| Identity Theft ran rampant in the year of | | | | |
| 2006. We saw a record number of exposures of | | | | Make a copy of all your credit cards and ATM |
| personal data, rounding out the top of the | | | | cards so that if your wallet or purse is lost |
| list with The Department of Veterans Affairs | | | | or stolen, you have the 800 numbers and card |
| exposing more then 28 million records. Also | | | | number to report it stolen. If you are |
| in 2006, a milestone of 100 million victims | | | | traveling in a foreign country, carry your |
| had been exposed to some type of data breach. | | | | identification in a secured bag that is |
| | | | attached to your body to prevent purse |
| Were you one of those 100 million people? | | | | snatching or pick-pocketing. |
| That amount of exposure tells us that our | | | | |
| personal information is accessible in a | | | | Keep your computer up to date with antivirus |
| various number of ways. There were exposures | | | | software and critical patches and updates |
| all through out the United States. No one | | | | from the Operating Systems vendor. Have some |
| knows the true amount of exposures since not | | | | type of spyware/adware scanner installed as |
| all the states have a disclosure law like | | | | well. Perform regular scans on your computer, |
| California. | | | | with the most recent definitions provided by |
| | | | the software maker. Have some type of |
| Here are some tips on preventing your | | | | firewall, whether its hardware or software, |
| personal information from being obtained, | | | | to prevent intrusions into your personal |
| ways that you have control over the access to | | | | information. Also for additional security, |
| your data. | | | | make use of a username and difficult password |
| | | | on your computer to prevent unauthorized |
| Concerning mail, when throwing away mail that | | | | access. Do not open any emails with |
| contains any personal information, you may | | | | attachments from someone you dont know, and |
| want to invest in a cross-shredder, so that | | | | always be careful opening emails with |
| the documents are unreadable. Look into | | | | attachments from someone you do know. It may |
| getting a locking mailbox. Notify the | | | | be a good idea to verify that they did send |
| Postmaster if you notice any mail missing, | | | | the email to you, as they may have gotten |
| such as bills or bank statements that you are | | | | infected and not known about it. Banking |
| expecting. | | | | institutions will not ask you for your |
| | | | personal information through an email, and in |
| Opt-out of unsolicited phone calls or mail by | | | | fact, most if not all major businesses will |
| visiting There you can opt-out and add you | | | | not ask you for personal information through |
| information to not receive mail, phone and | | | | email. |
| email solicitations. | | | | |