Identity Protection

In this digital world it has become increasingly easy to copy just about anything; including your identity. So how do you protect yourself? Here's some tips:

• Review your credit card and bank statements regularly for suspicious activity.
• Request your Credit report at least once a year. Examine it for accounts you did not open.
• Keep sensitive hard copy information in a fire and watter proof safe, or a safe deposit box.
• Dispose of sensitive information by destroying it completely (i.e. cross-cut shredder).
• Get a P.O. box or locking mailbox, and deposit sensitive outgoing main directly at the carriers office.
• Use anti-spyware and virus protection on all Windows computers, or just get a Mac.
• Encrypt sensitive files on your computer and removable media.
• Keep your computer's software up to date, especially the Operating System.
• Dispose of old computers and media securely. Deleting files or formatting the drive is not enough.
• Change your passwords and pins regularly. Use a password utility to auto-generate strong passwords.
• Never give out personal information over the phone or Internet unless you initiated the contact.
• Never send any kind of personal information threw e-mail, even to people you trust.
• Never click on links claiming to be from financial institutions. Go to their web-sites directly your self instead.
• Reduce the amount of sensitive mail you get, including statements, credit card offers, etc.
• Remove yourself from pre-approved credit offers, junk mail, and telemarketing lists.
• Sign the back of your credit cards, and question the checkout person if they don't check it or your identity.
• Get a freeze put on your credit for yourself and your children. This will also help you be more responsible with getting new credit.
• Incurage your doctor to stop asking for your SSN and using it as the primary ID for their records.

If you believe your information or cards have been stolen:

• Notify your card issuers immediately.
• Have card issuers correct any unauthorized transactions.
• Correct incorrect reports submitted to the credit bureaus.
• Change your PIN and passwords immediately.

If your SSN is being used without your authorization:

• Notify the credit bureaus and establish a fraud alert.
• Use a unique identification number assigned to you credit report for all communications.
• Send mail items as certified and with return receipt requests.
• File a report with the local police where the identity theft took place. Keep a copy of the report.
• Close the accounts that have been compromised or that were opened without your consent.
• Put a freeze on your credit, to prevent anyone from accessing your credit files.

Here's some helpful web-sites:

Federal Trade Commission: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft
Free Annual Credit Report: http://www.annualcreditreport.com/

Credit Bureaus:
Equifax - http://www.equifax.com/
TransUnion - http://www.transunion.com/
Experian - http://www.experian.com/

Stop Pre-Approved Credit Card Offers: http://www.optoutprescreen.com/
Get off Junk Mail Lists: http://www.dmachoice.org/MPS/proto1.php
SS ID Theft Info: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html
Do Not Call List: http://www.donotcall.gov/ or 888-382-1222 from the number you want on the list.

Anti-Spyware:
Sypbot - http://www.safer-networking.org/
AdAware - http://www.lavasoft.com/
A real OS - http://www.apple.com/macosx/

Password Utilities:
KeePass - http://www.keepass.info/
KeePassX (for Mac) - http://www.keepassx.org/
Password Safe - http://passwordsafe.sourceforge.net/

Disk Wiping:
Darik's Boot and Nuke - http://dban.sourceforge.net/
Heidi Eraser - http://www.heidi.ie/node/6

File Encryption:
Included with Apple computers
PGP - http://www.pgp.com/products/desktop_home

Anti-Phishing:
Google Toolbar for FireFox - http://www.google.com/tools/firefox/toolbar
IE 7 - http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp.safety/technologies/antiphishing