Since data privacy is such a hot topic, many government agencies and businesses invest millions of dollars each year to help secure their data, which may contain your PII. The ordinary customer is unlikely to have that type of cash on hand. However, there are several low-cost measures you may take to assist secure your data. Here are a couple of ideas:
1. Use a mail slot or a lockable mailbox at home to keep criminals out of your mail.
2. Shred personal information-containing papers, such as receipts and bank and credit card statements, before discarding them.
3. Make sure your home Wi-Fi network and other gadgets are secure so that fraudsters can't "listen in" on your internet activities.
4. If someone asks for your Social Security number, don't just give it to them. Determine if they truly require it and, if so, how they intend to safeguard it.
5. For all of your online accounts, use strong, unique passwords.
One more piece of advice to help you keep your data private: check the privacy settings on your social media accounts on a regular basis. If you don't, you might be revealing much more than your name with individuals you've never met, and a clever thief could exploit that information to steal your identity and much more.
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