Posted by Sundi Hayes in I’ve shared with you in the past how to protect your passwords by using passwords unique to you and difficult to decipher. Stopping with your online safety isn’t actually enough though! Identity theft doesn’t have to start online. Here are some tips to protect you in other aspects of your life too:
- Set passwords to protect your digital devices – especially if you have personal information stored in your devices!
- Design high quality password and pin numbers. (Again, go here if you need help with this!)
- Get yourself a shredder! There isn’t a single one of us who manages not to get pre-approved credit cards in the mail at least once a week. (If you don’t please share how you managed that in the comments!)
- Lock your mailbox! Just because it is against the law for some schmuck to rifle through your mailbox doesn’t mean he won’t do it. We have a post office box inside our local post office and don’t even have curbside mail as an option since there isn’t a box installed at the end of our driveway.
- Every month when you pay your bills take a minute to check your online accounts for suspecious charges!
- Don’t mail checks. Yes, I know. If you live slightly rural this may be a problem. Although I’m in the big city all the time we live rural. Our itty-bitty water district only accepts checks. Can you imagine! In order to minimize I started paying lump sums every three months. At least I’ve tried to minimize the activity if I can’t stop it completely!
- Check your credit reports annually – you know this is F R E E right?
- Don’t provide personal information unless you initiated the contact. If a company you do business with calls you then they already have your account number and anything else they might need! I mean, they called you, right!?
- Do all that techie stuff…If you don’t know how then find someone who does. I’m talking about all the firewall, antispyware, antivirus and browser security stuff.
- Shop with reliable online companies. Look for secure online purchasing before you enter your credit card number. It is even better if your credit card protects you but remember just because it claims to protect your doesn’t mean the process of being protected will be easy!
- Finally, reduce the number of ways schmucks can get access! If you pay your bill online anyway, why do you need to receive a paper copy of your bill or invoice? (Besides, online invoicing and billpay are so much better for the environment!)
Hey, be safe out there!
Nibbling away -
Sundi
