DFW Computer Integration

Originally published October 7, 2015

Protect Your Privacy

I was reading Forbes today and they recently published a list of ten simple things to protect your privacy.

Given the Identity Theft is a rapidly growing problem, I thought this seemed like an excellent topic.  By this point in time, most of us either know someone personally – or ourselves have been victims of Identity Theft.  Let me give you an example.  In March of 2014, I received a letter from the IRS.  Naturally, this causes me to break out in a cold sweat and wonder aloud “What the hell does the IRS want with me?”  To make a very long story brief, someone had filed a return in my name hoping to receive a big fat refund on reported W2 earnings and lots of deductions.

So now I have a LifeLock account.  You should too.

Let’s get to the list.

The Forbes List is:

1. Password protect your devices

   This is a good idea for lots of reasons.  Computers, smart phones and tablets should all have passwords.  I know this is inconvenient, but if you lose your device (or it is stolen) someone can find a lot of personal data in your phone.  However…  Make sure you have a password list written down somewhere.  Create a document in your computer and call it something OTHER than My Passwords.doc.  Give is some oddball name you will remember and no one else will figure out.  Then print it out and put it in a safe place.

2. Google yourself regularly

   This is a good idea.  See what the Internet thinks about you.  See what others are saying about you.  Find out if anything strange is being done in your name.  Anyplace you find your name being used incorrectly or libelously, contact them and try to get it straightened out.

3. Sign out of online accounts when you’re finished using them

   Don’t leave your Facebook, Twitter or NextDoor accounts open on your computer.  Never access these accounts from a public computer (Internet cafe or business center in a hotel).  You never know who will be the next one to sit down at that computer.  You also do not know how secure the computer is

4. Don’t give out your email, phone number or zip code

5. Encrypt your computer

   Encrypting your computer means that someone has to have your password (or encryption key) in order to peek at its contents should they get access to your hard drive. On a Mac, you just go to your settings, choose “Security and Privacy,” go to “FileVault,” choose the “Turn on FileVault” option. Boom goes the encryption dynamite. PC folk need to use Bitlocker.

   WAIT!

   I could recount several times where people have done this and forgotten their passwords.  You are S.O.L. if you do this.  Also, when your computer crashes (notice I did not say IF) you will most likely never be able to recover your data.  Encryption adds security, but unless you work for the DOD or DARPA, this is overkill and can render your data unrecoverable.

6. Turn On 2-step Authentication (2FA) In Everything

   This is inconvenient, but mandatory. Especially for financial accounts.,

7. Pay cash for embarrassing items

   movie rentals, junk food, etc.

8. Change Your Facebook Settings To “Friends Only”

   Visit your Facebook privacy settings. Make sure this “default privacy” setting isn’t set to public, and if it’s set to “Custom,” make sure you know and are comfortable with any “Networks” you’re sharing with.

9. Clear Your Browser History And Cookies On A Regular Basis

   When’s the last time you did that? If you just shrugged, consider changing your browser settings so that this is automatically cleared every session. Go to the “privacy” setting in your Browser’s “Options.” Tell it to “never remember your history.” This will reduce the amount you’re tracked online. Consider a browser add-on like TACO to further reduce tracking of your online behavior.

   WAIT…

   Keep in mind, if you delete ALL your cookies, those websites you regularly visit will no longer remember you.  This is especially inconvenient for sites that require you to log in.  CraigsList, Facebook, Twitter, your school, etc. will all require you to put in your username and password EVERY time.  If you manually clear your cookies, leaving the ones you know you will need, you get around this problem.  That, however, is VERY time-consuming.

10. Download and install Tor

    Tor privatizes your computer and keeps you from being tracked.

My Add-Ons to this list:

Invest in a Lifelock Account

This monitors all your credentials and keeps the bad guys from opening credit accounts in your name.

It is CHEAP insurance!

Do NOT take those ridiculous Facebook Quizzes

You know the ones that ask “What city should you live in” or “What Game of Thrones character should you be”  Why do you think these silly quizzes exist?  Someone somewhere is harvesting as much information about you as possible.  This is used to profile you.  It is used to push online advertising to you and it can be used to figure out enough information about you to steal your identity.

JUST SAY NO TO THE ONLINE QUIZ.

Never call so-called  toll-free tech support!

These are always a SCAM.  They will steal your identity and charge you for it.

If you see a popup on your computer that tells you the computer is infected and you have to call them immediately.

REBOOT YOUR COMPUTER.

That should clear up the problem.

If it does not, CALL US IMMEDIATELY.