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Is Your Online Identity Secure?

These days, it pays to be paranoid when it comes to the type of information about you that is shared online. Websites like Facebook and MySpace have only made many people’s lives even less private and it pays to take precautions when doing any type of activity online, whether it be online shopping or having conversations with friends and co-workers using an instant messenger. Below are some guidelines to making sure you are secure online.

1. Only give credit card information to websites you trust. Make sure the website is securely encrypted. If you feel unsure about it, don’t give them your information. Use Google Shopping to find the same product on another, more secure, website or use PayPal.
2. Don’t post personal information online. This includes your address, phone number, places you hang out regularly, when you’re going on vacation, or major spots you hang out.
3. Don’t talk to strangers. Sure, the internet can be a great place to meet new people, but it can also be a place to meet a lot of people who have shady intentions. Avoid chat rooms or social networks where strangers can view your profile or personal information.
4. The Bottom Line: Just use common sense. You wouldn’t go around in public at Panera or Wal-Mart with your credit card number or social security number on your t-shirt, so don’t do the same thing online. Just be smart. If something looks bad, then it probably is.

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