Special Concern: Online Privacy.
While many suggestions have already been listed to protect your identity online there are a few areas that
require special attention.
Email Fraud.
Email fraud was thoroughly explained in the preceding chapter about steps to take to prevent identity fraud.
Treat every unsolicited email with suspicion and exercise caution when sending information that contains
personal or financial details through email.
Protect Your Computer.
Computer viruses and spyware can enter your computer when you click on a link in an email or by
accessing a website that downloads the program without your consent.
While no person can prevent all exposure to these viruses and spyware you can protect your computer by
installing a firewall as well as purchasing anit-virus and anit-spyware programs that routinely search your
computer and remove these threats.
Viruses can spread through your computer, corrupting files and information as well as being passed on to
other people through your email. Spyware can track your movements on the internet as well as collect
information that you enter while using the internet including passwords, banking information and personal
data.
You may also download programs that appear safe but are hiding spyware or viruses. These programs
are called Trojan Horses. Only download information from sites you know and trust.
Shop Securely.
Online shopping is convenient but can also pose hazards for unwary buyers. While electronic exchange of
funds makes buying online easier it is important to watch for signs of a secure site. Secure sites provide
encryption of data so that others can’t view it or intercept it. This encryption is called SSL (Secure Socket
Layers).
Look for security symbols such as a closed padlock on the bottom of your browser window and URLs that
start with https instead of http. Encryption that hides your sensitive information (like passwords, credit
card numbers and other personal data) by displaying it as dots rather than the actual numbers or letters is
another safety feature.
Check the Privacy Policy and only deal with reputable merchants. Check with the Better Business Bureau if
you’re unsure. You may also consider third party payment processors (such as Paypal and ClickBank)
which prevent the merchant from obtaining any financial information directly. Check the security status and
privacy policies of any third party processor before making a transaction.
Sharing Computers or Using Laptops.
If you are sending personal information on a public or shared computer you must log out of the browser
before ending your session. If you don’t log out another person may be able to use the back button on the
browser to obtain your information. Empty cookies so other users will not be given your information if they
access the same site.
Storing personal information on personal computers (especially laptops) can be dangerous if the
computer is stolen or hacked (illegally accessed). Don’t save sensitive passwords in programs that can
auto-fill forms.
Online Forums and Chat Rooms.
You may find that in the excitement of meeting new people and developing personal relationships in
online forums and chat rooms you to forget the dangers of providing too much information.
In these social or business gatherings you may foster friendships within the group but it is important to
remember that these areas are available to the public and individuals who are not making their presence
known can still be ‘lurking’ on the forums and searching for personal pieces of information that are
inadvertently expressed.
You never really know who you are talking to so it is wise to make it a habit to never reveal personal
information such as your telephone number or address to these public groups.
Even if you are dealing with a private chat room you should exercise caution if you are not personally
familiar with the individual(s) you are speaking to. Misrepresentation happens often enough to make it a
real danger even for adults. Never send personal or financial information to individuals in a chat room or
on a forum.
The anonymity of the internet can cause people to say things online that they would never say in person. It
is wise to avoid getting involved in heated debates (also called “flame wars” or “flaming” when directed to
a particular individual). People online are just as real as those you meet in the flesh and saying
something to incite another person can be just as dangerous online as offline.
Watch Where You’re Going.
Don’t download anything when you don’t trust the source. Even if you are emailed or given a link in a chat
room or forum you should be cautious. Look at the URL. Some links will directly download programs –
including viruses – without your consent.
While using anti-virus and anti-spyware programs will help avoid problems they can’t catch everything.
Know where you’re going and who is sending you.
When You Need Help…
If you need help dealing with online security issues including harassment or fraud you can contact the
Cyber Law Enforcement Organization at: http://www.cyberlawenforcement.org/
or check out more information at; http://www.wiredsafety.org/
or; http://www.idtheftcenter.org/vresources.shtml.
While these organizations have connections to legal or volunteer assistance you should contact your local
police if you suspect your identity has been stolen or fear for your safety.
Learn How to Read a Privacy Policy.
One of the essential steps to protecting your privacy is understanding how to read a privacy policy.
Privacy policies should be made available in some form anytime you are asked to provide personal
information. Financial institutions, health facilities or other businesses that collect your information can be
asked to show you their privacy policy before you give them your information.
If the company does not have privacy policy, consider doing business elsewhere. It is a show of respect to
customers to tell them how their information will be used.
Online you will find privacy policies posted on websites. The privacy policy is an indication of the steps they
will take to protect your identity or to inform you of how they will treat the information you provide. Simply
having a privacy policy does not guarantee you any level of protection. To understand what is protected and
what is shared you must read the policy.
Each site has its own criteria for a privacy policy. Some give full protection including encryption of
passwords and not providing your information to any third party while others tell you that your information
will be shared with affiliated companies or businesses they feel you would be interested in hearing from.
You must read the policy to be aware of the steps being taken to protect you.
Here are some of the items to look for on a privacy policy:
What Information is Collected and Why?
When a business is requesting personal information it is reasonable to ask what information is collected
and why it is needed. If they request information that doesn’t seem relevant they should state why they
need it.
If there is no explanation for the request try to avoid giving the additional information or ask them why they
need it. Asking for your income or the name of your spouse is the kind of information you might question
providing without reasonable cause.
How is the Information Collected?
While filing out paper forms is straight forward you need to find out from websites how the information is
being collected. Websites sometimes use cookies that they install on the visitor’s computer to track
information about what pages they click on, how long they spend there and your IP address.
This information can be tracked without your consent. Usually it is only to facilitate the company’s
marketing research or to assist you by using your information from previous visits. You should be able to
find out what information is automatically stored by reading the privacy policy.
What Will the Information be Used for?
If the business asks for your personal or financial information you have a right to know what it will be used
for.
Is it only to complete the transaction? Will they view a purchase as permission to market to you again or to
sell your information to other businesses? This information should be available in the privacy policy as
well as information on how to ‘opt-out’ of these uses.
Who Will Have Access to Your Information?
Is the information sold or rented? Do they share your name, email address or purchasing habits with
other businesses? These areas should be clearly outlined in the privacy policy. If they do sell or rent the
names on their list you may wish to limit the information you provide.
Watch for terms like “affiliates”, “sponsors” or “partners” since you will have no idea who will be receiving
the information.
How Secure is Your Information?
What steps are taken to protect your personal information? Any transaction that requires you to submit
personal or financial information should have SSL (Secure Socket Layers). SSL will encrypt the
information so that it can’t be read by others during transmission.
You can verify the security by looking for the https at the beginning of the URL and an icon with a lock
(closed) in the bottom corner of your browser window. While these methods are not completely infallible
and can possibly be mimicked on fraudulent sites they are a good indication that security precautions are
being taken.
Can You Correct Personal Information?
You should be able to review or correct information that is collected about you. The steps should be
outlined in the privacy policy and be both convenient and inexpensive.
Can You ‘Opt-Out’?
Wherever your information may be shared you should have the right to ‘opt-out’. In some cases there will
be a box that you can click to opt-in or opt-out when entering your information. Watch out for small boxes
that are already checked as the default since you are implying you are accepting the offer even if you don’t
personally check the box.
The privacy policy should also give you directions on how to opt-out if the option isn’t given when entering
your information.
While this list is not exhaustive it does highlight some of the main features that you should look for in a
privacy policy. The other information that should always be listed is a contact name, address and
telephone number where you can speak to someone regarding the policy.
Protecting Your Children’s Privacy.
Protecting your children’s privacy is perhaps the most important reason in the world to be familiar with the
steps necessary to prevent problems with privacy invasion.
While children are not necessarily targets of identity theft they are overwhelmingly susceptible to becoming
targets of more insidious crimes which start with the perpetrator learning the identity of your child.
Understanding how chat rooms and email work can help parents teach children to behave safely online.
While there are many programs and procedures you can use to track the activity of your children it is most
important to educate them about the dangers of chatting online when you don’t know who they are talking
to or who is reading what they say.
Take similar precautions when your child has a cell phone or text messaging service.
Online Forums and Chat Rooms.
Does your child understand that listing their real name, address, telephone number or information like the
school they attend can be potentially dangerous if the wrong person decides to get in contact with them?
Do they realize that although the forum or chat room is SUPPOSED to be for children there are possibly
adults pretending to be children in order to take advantage of them?
While you do not want to unduly frighten your children, it would be more terrifying if you found out that they
had been in contact with a peadophile and they did not know how to tell you about it.
Give them rules. Here are some you may want to discuss with your child(ren):
1) NEVER give out your name, address, telephone number or picture. NEVER agree to meet someone
you met online without your parent’s approval.
2) REMEMBER you are speaking in a public area – other people may read what you write.
3) REFUSE to enter a private chat room. These rooms are closed off to the public, and your child may
be lured in by an adult trying to seduce them.
4) Encourage them to TELL you what goes on. Just as you would monitor who they spend time with
after school, or what TV programs they watch – you want them to feel comfortable telling you about their
online friends.
5) LIMIT the amount of time they spend online. While talking with friends about sports, fashion or other
interests may be fun it is not wholly productive for children to spend hours online chatting. It is also more
likely that they will investigate sites or forums that are unsuitable for children. Curiosity may lure them in
over their heads.
6) Have the computer in a PUBLIC area of the home. This will protect your children more than any
software program. Check on them occasionally just to see what they are doing.
7) INFORM them about Spam and other email that looks suspicious. If they are not sure tell them to
ask you before opening it.
8) Tell them never to engage in FLAMING. Flaming is an attack on another person who is posting. It
is both emotional and uncontrolled – often due to the power of anonymity that exists online. Children have
been bullied by other children from school or elsewhere (called cyber-bullying) and it can be devastating.
Remind your child to show manners to others and be careful how they respond.
9) Check the HISTORY of their online surfing if you are concerned. It is good to let your child know that
you will occasionally check this out as a protection for them.
10) Use a POP-UP BLOCKER. Sometimes windows open up that advertise pornography or other
disturbing images. Make sure you use a pop-up blocking program to protect yourself and your family from
this unwelcome exposure.
Even with the previous suggestions you can further secure your child’s online experience by looking for
organizations like; http://WiredKids.org
– these teams provide safe chat supervision to children and teens at http://WiredKidz.org and at; http:
//WiredTeens.org.
Not only are these areas supervised (although following the above rules is still necessary) they teach
young ones about safe communication, how to use the Internet and other methods of communications
responsibly.
They also provide information on cyber-bullying, cyber-stalking, flaming and more. If your child has been a
victim, you can use their resources to find the information and support you need to fight back.
Reminder.
With the age of advanced communications and technology people can learn new things, meet others and
connect in ways never before imagined. It is important to respect the need for diligence to ensure these
experiences are positive and worthwhile so that you and your family can enjoy these conveniences without
undue risk.
Regardless of if you are protecting your financial information, personal information or your child’s identity
you need to understand how this information can be abused online, through text messaging and in the
real world.
Educating yourself is the first step. Passing these rules onto your children will protect them and give you
peace of mind.
Incorporating steps to protect yourself and your children is a way of respecting your privacy and theirs.
While we cannot combat all crimes we CAN make ourselves and our children less likely targets by always
showing respect for our personal information and understanding how new technologies, like the Internet,
work.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided "as is". The author, publishers and marketers of this
information disclaim any loss or liability, either directly or indirectly as a consequence of applying the
information presented herein, or in regard to the use and application of said information.
No guarantee is given, either expressed or implied, in regard to the merchantability, accuracy, or
acceptability of the information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While many suggestions have already been listed to protect your identity online there are a few areas that
require special attention.
Email Fraud.
Email fraud was thoroughly explained in the preceding chapter about steps to take to prevent identity fraud.
Treat every unsolicited email with suspicion and exercise caution when sending information that contains
personal or financial details through email.
Protect Your Computer.
Computer viruses and spyware can enter your computer when you click on a link in an email or by
accessing a website that downloads the program without your consent.
While no person can prevent all exposure to these viruses and spyware you can protect your computer by
installing a firewall as well as purchasing anit-virus and anit-spyware programs that routinely search your
computer and remove these threats.
Viruses can spread through your computer, corrupting files and information as well as being passed on to
other people through your email. Spyware can track your movements on the internet as well as collect
information that you enter while using the internet including passwords, banking information and personal
data.
You may also download programs that appear safe but are hiding spyware or viruses. These programs
are called Trojan Horses. Only download information from sites you know and trust.
Shop Securely.
Online shopping is convenient but can also pose hazards for unwary buyers. While electronic exchange of
funds makes buying online easier it is important to watch for signs of a secure site. Secure sites provide
encryption of data so that others can’t view it or intercept it. This encryption is called SSL (Secure Socket
Layers).
Look for security symbols such as a closed padlock on the bottom of your browser window and URLs that
start with https instead of http. Encryption that hides your sensitive information (like passwords, credit
card numbers and other personal data) by displaying it as dots rather than the actual numbers or letters is
another safety feature.
Check the Privacy Policy and only deal with reputable merchants. Check with the Better Business Bureau if
you’re unsure. You may also consider third party payment processors (such as Paypal and ClickBank)
which prevent the merchant from obtaining any financial information directly. Check the security status and
privacy policies of any third party processor before making a transaction.
Sharing Computers or Using Laptops.
If you are sending personal information on a public or shared computer you must log out of the browser
before ending your session. If you don’t log out another person may be able to use the back button on the
browser to obtain your information. Empty cookies so other users will not be given your information if they
access the same site.
Storing personal information on personal computers (especially laptops) can be dangerous if the
computer is stolen or hacked (illegally accessed). Don’t save sensitive passwords in programs that can
auto-fill forms.
Online Forums and Chat Rooms.
You may find that in the excitement of meeting new people and developing personal relationships in
online forums and chat rooms you to forget the dangers of providing too much information.
In these social or business gatherings you may foster friendships within the group but it is important to
remember that these areas are available to the public and individuals who are not making their presence
known can still be ‘lurking’ on the forums and searching for personal pieces of information that are
inadvertently expressed.
You never really know who you are talking to so it is wise to make it a habit to never reveal personal
information such as your telephone number or address to these public groups.
Even if you are dealing with a private chat room you should exercise caution if you are not personally
familiar with the individual(s) you are speaking to. Misrepresentation happens often enough to make it a
real danger even for adults. Never send personal or financial information to individuals in a chat room or
on a forum.
The anonymity of the internet can cause people to say things online that they would never say in person. It
is wise to avoid getting involved in heated debates (also called “flame wars” or “flaming” when directed to
a particular individual). People online are just as real as those you meet in the flesh and saying
something to incite another person can be just as dangerous online as offline.
Watch Where You’re Going.
Don’t download anything when you don’t trust the source. Even if you are emailed or given a link in a chat
room or forum you should be cautious. Look at the URL. Some links will directly download programs –
including viruses – without your consent.
While using anti-virus and anti-spyware programs will help avoid problems they can’t catch everything.
Know where you’re going and who is sending you.
When You Need Help…
If you need help dealing with online security issues including harassment or fraud you can contact the
Cyber Law Enforcement Organization at: http://www.cyberlawenforcement.org/
or check out more information at; http://www.wiredsafety.org/
or; http://www.idtheftcenter.org/vresources.shtml.
While these organizations have connections to legal or volunteer assistance you should contact your local
police if you suspect your identity has been stolen or fear for your safety.
Learn How to Read a Privacy Policy.
One of the essential steps to protecting your privacy is understanding how to read a privacy policy.
Privacy policies should be made available in some form anytime you are asked to provide personal
information. Financial institutions, health facilities or other businesses that collect your information can be
asked to show you their privacy policy before you give them your information.
If the company does not have privacy policy, consider doing business elsewhere. It is a show of respect to
customers to tell them how their information will be used.
Online you will find privacy policies posted on websites. The privacy policy is an indication of the steps they
will take to protect your identity or to inform you of how they will treat the information you provide. Simply
having a privacy policy does not guarantee you any level of protection. To understand what is protected and
what is shared you must read the policy.
Each site has its own criteria for a privacy policy. Some give full protection including encryption of
passwords and not providing your information to any third party while others tell you that your information
will be shared with affiliated companies or businesses they feel you would be interested in hearing from.
You must read the policy to be aware of the steps being taken to protect you.
Here are some of the items to look for on a privacy policy:
What Information is Collected and Why?
When a business is requesting personal information it is reasonable to ask what information is collected
and why it is needed. If they request information that doesn’t seem relevant they should state why they
need it.
If there is no explanation for the request try to avoid giving the additional information or ask them why they
need it. Asking for your income or the name of your spouse is the kind of information you might question
providing without reasonable cause.
How is the Information Collected?
While filing out paper forms is straight forward you need to find out from websites how the information is
being collected. Websites sometimes use cookies that they install on the visitor’s computer to track
information about what pages they click on, how long they spend there and your IP address.
This information can be tracked without your consent. Usually it is only to facilitate the company’s
marketing research or to assist you by using your information from previous visits. You should be able to
find out what information is automatically stored by reading the privacy policy.
What Will the Information be Used for?
If the business asks for your personal or financial information you have a right to know what it will be used
for.
Is it only to complete the transaction? Will they view a purchase as permission to market to you again or to
sell your information to other businesses? This information should be available in the privacy policy as
well as information on how to ‘opt-out’ of these uses.
Who Will Have Access to Your Information?
Is the information sold or rented? Do they share your name, email address or purchasing habits with
other businesses? These areas should be clearly outlined in the privacy policy. If they do sell or rent the
names on their list you may wish to limit the information you provide.
Watch for terms like “affiliates”, “sponsors” or “partners” since you will have no idea who will be receiving
the information.
How Secure is Your Information?
What steps are taken to protect your personal information? Any transaction that requires you to submit
personal or financial information should have SSL (Secure Socket Layers). SSL will encrypt the
information so that it can’t be read by others during transmission.
You can verify the security by looking for the https at the beginning of the URL and an icon with a lock
(closed) in the bottom corner of your browser window. While these methods are not completely infallible
and can possibly be mimicked on fraudulent sites they are a good indication that security precautions are
being taken.
Can You Correct Personal Information?
You should be able to review or correct information that is collected about you. The steps should be
outlined in the privacy policy and be both convenient and inexpensive.
Can You ‘Opt-Out’?
Wherever your information may be shared you should have the right to ‘opt-out’. In some cases there will
be a box that you can click to opt-in or opt-out when entering your information. Watch out for small boxes
that are already checked as the default since you are implying you are accepting the offer even if you don’t
personally check the box.
The privacy policy should also give you directions on how to opt-out if the option isn’t given when entering
your information.
While this list is not exhaustive it does highlight some of the main features that you should look for in a
privacy policy. The other information that should always be listed is a contact name, address and
telephone number where you can speak to someone regarding the policy.
Protecting Your Children’s Privacy.
Protecting your children’s privacy is perhaps the most important reason in the world to be familiar with the
steps necessary to prevent problems with privacy invasion.
While children are not necessarily targets of identity theft they are overwhelmingly susceptible to becoming
targets of more insidious crimes which start with the perpetrator learning the identity of your child.
Understanding how chat rooms and email work can help parents teach children to behave safely online.
While there are many programs and procedures you can use to track the activity of your children it is most
important to educate them about the dangers of chatting online when you don’t know who they are talking
to or who is reading what they say.
Take similar precautions when your child has a cell phone or text messaging service.
Online Forums and Chat Rooms.
Does your child understand that listing their real name, address, telephone number or information like the
school they attend can be potentially dangerous if the wrong person decides to get in contact with them?
Do they realize that although the forum or chat room is SUPPOSED to be for children there are possibly
adults pretending to be children in order to take advantage of them?
While you do not want to unduly frighten your children, it would be more terrifying if you found out that they
had been in contact with a peadophile and they did not know how to tell you about it.
Give them rules. Here are some you may want to discuss with your child(ren):
1) NEVER give out your name, address, telephone number or picture. NEVER agree to meet someone
you met online without your parent’s approval.
2) REMEMBER you are speaking in a public area – other people may read what you write.
3) REFUSE to enter a private chat room. These rooms are closed off to the public, and your child may
be lured in by an adult trying to seduce them.
4) Encourage them to TELL you what goes on. Just as you would monitor who they spend time with
after school, or what TV programs they watch – you want them to feel comfortable telling you about their
online friends.
5) LIMIT the amount of time they spend online. While talking with friends about sports, fashion or other
interests may be fun it is not wholly productive for children to spend hours online chatting. It is also more
likely that they will investigate sites or forums that are unsuitable for children. Curiosity may lure them in
over their heads.
6) Have the computer in a PUBLIC area of the home. This will protect your children more than any
software program. Check on them occasionally just to see what they are doing.
7) INFORM them about Spam and other email that looks suspicious. If they are not sure tell them to
ask you before opening it.
8) Tell them never to engage in FLAMING. Flaming is an attack on another person who is posting. It
is both emotional and uncontrolled – often due to the power of anonymity that exists online. Children have
been bullied by other children from school or elsewhere (called cyber-bullying) and it can be devastating.
Remind your child to show manners to others and be careful how they respond.
9) Check the HISTORY of their online surfing if you are concerned. It is good to let your child know that
you will occasionally check this out as a protection for them.
10) Use a POP-UP BLOCKER. Sometimes windows open up that advertise pornography or other
disturbing images. Make sure you use a pop-up blocking program to protect yourself and your family from
this unwelcome exposure.
Even with the previous suggestions you can further secure your child’s online experience by looking for
organizations like; http://WiredKids.org
– these teams provide safe chat supervision to children and teens at http://WiredKidz.org and at; http:
//WiredTeens.org.
Not only are these areas supervised (although following the above rules is still necessary) they teach
young ones about safe communication, how to use the Internet and other methods of communications
responsibly.
They also provide information on cyber-bullying, cyber-stalking, flaming and more. If your child has been a
victim, you can use their resources to find the information and support you need to fight back.
Reminder.
With the age of advanced communications and technology people can learn new things, meet others and
connect in ways never before imagined. It is important to respect the need for diligence to ensure these
experiences are positive and worthwhile so that you and your family can enjoy these conveniences without
undue risk.
Regardless of if you are protecting your financial information, personal information or your child’s identity
you need to understand how this information can be abused online, through text messaging and in the
real world.
Educating yourself is the first step. Passing these rules onto your children will protect them and give you
peace of mind.
Incorporating steps to protect yourself and your children is a way of respecting your privacy and theirs.
While we cannot combat all crimes we CAN make ourselves and our children less likely targets by always
showing respect for our personal information and understanding how new technologies, like the Internet,
work.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided "as is". The author, publishers and marketers of this
information disclaim any loss or liability, either directly or indirectly as a consequence of applying the
information presented herein, or in regard to the use and application of said information.
No guarantee is given, either expressed or implied, in regard to the merchantability, accuracy, or
acceptability of the information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| This site is published by 'Future Past Publishing' (UK). Zinzan St, Reading, Berks. RG1 7UG. All work is World copyright protected. (P. Moring © 2006) |
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Dangers Of Identity Theft '4' |
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