Jeni Rogers - 200+ Ways to Protect Your Privacy

P rotecting your privacy isnt just about adjusting your online account settings or properly using passwords. This isnt to say these things arent important, because they are vital to fully protecting your privacy. However, securing your private information starts much closer to home. In fact, much of it starts in your home and revolves around the personal data you use each day as an extension of your home and family life. A large portion of your life takes place inside your home. You live there, share meals with your family, create memories, and relax in a place thats like a safe hideaway.

However, your personal data and private information also live in your home... in drawers and file cabinets, on the counter, in stacks on your desk, or even in your trash can. Like you, your data doesnt just stay at home either. As you go about your day, it comes along with you. You carry personal data from home to work in your purse or wallet and on your cell phone. You take it to the coffee shop for a meeting, you set it on the table during lunch, you may leave it in your car to run into the store for just a couple of things.

These privacy protection hacks will help you understand the important (but simple) ways you can protect yourself and your personal data at home, in public, and everywhere in-between.

Bank and credit card statements, medical bills or paperwork, insurance documents... these items may seem like harmless pieces of paper stacked on a table or crammed in a drawer, but they can each contain private information about you: your birthdate, bank account numbers, credit card accounts, or even your social security number.

You should shred any paperwork that contains your private details. While it may seem like an unnecessary step (I mean, why not just throw them away?) the reality is that there are crooks out there who arent above rifling through trash bins to look for bits of your private life and data that they can use maliciously. Shredding documents containing sensitive data is really quite easy, and for some, very satisfying! Make sure to empty your shredder across a few different garbage bags before disposing of them.

Youre preapproved for a $1 million loan! Funds tomorrow! Refinance your car loan! Prequalification code inside.

If youre like many people, you probably understand this mail isnt offering you anything valuable, and you likely just toss it in the trash without a second thought (and maybe, a scoff). But you need to take this a couple steps further to ensure that private data belonging to you does not get into the wrong hands.

Dont leave these items in your mailbox or throw them into the trash intact.

These pre-qualifications and other loan offers contain codes that could be tracked to you and your credit card accounts, so its important that you shred these types of offers before you dispose of them.

But before you do, try to find contact information on the offers and call or write them to let them know you prohibit them to send you this type of mail.

Turn off the junk mail data siphon, and then shred. Shred without mercy.

Neverand I mean never!give out your personal data to someone who calls you saying theres a payment problem (if youre at a hotel, go down to the front desk; if its about a company, call the company, etc.).

Lets look at an example, based on a true story of a phone hack that swindled unassuming hotel guests.

Youre staying in a hotel. Youve checked in, gotten your key-cards, and are getting settled, unpacking, dancing in the luxurious bathrobe the hotel provides. Suddenly the phone in your hotel room rings. You answer, and the caller identifies herself as the hotel manager, and then goes on to tell you theres been an issue with your credit card and she needs to run it again.