Speedbrake Publishing

Top 10 Privacy Protection Tips

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Do predators know where your child lives? Can a stranger in a far away land open up a bank account in your name? Will your toddler get credit card applications in the mail? All this and much more is possible if you don't take basic precautions to protect your privacy online. Heeding the following advice will certainly help you keep more of your sensitive private information out of the wrong hands.

1. Make protecting privacy a regular part of your family’s online habits.
2. Use your wireless network’s security features.
3. Use your browser to control cookies and popups.
4. Use privacy protection software, including firewall, antivirus, and antispyware programs.
5. Regularly update your operating system and privacy protection software.

6. Keep a written record of every family member’s passwords, user names, and other information needed to access any computer or online service.
7. Learn how to create passwords that are hard to guess, but easy to remember.
8. Do not volunteer personal information.
9. Use an online alias whenever it is appropriate.
10. Regularly review your family’s online activities and address any potential security problems.

When you or your child goes online, you don't want the wrong people to know too much about you. With a little practice, maintaining your privacy should be very easy.

Dr. Todd Curtis is the director of the AirSafe.com Foundation and an expert on the role using the Internet to educate the public about risk. This article was taken from his new book, Parenting and the Internet (Speedbrake Publishing, 2007). For more information, visit www.speedbrake.com.