10 Tips For Protecting Your Identity

3. Surf Safely on Public Wi-Fi

Most Wi-Fi users smartly use a WEP or WPA key on their home or office wireless router. However, the wireless networks at cafés, libraries, and other public locations are unsecured—and ID thieves know they have an easy entry.

• Be wary of websites that require you to enter identifying data such as usernames, passwords, and account numbers except when the sites employ https instead of http. Check the address bar to see which is in use.
• Web mail services such as Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo do use http by default, but in some cases this can be easily switched. In Gmail, simply add an ‘s’ to the http. Be wary with both Hotmail and Yahoo, as their login pages are secured but the inbox is not. On Hotmail’s login screen, go to the bottom of the page and click “Use enhanced security” to keep your inbox safe from prying eyes.
• You should be downright suspicious when using a public computer. Log off and then clear the browser’s history and cache using either the Safety menu in IE8/9 or Tools in IE6 and other browsers.

4. Password Protect Your Smartphone

All smartphones today have built-in ID security tools; you just have to activate them.

• iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Passcode Lock and set a four-digit code. After that, you must enter it each time you turn the phone on. Also remember to see Auto-Lock (also in General) to determine when the code needs to be reentered. The default time is one minute.
• Android: Go to Settings > Security > Set unlock pattern. Then set up a pattern you can remember. You can also customize passwords and their settings here.
• BlackBerry: Go to the Options menu > Password and click. From the pop-up menu, enable and set your passcode. You can then set the security options for the amount of time before you will need to reenter your password.

5 Lock Down (and Wipe) Your Phone

The Find My iPhone service is now a free download for all iOS 4.2 and 4.3 devices. Load it on your phone to track your device’s location on a map from your PC or another iOS device. You can also display a message or play a sound for two minutes at full volume to help you locate your missing device. Find My iPhone also lets you remotely set a passcode and, if necessary, remotely wipe your device of personal data.

For Android phones, download Lookout Mobile Security or Norton Mobile Security (Beta). The free version of Lookout offers a remote locator and protection against viruses, malware, and spyware, while Lookout Premium ($2.99 per month) includes password activation, data wipes, and a built-in privacy scan for any app you download. Norton Mobile Security (free) protects your private data, adds extra password protection, and locks the phone down if it’s lost or stolen or if the SIM card is removed.

For BlackBerry phones, go to us.blackberry.com/apps-software/protect to download the BlackBerry Protect app, which has the same features as the security programs for iPhone and Android phones.

10 Tips For Protecting Your Identity

• Introduction
• Sheild Your Social Security, Facbook With Care
• Public WiFi Safety, Lock Down Your Smartphone
• Stay Safe in the Cloud, Virtual Credit Cards