Mr. Tech

With more and more families getting connected to the Internet, we are finding that privacy is becoming a big issue when using your computer. Here is one good example on how to protect yourself and your privacy on the Internet:

Don’t give out personal information unless absolutely necessary. Surveys have shown that most Canadians are very aware of their privacy and don’t hand out their details for just anyone, but the same cannot be said of our neighbors south of the border in the US. It seems Americans are more eager to hand out all their private information in exchange for this or that…not so wise I would imagine. So, it is worth repeating: do not give out personal information unless absolutely necessary…protect your privacy online.

For example, let’s say you want to order a free report offered online by an online company. The catch is you have to provide an email address, a name and sometimes even more personal information. such as date of birth, mailing address, phone number and so on. This private information could be used in a manner inconsistent with your wishes such as sold to a spam list or worse telemarketers. To protect yourself and your privacy in this instance, just fabricate the personal details being requested. You read correctly. If you are an extremely honest person, you may be thinking, what, me lie? Never. I pride myself in giving only absolute, factual information. Well, if there is no valid or legal reason to ask you for the information and remember it is your private information, you have to question what they will be doing with that information. If you are subscribing to a mailing list for example, a name and email is enough, but sometimes you are asked to reveal a whole lot more, again this should be private to you. You will have to practice good judgment, but keep in mind that the Internet is accessible to just about anyone, and not all are honest…in fact assume that most people are trying to part you and your money in very creative ways. Although the Internet can be relatively safe, how safe often depends on your discretion.

Consider using a rating system in your assessment of each website you visit (or each email you receive). Zero could represent a website (or email) you consider having high risk, with 10 representing a website (or email) you trust with near absolute certainty. Consider having two or three email addresses — one for communications with friends, colleagues and family, and the others for unfamiliar sources. Many email providers such as Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo are setup for just that purpose and allow you to remain private and they are all free. In other words, if it’s a free report of some kind that you are after, have it sent to Fred Flintstone at your alternate, private email address. By providing a legitimate email address, you ensure the delivery of the item you requested, but without having to divulge real, private information about where and who you are.

This does not apply to every instance, so you your discretion. If you are ordering something and paying for it, and want to assure it’s legitimate here’s one quick trick. Check their about us or contact us page and if there is no phone number and / or mailing address, buy from someone else. However, I would strongly suggest that you provide real and accurate details if you are in fact ordering something that needs to be delivered. Privacy can only get you so far, it’s just that you need to be aware of when to share and when to keep it to yourself.

Another to protect your privacy is by keeping your computer clean. There are many websites that offer free tools that will help you find and remove any harmful programs currently residing on your computer or laptop. Nasty programs such as spyware, adware and of course viruses that may have entered your computer to watch your every move. Just do a quick search for ‘free online virus scan’ or ‘remove adware’ to find what you are looking for. Change the search words as needed and you will find more tools than you can handle.

Remember, protecting your privacy in this day an age is more important than ever and owning a shredder is just the beginning.

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