Protect Your Privacy in The New Year!
- Engage in "privacy self defense." Don't share any personal information with businesses unless it is absolutely necessary (for delivery of an item, etc.). Don't give your phone number, address, or name to retail stores. If you do, they can sell that information or use it for telemarketing and junk mail. If they ask for your information, say "it's none of your business," or give "John Doe, 555-1212, 123 Main St." Don't return product warranty cards. Don't complete consumer surveys even if they appear to be anonymous. Profilers can build in barely-perceptible codes that link you to the survey, and this data goes straight to direct marketers.
- Pay with cash where possible. Electronic transactions leave a detailed dossier of your activities that can be accessed by the government or sold to telemarketers. Paying with cash is one of the best ways to protect privacy and stay out of debt.
- Install anti-spyware, anti-virus, and firewall software on your computer.
- Use a temporary rather than a permanent change of address.
- Opt out of prescreened offers of credit.
- Choose Supermarkets that Don’t Use Loyalty Cards. *
- Opt out of financial, insurance, and brokerage information sharing.
- Request a free copy of your credit report by visiting http://www.annualcreditreport.com.
- Enroll all of your phone numbers in the Federal Trade Commission’s Do-Not-Call Registry.
- File a complaint.
