Page 33 - Leisure Living Magazine June 2019

Protecting Your Personal
Come Visit and
Information
“Law You Can Use” Courtesy of the Ohio State Bar Association
Q: I’ve been reading about data breaches affecting consumers. What can I do to protect myself ?
A: While there is no foolproof way to pre- vent the loss or theft of your information, you can take these steps to manage the risk:
• limit what you share;
• know how your information will be used; • monitor your financial records;
• review your credit report;
• report suspicious activity; and
• don’t ignore notification of data breaches.
Q: How do I limit what I share?
A: When providing any information online, assume that nothing will remain pri- vate. While there is no way to remain truly anonymous when sharing your personal infor- mation, you can
protect yourself by
limiting what you
share. For example,
think twice before
posting vacation
pictures online:
you are advertis-
ing the fact you are
away from your
home. Likewise,
when shopping
online, consider
what information
is really necessary
to complete a transaction and provide only that data. Also, look out for pre-checked option boxes that may result in unwanted advertise- ments and increased sharing of your informa- tion. As a rule, share only the minimum infor- mation required to complete the task.
Q: How do I know what will be done with my information?
A: Remember that, once you turn over
any information, online or otherwise, you no lon- ger control what happens to it. Social media posts, website registrations, Internet shopping orders and online information services all require, or at least request, your personal information. Some information is necessary for the experience. For example, when ordering a product online, you’ll have to identify yourself, provide shipping infor- mation and credit card data. But website organi- zations also gather information that they can use to deliver advertisements and the like, or they may sell the information to others for use.
Before providing any information, you should read the website privacy policies and terms of use. The law requires that these parties accurately describe how your information will be used and secured. If the policy leaves you unsure of how
your personal infor- mation will be treat- ed, shop somewhere else.
Q: What canIdotospot identity theft?
A: You can increase your chanc- es of detecting that your identity has been stolen by close- ly monitoring your records. Reading
your bank and credit card statements and look- ing for suspicious activity can be an effective way to spot illegal use of your information before too much time has passed. Banks also offer the capability for you to review your accounts online, so you don’t need to wait for monthly written statements to spot suspicious activity. If you see something odd, report it to your bank immediate-
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