Taking Back Control of Your Privacy

InsideCRM.com recently published an article that outlines 50 tips to maintain your privacy and avoid ID theft or other cyber crimes. This list is comprehensive and includes great advice on how to keep yourself protected. Everything you do online is susceptible to scams and other privacy risks; these tips could end up being the difference between security and theft. The article does not focus primarily on Internet privacy, it also discusses the ways to stay protected when offline. The full list can be found in the article, but the following are some of the major points.

• Internet Privacy
• Don't save e-mail address or password settings (log-in information) for frequently used sites such as online banking.
• Use anti-virus protection.
• If using wireless, set up a password and secure the connection.

• Credit and Financial
• Check you credit report about 2-3 times per year.
• Use a credit card for online purchases instead of a debit card.
• Never use your Social Security Number as a pin or password.

• General Privacy
• Don't use your Social Security Number as an identification number (such as an employee number) or write your SS# on checks. This number needs to be secured and given to as few people as possible.
• Understand pretexting and the danger it poses to your privacy.

• Cell Phones and Online Phones
• Check and understand your providers Privacy Policy and frequently stay informed on updates to the policy.

• Other Rules to Follow
• Keep your Social Security card in a safe and secure place. That place is not your wallet or purse either!
• Shred documents that contain personal information such as birth dates and credit card numbers.
• Look for "https" when making an online transaction. This is different from "http" because the "s" indicates a secured and encrypted connection so only you and the site have access to the information.

The tips and tools on the site are very helpful. As stated before, these can be the difference between having your identity stolen or maintaining your security. Many of these tips are common sense for some people, but the fact is identity theft and cyber crime are a problem. If you already know to keep your Social Security Number secured, that's great! Now take the next step and do something else on the list to protect yourself.