During the busy holiday season be sure to keep privacy perspectives in the forefront of your mind. So many things crowd into our lives as we rush about in celebration of our holiday season, it is important to remember that during the season of peace and love and goodwill, there are those lurking in the shadows to take advantage of our good cheer. So, I am here to remind you to keep track of your personal information, your wallet, your debit and credit cards. Make sure to double-check your purse, pockets and packages to secure your credit card receipts and see that you have all of your information and purchases.

First, to all of us with Facebook and other pages on social media sites, if you have your birthday, including the year posted so that anyone, including your friends, can see it, please make sure your birth year does not appear. This makes you an easy target for an identity thief, as they already know a key piece of information about you. Your birthday is fine (after all, we all like getting those birthday greetings) however please remove your birth year from public view right away.

Next, do not volunteer information about yourself beyond what is necessary for a transaction when purchasing items either online or in person. That includes giving your phone number for in-person purchases and your social security number as a form of identification. Your privacy is in your hands here because any information you offer in these situations may be collected and used not only by those you gave it to but to the people they sell their information to as well.

If you are an online shopper, know the retailer you are dealing with. Shop with well known names, like those with brick and mortar businesses or well-established online companies like Amazon.com. Be sure you are on a secure site by checking for the little lock in the lower right hand corner of your browser. Read their privacy policy. Do not give your credit card number over a cell phone or in an email message; neither of these methods are safe communication of your personal information.

Print out and save all of your receipts and record your confirmation numbers. Review your January credit card statements carefully to make sure there are no errors.

When traveling, clean your wallet out before leaving. Take only the items you need for the trip. It’s best to leave your checkbook at home and take only a few checks along as needed. Use secure Wi-Fi networks and be exceedingly cautious when using public computers. Be sure to completely log off websites rather than just closing the window.

By just taking a couple of minutes to double check that your privacy is protected and by staying extra aware and alert, you can enjoy this season to be jolly. Fa-la-la-la-la la-la la-la!

Happy holidays from all of us at Privacy Solutions!!!