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Five Easy Tips To Protect Your Privacy Online

Posted on March 7, 2011

Identity theft is all about control. And it's important to ask yourselves, who has control over your personal and financial information? Is it you, your spouse or the criminal on the other end of your computer using the information to apply for a credit card? Losing control of personal information can be all too easy online, but by taking some precautions you and your spouse can maintain privacy, while safely surfing the internet. Here are five common scenarios to watch out for.

1. Adjust Social-network Privacy Settings
Facebook has been working to simplify their privacy settings, but they can still be confusing to the average users. Spend about 10 minutes a month making sure that both of your privacy settings are what they should be and are actually protecting "your" privacy.

Twitter also lets you lock your account from public view. In "Settings," there's a feature called "protect my tweets." They have had breaches before, so it is always good to take every precaution you can to protect your information.

2. Frequently Change Passwords
It's good to rotate passwords on sites you use often - especially sites that hold your financial information. Every six months or so, you should change your passwords just in case someone has access to your online profile. A good way to keep track of these passwords is with a password keeper such as 1password. This way you can store your passwords and your spouse's to all sites in one place and use a master password to gain access.

3. Opt-out of Ad Tracking
Online ad networks often install a small file on computers of people who visit certain websites. These so-called cookies can log your surfing habits, allowing advertisers to tailor ads to your interests.

If you are trying to keep some online privacy then you should opt out. In the settings panel of your web browser make sure that disable cookies from third party websites is set. Most advertising companies use this information to directly target you with ads of products that you use. They know what items you purchase because they see where you go online and keep a record.

4. Use A Ssecure Internet Connection
Don't browse private sites and look at personal or financial information while on a public Wi-Fi connection. Never shop online at your local coffee shop because you never know who may be spying on you with that very same open Internet connection. If you are making an online purchase, looking at your online banking, e-mailing a personal story or photo, only do so on a secure password protected internet connection.

5. Think Before You Post
While this may seem like an obvious suggestion, many people don't do it. Posting that you are at your local watering hole at 3 p.m. on a Thursday after you called in sick could get you in more trouble than you planned. Uploading an embarrassing photo of you and your spouse may cost you a future job. Use your brain. Posts are public, permanent and exploitable.

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