Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
While the usual suspects of security breaches are card issuing companies, cell phone companies, government agencies, banking institutions, and other large corporations, there is an often overlooked source of security breaches – you. In today’s tech saturated society, we release more personal information in more places and in more ways than ever before. Although some release of information is necessary for modern living, are you giving out more information than is necessary? How can we reduce how much and how often our information is released and/or accessed?
Use more cash: Countless people have had their card information stolen by gas stations, restaurant wait staff, and similar service personnel. Instead of using your card so much, stop at your bank’s ATM before starting your errand day or date night. By taking out cash, you reduce the number of times your card is swiped around town.
Be on guard on social media: Set your social media account settings as high as possible and think twice before posting personal information. Some personal security breach examples are posting your birthdate, your email address, your cell phone number, or that you’re going to be gone on vacation. Even if you’re security settings are set fairly high, it is still possible for your information to be accessible to almost anyone. Often, social media settings allow for “friends of friends” to see your information, which is a nearly endless string of people. Add these personal details to a photo of you, and you have given potential thieves a lot of the information they need to impersonate you.
Protect your mail: You need to protect any information that comes through the mail both when it arrives, and after you’ve looked at it. Consider getting a mailbox that locks. Mail theft straight from unsecured mailboxes is still one of the largest ways thieves obtain personal information. After receiving mail, keep papers you need in a secure location, and shred the rest. Even utility and cell phone bills, as well as junk mail, can contain a lot of information you don’t want a dumpster diving crook to have.
Decline to answer extra questions: These days, many retailers obtain information such as email addresses and ZIP Codes, to garner demographics on their customers. Although some of this is used mainly for generic, anonymous retailing data, it is still releasing your information to more sources. Simply decline to answer these questions. There is little to no benefit to you to answer them anyway. If you like signing up for additional coupons and special information at your favorite retailers, use a special email address for only this correspondence.
Un-personalize your email address: It is common for people to use things like their birth year or anniversary, in their email address. Because email addresses are one of the easiest bits of information for criminals to obtain, avoid revealing personal details in yours.
Protect your receipts when using a card: Although it is uncommon for your full card number to display on any receipt these days, it is possible for some information to be leaked using only your name and the last four digits of your card number. Pair that with your signature, and too much information could fall into the wrong hands. So when using your card at a restaurant, for example, be sure the signed receipt gets directly into the hands of staff. Don’t simply leave it sitting on the table. You never know who might walk by.
Put your Social Security number on lockdown: It has become routine to ask for people’s Social Security numbers, whether it’s necessary or not. Before giving yours out, ask if it’s actually needed. If you do need to give it, supply this information in person as often as possible. Avoid sending your Social Security number through devices such as your cell phone. Finally, don’t carry your Social Security card around with you. Leave it in a secure location, so if your wallet or purse is lost or stolen, your card isn’t there along with your driver’s license and financial information.
