How to Defend Against Identity Theft This Tax Season

CNBC, By: Cadie Thompson

ax season is a busy time for cybercriminals.

During the first nine months of 2012 there was a 62 percent increase in the number of identity theft cases detected by the IRS.

Cybercriminals are prowling the web for ways to access people's personal information so they can cash in on their identity. The hackers have various ways of stealing taxpayers identity, including the use of social media and malicious websites to lure and harm taxpayers.

One reason cyberattacks increase around tax season is because the same cybercriminals are also taxpayers, said Dmitry Bestuzhev, head of Latin American global research and analysis at the computer security company Kaspersky Lab.

Read more...