Security and Privacy -
Online and Off
Giving out personal information - and
other privacy concerns.
Providing your birth date when you fill in a form.
The survey companies request that you give a birth date.
Frankly, I would never give my exact birth date. If you
share this concern, just give the correct YEAR. And, if you just
can't get yourself to do that, put down a different year...
but just be off by a maximum of 1
year.
Some sites ask for your birth place. Yeah right.
Next time you get that, just put "A hospital" or "In back of a
Chevy".
Consider getting a p.o. box
and using that address. I remember paying just $3 a
month for a box. It was a mile away from my house and I
made a point to walk (at least every other day) to get my
mail. Several benefits were realized. -- More mail security.
-- I was "forced" to exercise. -- I got
regular doses of fresh air. -- It improved my personal
efficiency -- as a good break is necessary. -- And, personally, I
find going for a walk a good opportunity to collect my
thoughts.
Why not get a separate phone number/voice mail? Then
you can use that instead of your home phone when you give info
to survey companies.
Or, maybe you can set aside that phone number just
to use as a billing number. That way, if any crook
were to snag your credit card, etc. they'd not have the right phone
number to enter (it's much easier for them to get a hold of
your home phone rather than a voice mail you don't publish).
One thing I do is give the credit card companies a fake
number that only I know (and never publish). If
some crook were to get my credit card or info, they would
end up entering the wrong phone number. Furthermore, I
use a billing address that I never publish anywhere but with
the credit card company.
If the credit card company urgently needs to get in touch
with me they can send me a letter or email me and ask me to
call them. I've done this for years and never had a
problem.
Run ZoneAlarm's Firewall Software continually.
But, at the very least, turn it on when you enter in personal
data.
Use one email address solely for your bank, and other
financial institution.
Request that the online companies email you whenever your
account is logged into. Do this for all your banks,
credit card company, money market fund, mutual funds, etc...
basically any place where you have money invested or have
personal data on file.
Consider just receiving online statements and paying your
credit card bills online. 1) You'll get a TON
less paperwork. 2) This is environment friendly.
3) It's more secure. Think of all the hands your mail
goes through by the time it lands in your mail box (IF
it gets there). And, then you send it back through many
hands. Though rare, mail theft does occur. 4) Save
stamps. 5) Saves time.
Get a shredder and once a month shred statements, etc.
If you have guinea pigs or such... well those guys love to
rummage through paper.
Never feel that you have to answer the
door just because someone is knocking on it.
Don't worry about looking like a chicken or whatever. Sadly, many
people have met a dire fate by knee-jerk reactions like
opening a door to a stranger.
Install a strong door with a peep hole,
motion detection lights, deadbolt, and a bright door light
(every now and then dust the bulb off to increase its
intensity).
And,
invest in a dog! And, why not get
2 huge USED dog food bowls that have been gnawed on big time.
Stick the bowls at your front and
back doors. The message speaks loud and clear:
"Huge, menacing dog lives here -- enter at your own peril!!"
Get an answering machine. Adios annoying
telemarketers. And, with regards to telemarketers, try this: Next time a
telemarketer calls, say: "Nothing personal but, please do NOT call this number
again. And, please put me on your 'Do NOT call list'.
Thanks!" (click).
For online accounts that you want to keep
secure...
Change your login/password info once a month.
But, do it when you're going to access your account for
another reason. The point is that you don't logon
un-necessarily.
Shoot for the absolute longest
username and password.
And, be sure your login and password
is non-descript (has no meaning). This means
don't use your name, etc. Instead go with a random
stream of numbers AND letters.
Write your login info down in at least 2 places.
And, don't store it on your computer. Stick with the
stone age pen-paper method.
Provided by
http://completelistofpaidsurveysites.com the
free paid survey
resource. Get a free list of links to paid survey companies.
You may copy this article and post it anywhere so long as you
do not change anything (keeping this link and information in
place).
Zone Alarm Firewall Software - Click
Here For
A Short Tutorial.
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Security Products
Here's to a secure
future,
Chris James, Editor
Paid Surveys and Mystery Shopping Ezine
Online Security
For more security tips, try here:
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