Keeping Your Identity Safe (#2)

What can YOU do to

Series 2 of 5

What can YOU do to prevent exposing your identity?

Breaches or the transfer of information can happen in many places on and off the internet. By taking steps to prevent your information floating to others, you can reduce your risk greatly.

Taking Steps In Your Home:

1. Limit the entry of housekeepers, plumbers, or other repair personal into your home unsupervised. It is sad to say, but even friends and acquaintances should also be limited. If you do not want to live in fear of everyone that comes through your door, lock up your valuables. You wouldn’t leave a diamond on the kitchen counter to tempt the most trustworthy person. Why would you leave bank account numbers to do the same. An inexpensive lockable safe or file cabinet can help not only with your security, but keeping you organized as well.
2. If you cannot remember PIN numbers or passwords, write them down, but keep them in a locked secure place. Do not carry them in your purse or wallet.
3. Shredding bills or forms that are no longer needed. By not shredding your paper work you leave little bits of your identity everywhere – even in your trash. You might be grossed out to go through someone’s trash, but a thief would not. This is the good, old, and still reliable way thieves can steal from you.Don’t think it is limited to your trash can either. It can occur at the dump. Don’t think they can’t find you amongst the landfill. Your copy of a completed credit card application might just be the lucky paper that gets to bask in the sunlight for a week unto the next load comes.
4. Do not use a cell or wireless phone to place orders, talk to the Social Security Office or Governmental Offices, check on credit card or bank accounts, or to give any personal information. The information that you state can be easily captured through technical devices, not to mention heard by everyone around. I read a great article talking about just this, called “Are your cell phone conversations secure?” (update 7/2009 – Here are two more articles: Protecting your Cellphone. and Tapping your Cellphone.) Read them, if you would like to know more.
5. Secure your wireless computer. Don’t we love moving around our house, our laptops in tow to any room or even out of doors? But alas, it is such a hassle to have to put in a password to start our computer, log on to your network, or even to enter a program. But, not doing that little “hassle”, it can cost you dearly. Having that signal so strong and available to you, also makes your network available to your neighbors and drive by’s.I have talked to many people who have laughed about being able to use their neighbor’s wireless connection from within their own homes or their neighbor being able to use theirs. They act like they are doing them a favor. This isn’t sugar we are sharing. It is your identity. It is direct access into your computer network — direct access to your most personal information.
6. Safe guard yourself by using firewalls and passwords – not the same one – on every program and computer that it will let you enter one. And change your passwords often. It is hard to follow the mind of a psychopath, but granny next door with her passwords named after her precious “Buttercup” would be very easy to figure out.If you think this is not possible, take your lap top and drive through the area, see how many networks you can view or even log-on to. But remember, if you can see them, they can see you. The person that is self-secure and network knowledgeable wins …possibly your identity. Please read more information regarding wireless security.
7. Protect your Social Security number, Drivers License, passwords, and other personal information at all times. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
8. Know who you are dealing with. Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with. Did you call them or did they call you? If someone wants your information and you did not call them, ask to call them back.
9. Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:
   1. Bills that do not arrive as expected
   2. Unexpected credit cards or account statements
   3. Denials of credit for no apparent reason
   4. Calls or letters about purchases you did not make – Also remember, if a credit card company calls to question purchases, you should not have to give them your information. They already have it. If they ask for it and tell you they can’t go any further without it, ask for a number to call them back. Then call the number on the back of the card to verify your account. Give the real credit card company the information you got from the frauds.
10. Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep all security and internet software up-to-date. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information.A good example of this is an email I got in the past. It was fraudulently addressed from one of the top third party credit card processors. We will call them “Transaction Friend”. It looked completely professional and stated that their security measures detected a “possible” third party breach. It even had a case ID number and a link to get more information to resolve the situation. It is assumed that I would want resolve the situation since the letter stated that my account was placed on “limited” access to prevent further vulnerabilities. Sounds scary doesn’t it? It makes you want to take the quickest action possible by clicking that link. BUT DON”T DO IT! Instead, go to your browser software and the “Transaction Friend” site. Access your information from there to verify that your account is alright. Sure enough mine was. Had I clicked on the link in the email, I would have allowed someone to track my keystrokes and had given them my access codes.Third party processors, credit card companies, banks and other financial institutions are not frivolous with their security. They will not email you with links. Most likely, information will be called or mailed to you through the US mail. And they will not ask for information from you.
11. Check and update your online browsers often for security issues. These companies would be Opera, Mozilla, Firefox, Safari, Netscape, Internet Explorer, Camino and Flock. Please note that this list is not a recommendation.Mozilla and Netscape browsers state on their websites that they are no longer upgrading. (See picture inserts.) Using these programs can cause you to be vulnerable since they do not have updated security measures. Make sure what ever program you use is the most up to date. It might cause you a little hassle to upgrade, but it will save you from a LOT of hassle rebuilding your credit.
12. Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Even if a company asks for such information, what they truly want is a way to identify you. Choose codes that only you will know, not information that hackers can gain through public records.
13. Inspect: Your credit report. Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and your bill paying history.The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it. Many internet links claim to offer you a free report, but do not. The link below is the ONLY one that is truly free.Visit AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228, a service created by these three companies, to order your free credit reports each year. You also can write: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
14. Your financial statements. Review financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking for charges you did not make.
15. Take control of your information: The FTC publishes a free brochure on Unsolicited Mail, Telemarketing and Email: Where to Go to “Just Say No,” that provides information on how you can cut down on the number of unsolicited mailings, calls and emails you receive by learning where to go to “just say no.” The national credit bureaus also offer a toll-free number that enables consumers to opt-out of all pre-approved credit offers with just one phone call. Call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) for more information.
16. The Drivers Protection Act gives you privacy rights with regard to information maintained by DMVs. The law lists the ways this information can be used — a DMV may distribute personal information for things like law enforcement, driver safety, insurance underwriting, etc. A recent amendment to the law now prohibits a DMV from distributing your personal information for other types of uses, including for direct marketing, unless you give them permission. Contact the DMV in your state for more information.
17. The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) offers the Mail, Telephone, and E-mail Preference Services, which allow you to opt-out of direct mail marketing, telemarketing and/or direct e-mail marketing from many national companies. Use the links below to access information and forms for the DMA’s Mail, Telephone and/or E-mail Preference Services.  Visit the DMA’s website for their most up-to-date information.

The security of your identity is too precious to leave up to other people. First and foremost it must begin with you.