Tips on protecting privacy

Given the prevalence of identity theft, data sharing, market profiling, and tabloid journalism, consumers must limit the disclosure of personal information online and offline to theextent allowable by law. The following checklist suggests ways to safeguard personal and data privacy in the digital age.

Social Security number (SSN)

Guard your SSN and resist revealing it unless required by law. Avoid displaying the number on checks or envelopes and never use it as a PIN number or password.

Transactional records

Carefully review all credit, bank and telecommunication statements each month. Recent federal legislation allows you to obtain one free credit report per year from any national credit bureau (Experian, Equifax and Trans Union).

Shoppers cards

Avoid shoppers cards unless you receive assurance that your purchases and shopping preferences will not be profiled and sold to marketers.

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Surveys and questionnaires

Resist completing consumer questionnaires and health surveys unless they are anonymous and untraceable. Your responses, however sensitive, may be shared with or sold to other parties.

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Computer security

Choose random passwords with at least 6 numbers and letters. Never download files unless you know who sent them. Read and follow privacy policies posted on web sites and opt-out of information sharing and re-use whenever possible. When completing an online member profile, avoid revealing personal details such as phone number and address.

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Medical privacy

Read your HIPAA privacy notices and patient consent forms carefully and critically. Exercise your legal right to access and review your own medical records.

Whenever possible, opt-out of health information sharing and release for purposes not directly related to your medical care. Resist using your SSN as a medical record number.

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Telecommunication privacy

Recognize that cordless and cell phone conversations are not secure and may be intercepted. To avoid unwanted calls, obtain an unlisted phone number and sign up for the federal and state Do-Not-Call lists.

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Employment privacy

Avoid sending personal e-mails while at work and use discretion when surfing the Internet. Your employer probably has the right to monitor your computer use at work. With proper notice employers may also install surveillance cameras except where there is a ‘reasonable expectation of privacy,’ such as bathrooms and locker rooms.

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Financial privacy

Read your privacy notices carefully and critically and opt-out of information sharing whenever possible. Complain to your financial officer if you are not given the choice. Never use mother’s maiden name or other common identifiers when selecting a password or pin number for your financial accounts.

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Theft of identity

Protect against identity theft by carefully reviewing your bank and credit card statements each month. You may obtain a free copy of your credit report by going to www.AnnualCreditReport.com or calling 877.322-8228. If you suspect that you have been victimized by identity theft, notify the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union) and ask them to ‘flag’ your account for added protection.

• Equifax: P.O. Box 740193, Atlanta, GA 30374, 800.525-6285
  
• Experian: P.O. Box 9530, Allen, TX 75013, 888.397-3742
  
• Trans Union, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92634, 800.680-7289
  

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