It seems like every day, another company has a data breach. Thousands or tens of thousands of people’s personal data are stolen.
Phishing Scams
Social Engineering
People are using your identity and you probably haven’t the slightest clue!
So what should you do?
For the next few weeks, I want to focus on your personal data—all of the unique points that make you unique, make you targetable and that make you need to be concerned about keeping all of the important data safe— with a pealed eye on your personal data.
I’m starting with offline security—making sure your personal information—documents, identification, credit cards, checks, etc. – are kept safe at home and on the go. Here are 8 tips to make sure you keep your info safe wherever you might be:
- No more shoe boxes!
I hate to say this, but the time of stuffing all of your financials into a shoebox have come and gone. Lock your financial documents and records somewhere safe in your home—a safe, locked closet—or consider keeping important documents in a safety deposit box if you don’t need access to it regularly.
And another reminder, just because you’re at the office or in your house, don’t think you can leave your belongings around without having some prying eyes. Lock up wallets and purses at home and work to ensure the maid, a coworker or repair man doesn’t get tempted.
- Limit what you carry—only take what you need. Whether it’s money, credit cards, IDs, only take what you need. The more you carry, the more you have to lose. Plain and simple.
- Make copies of important documents—have a copy of your driver’s license, passport and other important documents locked up somewhere secure just in case you lose something.
- Shred Shred Shred—receipts, credit offers, applications, insurance forms, physician statements, expired cards and important documents, even prescription labels—thieves will try to use any information they can get their hands on. Err on security when dealing with documents that have any personal information—names and addresses, SSN, credit information, etc.
- Opt out of prescreening offers—many folks don’t realize that you can opt out of offers—credit card pre-approval notices, loan and insurance offers. The Fair Credit Reporting Act restricts companies from sending you offers if you have chosen to opt out from receiving promotions. Opting out of these offers limits the amount of your personal information sitting in your mailbox waiting to be stolen.
- Save tax federal and state tax returns— keeping previous tax returns not only helps you on next year’s filings, but also gives you records in case of a dispute. Generally, the IRS recommends keeping records for at least 3 years.
- Track who’s tracking you—credit checks, confirm your address hasn’t changed regularly (at least annually). Credit checks help you understand who is getting your information, whether irregularities exist with your records (wrong addresses, unusual credit history, unrecognized credit card accounts) to ensure if your identify was breached, it won’t be as difficult to deal with the consequences.
- If a credit card is stolen or missing, replace it immediately—even if you suspect a card may appear, unless you can quickly locate the card at a restaurant or store, replace the card. You likely will spend less time (and a lot less worrying) if you report a missing card to your credit card company than waiting for your old one to show up.
And if you have any questions about keeping personal information safe—whether it’s for business or home, feel free to reach out! And stay tuned for next week’s tips on keeping your online info secure.
