We all know many cases of identity theft these days occur through digital means. It can happen in-store when swiping your credit card. Your account information can also be compromised through your online activity.
When working at home and conducting so much business online as a result, it is imperative that you take extra steps to protect your money and credit. Here are a few tips to start incorporating today.
Share Safely on Social Media – Don’t broadcast when you are going on vacation or leaving town. With social media privacy policies changing so frequently things you think are private maybe are not. Share those vacation photos when you get back from your trip instead of while your mailbox full of potentially sensitive information, nonetheless your valuables, are home alone.
Create Strong Passwords – You know the basic guidelines, but you probably don’t follow them.
- Don’t use 123456 or ABCDEF.
- Don’t use your birthday or anniversary.
- Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts.
Use a service like LastPass to generate strong passwords and keep everything in order. And if anything goes awry in your online world you can quickly generate new passwords for all of your important accounts. You should also change your passwords often.
Stay Up-to-Date on Antivirus Software – Most security experts will recommend combining a few antivirus software programs and installing a firewall. Malwarebytes and AVG are two trusted names in the biz.
Monitor Your Credit – Credit Karma is amazing. And it’s free! Not only can you see your credit score in an instant, they will also notify you of any suspicious activity or account changes.
Be Careful of Wi-Fi – This doesn’t just apply to when you are at Starbucks. You may have heard the news reports lately of people’s webcams and security systems being hacked into because their home networks weren’t secure. Lock it down.
Look for Encryption – Any time you are providing personal information or communicating over the web the site should be using an encryption service. Look for https as opposed to http in the URL.
Beware of Phishing – I get so much spam email these days. Sadly, much of it may look legit to the layperson. It says it’s from PayPal Account Services. Isn’t it? Probably not. Don’t click through the link. Go to the web and log into your account to see if the same message is there. If in doubt, contact customer service. They will always verify legitimacy of emails.
Sign Up for Notifications – Most banks offer some type of system that will notify you when an unusual purchase is made or you go over your account balance – both common flags of identity theft.
Check Your Accounts Often – You likely have several bank accounts in your and your business’ name. Check your checking, savings, credit card and PayPal account balances often. The sooner you catch suspicious activity the better. I use a service called Personal Capital that lists all of my account balances, including retirement accounts, in one place and notifies me weekly of spending and balances (also great for budgeting).
Get a PO Box – Disclosing your home address is one of the biggest fears of working online. If you are sending out an email newsletter for your blog or home business it is the law you make an address available in those communications. Even if you only use it for those things, it’s a small investment to make to protect your family’s safety.
Don’t Forget to Shred – You know this. Every well-equipped home office should have an awesome shredder that can eat both paper and plastic.
Dispose of Electronics Properly – We probably go through computers and smartphones more frequently than the regular person. Make sure you delete all your personal information and dispose of these items properly. Staples will recycle your electronics free (they also have a trade-in program).
How are you protecting you identity while working online?
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