LifeLock Partner Guide

1. Don’t leave things like birth certificates, bank account and credit card statements or driver’s licenses where they can be seen by anyone entering your house or vehicle.
2. Use the need to know principle, if someone doesn’t need to know your Social Security number, or your driver’s license number, or any other details, then don’t give it to them. You should expect any employer, organization or individual whom you supply your details to respect your privacy.
3. Whenever you dispose of sensitive documents, you should destroy them so they cannot be used to glean information from. Use a lock on your mailbox to ensure that only you, or someone you authorize by giving a key, can get access to mail. Junk mail that contains your details, like pre-approved credit cards, are a high risk and sought after by identity thieves.
4. Protect yourself on line, threats are growing and range in issues like phishing to hidden code within social networking pages. If you have up to date antivirus, antispyware and a good firewall you’re in good stead and not a soft kill for hackers. Also, don’t forget to install all security updates for operating systems and applications. You should be very careful about forwarding your information across the web, especially when using wireless internet.
5. Wireless Internet is another hot spot for identity theft, with very few users of wireless using encryption or other forms of security. Someone new to Wi-Fi may have no idea that people in close proximity can use their connection if it’s not suitably protected. Some people don’t care if others use their wireless internet.

People who are careless with sensitive information like credit card numbers and social security numbers are at greatest risk of identity theft. By simply taking a few precautionary steps, you can save yourself alot of grief.