Report: College students ill-prepared to fight identity theft

According to a new report released by the U.K. Information Commissioner's Office, college students are not taking the proper precautions to protect themselves against the risks of identity theft.

The threat of identity fraud is hitting home for a number of university students beginning to look for their first jobs. According to the study, 42 percent of respondents expressed concern that personal information available online may hurt their future employment prospects. But despite this growing awareness, few students are taking proper action.

"In tough times, young people are clearly less relaxed about privacy - particularly in relation to information they post online - but many may not know what they can do about it," Information Commissioner Christopher Graham remarked.

Students may also be looking in the wrong places when identifying threats. According to the study, 76 percent of respondents have not checked their credit ratings in the past year, leaving them unaware of potentially damaging action taken by identity thieves.

In an effort to raise awareness and help young people protect themselves from emerging online security threats, the ICO has launched its Student Brand Ambassador campaign. By taking simple actions - like adopting a conservative stance on social media posting or deploying defensive tools such as a free password manager - students can take control of their online identities.