| Thanks to all of the advancements in technology, | | | | over the phone or over the Internet, unless you |
| we are forced to look for new ways to manage | | | | are absolutely sure that you are going through |
| our money in order to protect our assets and | | | | secure channels in the process. |
| ourselves. Unfortunately, there are a number of | | | | 6. Look for "https" - While purchasing items online |
| dishonest individuals out there who strive to steal | | | | is traditionally secure, you should always use |
| our personal information, and they are becoming | | | | caution to make sure that the businesses you |
| increasingly sophisticated in the methods that they | | | | deal with are legitimate. Always make sure that |
| use to rip us off. In order to adequately protect | | | | "https" appears at the beginning of the URL in the |
| our identities and our financial information, it is | | | | address bar before entering your credit card |
| imperative that we follow these guidelines: | | | | information online. This means that the website is |
| 1. Shred it! - If you have paper bank documents | | | | secure and identity thieves will not be able to spy |
| or other financial documents, rather than simply | | | | on you and steal your credit card number. |
| throwing them away in the trash bin you should | | | | 7. Sign up for a service that monitors your |
| shred them into the smallest pieces that you can. | | | | personal identity for you - Especially if you have |
| Online documents should be deleted so that no | | | | your own business or use the Internet |
| trace is left, as well. (See my recommended | | | | extensively, you may want to pay a service to |
| online shredding program at the end of this | | | | monitor your personal identity, giving you peace |
| article). | | | | of mind in the process. Sophisticated methods will |
| 2. Encrypt files and lock up documents - Any | | | | be used to prevent identity theft from occurring |
| important records that need to be kept should be | | | | using your personal information, and you will be |
| kept under lock and key, which means in a safe | | | | notified if any suspicious activity should happen to |
| or lock box. Online documents and vital | | | | occur on one of your accounts. These companies |
| information should be password protected or | | | | are outstanding for monitoring all of the activity |
| stored in encrypted files. Windows allows you to | | | | on your credit report, allowing you to prevent |
| create a password protected zip file for free. I | | | | identity theft from occurring and ruining your life. |
| also recommend using Roboform, a password | | | | We spend so much of our lives building up our |
| management software program that keeps your | | | | incomes and credit history. Because so much |
| passwords organized and protected. | | | | energy goes into these things, it is imperative that |
| 3. Don't keep all of your critical information in one | | | | we work hard to protect ourselves. It is |
| place - You should never carry your driver's | | | | important that we continue to take certain steps |
| license and social security card at the same time. | | | | against the act of identity theft. The steps |
| If someone were to come by both of these | | | | provided above make for a great jumping off |
| cards, your identity could be easily stolen. | | | | point for keeping personal information secure, and |
| 4. Secure your outgoing mail - When sending | | | | ensuring that nobody can take advantage of our |
| outgoing mail, you should use a secure mailbox. | | | | hard earned money or credit history for their |
| The same goes for online correspondence. You | | | | own personal gain. Your vital information is |
| do not want anyone reading your mail that it was | | | | extremely valuable, so keep it close and do not |
| not intended for. | | | | share it unless it is safe and necessary to do so. |
| 5. Keep your personal information private - You | | | | When in doubt, 'trust but verify' are good words |
| should never give out personal or vital information | | | | to live by. |