typical psychological approach to any type of compulsive behavioral issue and has been found to be very effective with the vast majority of those who attend these classes.  At the end of the 4 – 16 hour class, (the length is determined by the court), you will receive a certificate of completion.  This is similar to a diploma and is what you turn in to prove you successfully completed the course.   Taking theft and shoplifting classes online to fulfill your court requirements is definitely the easiest and most stress-free way to handle an already stressful summer.