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Data Defense

Thursday, June 24th, 2010 (No comments yet)

There's just no limit to the bad things someone can do if they have all your data. Besides opening credit accounts in your name, bad guys can use your name and data in the commission of a crime or fraud. What about defamation or rumor-mongering? Could they use half-truths to get you fired or arrested? Possibly so. The only possible defense against these possibilities is to make it as hard as possible for people to learn information about you.

[+] Protect Your Credit Card Numbers

  • Write CHECK ID in the signature area of your cards
  • Pay at the register in restaurants
  • Always cross out your card number on credit card sign slips
  • When shopping online, look for options to NOT store your number
  • Use virtual cards to make storing your credit card number impossible
  • Never use contactless pay systems

[+] Guard your Social Security Number

  • Ask why they need it
  • Ask them what will happen if you don't provide it
  • (If you haven't already bailed at this point) Ask them if they can use an alternate id
  • When all else fails, hold, freeze, or zero.

[+] Be stingy with your personal data

  • Your Name
  • Home Address
  • Phone numbers
  • Everything Else

Giving away information beyond what is necessary may be sociable, but doing it carelessly can be risky

[+] Protect your trash

  • Product boxes
  • Bills and letters

Have you thought about what you throw away and what a thief can do with that information?

But it's too late

You might feel frustrated knowing how much of your personal information is already in databases under the control of companies or organizations you never gave permission to. While there are few laws that protect you currently, there's no reason you can't ask them to remove your information anyway.

Schools, Churches, and Clubs

It's common to put together directories, phone books, or flyers that have the home phone number, address, name, or other important information about you and your family. If asked before-hand, consider not giving them permission. If you were never asked, call and complain. Ask to not be included and that they not use your information without your permission again.

Your Work

Did you know that the State Department of the United States has an online PDF file that lists the name, organization, location, building, title, and phone number of every single employee? It's 184 pages long full of people who enemies of the government (foreign and domestic) might want to know.

If you were one of those people or if you work for any company that makes it a little too convenient for people with no need to know, talk to your security people, HR, and/or your management. Explain the risks and ask to be excluded (or tell them about this page and let me try to convince them for you).

Government Records

Some would say that they're public records so they should be online. That's stupid crap. Putting your personal information online for the entire world to see is an invitation to disaster. If you know someone who thinks that's not a problem, ask them if they've ever heard of something called Identity Theft.

Government records must be available to the public without burdensome fees or procedures, but requiring that someone physically come to get them or at least provide proof of identity and a justification for requesting the records is not unreasonable. In fact many states do just that while others are satisfied leaving their citizens completely open to attack.

While there may not be much that you can personally do about your state's document management, you might know someone who is or at least be able to cast votes knowing that this is an issue. Support people and laws who work to maintain your privacy!

Business Profiles of Customers

As you will read in my article about Data Abuse, companies are crazy excited about collecting tons of information about you and reselling it to other companies. Fortunately, many of these companies allow you to restrict or remove your information from their systems. It would be prohibitively difficult for me to list each and every one of the most egregious violators and the steps for removal, but fortunately, I found someone else who has already done it.

To fight back and keep companies from collecting and selling dossiers on you, check out the services of The Opt-Out Detectives (note: this is one of my recommended products and services).

Alternatively, there's an opt-out list you can go through yourself at the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse and The Consumerist.

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Quick Tips:

How to Stop Credit-Based ID Theft with a Credit Freeze

A credit freeze locks your credit report preventing any thieves from being able to open new accounts in your name. Your credit cards and current accounts work like they always have.

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Data Abuse

Learn how your data is taken from you and used against you by large companies for their own benefit.

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The Geek Privacy Principle

The most basic principle of privacy is to be able to choose who knows what about you and when. The Geek Principle describes why you should choose by default not to share information.

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Nothing to Hide

Do you say "I have nothing to hide" or do people you know say it to YOU? Read this tutorial about why no one should ever say they have nothing to hide again.

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Data Abuse

Learn how your data is taken from you and used against you by large companies for their own benefit.

[Click for full description]

RFID - Radio Frequency IDentification

One of the most risky technology when it comes to your privacy is Radio Frequency Identification Tags (RFID). These radio chips broadcast your identity sometimes hundreds of feet and can be found in passports, farecards, credit cards, and even some clothing.

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Privacy Alias

Sometimes you are required to give away information to be able to get service, but you know the company has no real need of your data other than to share and sell it. In these cases, having a personalized alias comes in handy.

This guide will explain in more detail why you should have one and how to create it.

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Data Defense

One of the most important, but least understood, threats against us today is the creeping data-abuse by companies seeking to compile complete profiles on every American in order to enable "targeted marketing".

Until laws are in place to control their use of your data, learn the tips and tricks to make it harder for them while improving your identity-theft defense at the same time.

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