Many people don’t think they need to worry about computer privacy because they have nothing to hide. After all, they are only using their PCs to access their e-mails, share family photos with the relatives, or search the Internet for rather tame pursuits such as the latest knitting patterns or gardening advice. Who cares, right?
Wrong. Computer privacy is a huge issue. You don’t have to be a conspirator, criminal, or pedophile to be affected by computer privacy issues. The majority of computer users are just like you and me. We go online, check our e-mails, check out the latest stock reports, watch a silly YouTube video, download our bank statements, buy a few books, and go about our day-to-day business. Once again - who cares?
Law enforcement cares. Snoops in the office care. Your boss cares. Your spouse cares. Spyware developers care. People who get their hands on your hard drive once you recycle your computer care. Let’s just look at the financial aspect alone. Does your hard drive have all of your bank account numbers on it? Passwords? Social Security Number? Tax returns? What a goldmine for identity thieves!
So, what can you do to protect your privacy?
Awareness is the first step. Now that you are aware that privacy is a concern - even for you - you can start computing safer. First, regularly clear your computer’s Temporary Files, Browser History, Temporary Internet Files, Cookies, Saved Form Data, and Saved Passwords.
Next, search your computer (including system files and hidden files) for any files named index.dat and delete these files regularly. Index.dat files store Web sites and e-mails sent in hidden files. Even if you clear your history, the index.dat files remain.
Do not allow Windows to store your passwords. This is a pain, I know. But you’ll have to deal with it. Otherwise, anyone who has access to your computer can get in to your financial accounts.
Password-protect sensitive files on your computer and then permanently delete these files once you’re done with them. For example, if you’ve created a master document containing all of your assets and liabilities as part of an estate planning document, password-protect it. Once printed out and placed in a safe deposit box, permanently delete the file. This doesn’t mean to delete it and empty the Recycle Bin; it means use a software utility designed for shredding electronic documents. Why? Because data recovery software is readily available to anyone and anyone with this technology can recover erased data - including from formatted disks!
When throwing away CDs, DVDs, hard drives, and other media devices containing data or recycling your computer use this same shredding technology to completely erase the contents once and for all. You never know where your discarded storage devices will end up so make sure that the data once contained on these devices is gone for good.
Be stingy with your personal information. Phishing scams are more sophisticated than ever. Remember that the companies you do business with already have the information they need. They won’t require “confirmation” of your Social Security Number or threaten to shut down your account if you don’t divulge it.
Finally, secure your computer with a password and with security software including antivirus, antispyware, and privacy protection.
Celeste Stewart | April 28th, 2008
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