Privacy Matters

Protecting personal Info

Being aware criminals are actively trying to steal your identity and property, both in-person and online, is the first step toward preventing it. (Cavan Images/Getty Images)

Privacy is a valuable commodity in a world full of cameras at grocery store checkouts, at traffic intersections, and on automotive dashboards, not to mention all the entities monitoring internet activity and selling personal information.

Ensuring complete privacy isn’t easily attained without moving to a remote home behind tall walls and going completely off the grid—using no credit cards, with no personal internet or social media accounts or phone activity—and managing to avoid all the cameras scattered around the globe. A more realistic approach is to review the information that is provided, knowingly and otherwise, in our daily lives, and then finding ways to limit it. So while complete invisibility might not be practical, it isn’t difficult to present a lower profile.

When creating a password, don’t use one that’s easy to hack, and never leave it written down next to the computer! (Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock)

Online activity is constantly monitored, making it a good idea to provide only as much personal information as is absolutely required. Don’t post personal photos or videos, as these live forever on the Internet and are far too easy to be stolen and rebroadcast. Consider a virtual private network to provide online activity privacy by disguising your location and computer IP address. Another suggestion is to use browsers such as Brave that block online ads and don’t monitor or sell user information.

Consider installing security cameras to allow you to monitor your home even while you’re away. (Photographicss/Shutterstock)

Predators prowl social media accounts, seeking ways to separate people from their hard-earned cash. Avoiding social media altogether is one option, as is deleting accounts that have been idle. Another is to severely limit interaction as well as personal profile information. Friends will know where other friends live, work, or went to school, so there is no need to provide this information on a profile. When on social media pages, resist the urge to post comments, as you never know who may see them and react inappropriately. Those who enjoy posting vacation photos online should wait to do so until after returning home, to avoid sending a “We are not home, come on over and break in” message to bad guys. One way to frustrate social media scammers is to have fun with a profile, maybe by listing a birthday of April 1, 1717, an occupation of “conquistador,” and a current address of 21 Main Street, Antarctica—there is no rule any of this has to be real.

Tall fences and walls are a practical, effective way to ensure privacy and keep unwanted visitors off your property. (Kinek00/Shutterstock)

It’s prudent to be skeptical if suddenly asked to provide Social Security numbers, banking information, or credit card numbers to someone claiming to be a government or bank employee. Government agencies, including the Social Security Administration, will never contact citizens via text message, phone call, letter, or email demanding immediate action such as “confirming” Social Security numbers or bank account information. The best reaction to any suspicious contact requesting sensitive information is to call the agency or organization directly to request confirmation.

The web is full of unscrupulous people seeking new victims; if you receive a suspicious email or text, call the organization to confirm it’s authenticity. (ImageFlow/Shutterstock)

Ensuring privacy at home starts with using curtains to prevent prying eyes from observing what’s going on inside. A stockade-style fence, if practical and allowed by the local municipality and homeowners association, is a very effective way to improve personal privacy. Be aware of security cameras on adjoining properties; they should be aimed to provide a clear view of only their property, not one of the neighbor’s backyard or windows.

A home security system is like an in-house 24/7 guard, providing peace of mind. (Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock)

Some homeowners post a No Trespassing sign, and others take it a bit further, posting signs advising strangers not to knock, try to sell anything, or solicit donations. Keeping garage doors closed prevents would-be thieves from seeing if there’s anything inside worth stealing. Shredding trash might seem a bit extreme, but scammers have used discarded mail to obtain financial and personal information.

Be careful when providing phone numbers, as many organizations sell these to telemarketers. Another effective way to avoid unwanted calls is to give a phone number that is a few digits off the actual number. Also, the Federal Trade Commission operates the National Do Not Call Registry, which is designed to report receiving unwanted calls and prevent consumers from receiving unwanted contact from organizations and individuals.

Don’t answer calls from Blocked Numbers, and report any unwanted calls to the Do Not Call Registry. (Gil C/Shutterstock)

Another way to avoid unwanted calls is to answer calls only from numbers that are recognized, letting the others go to voicemail; few telemarketers will leave a message. Using a call-forwarding service allows the option of having a personal number for friends and family, with another for business and other calls.

In summary, the key to preserving personal privacy is to keep a low profile and be judicious when providing sensitive information.