How to Remove Personal Information from Internet & Public Data Sources

Tips for Protecting Your Personal Information from FTC and others Good Sources 

FTC Privacy: Tips for Protecting Your Personal Information

From FTC.GOV:FTC website has an excellent article on how to protect your personal information. This is a substract from the FTC article:From the article, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) encourages you to make sure your transactions - online and off - are secure and your personal information is protected. The FTC offers these tips below to help you manage your personal information wisely on Internet, and to help minimize its misuse by others.From FTC:(1) When you are buying online, before you reveal any personally identifying information, find out how it will be used and whether it will be shared with others. Ask about company's privacy policy - this is very important - how to use of your information and are they kept the informationconfidential?(2) Read the privacy policy on any website directed to children. Websites directed to children or that knowingly collect information from kids under 13 must post a notice of their information collection practices.(3) Put passwords on your all your accounts, including your credit card account, and your bank and phone accounts. Avoid using easily available information - like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number - or obvious choices, like a series of consecutive numbers or your hometown football team.(3) Minimize the identification information and the number of cards you carry to what you'll actually need. Don't put all your identifying information in one holder in your purse, briefcase or backpack.(4) Keep items with personal information in a safe place. When you discard receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, bank checks and statements, expired charge cards, credit offers you get in the mail and mailing labels from magazines, tear or shred them. That will help thwart any identity thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information.(5) Consider ordering a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit reporting agencies (CRAs) every year. Make sure it's accurate and includes only those activities you've authorized. CRAs can't charge you more than $9.00 for a copy and in some states, your credit report is free.(6) Use a secure browser when shopping online to guard the security of your transactions. When submitting your purchase information, look for the "lock" icon on the browser's status bar to be sure your information is secure during transmission.

Privacy, Public Access & Policymaking in State Redaction Practices

From NASS.ORG:This white paper is written by The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS). This white paper "Privacy, Public Access & Policymaking in State Redaction Practices" is specifically written for state and local leaders on how to copy with data security in public records across the Internet.The paper explored the issue of information leaking and sought ways to provide policymakers to remove Social Security numbers, driver licensing numbers, and other sensitive information from public documents and records. Lapses in privacy by the state governement can mean lawsuits for unintended disclosure.As a part of their open records laws, states have been working hard to make public records available online. However, state laws haven't always kept up with technology change. Secretaries of state and other stewards of public information are addressing the need to adopt new practices that protect Social Security numbers and other personal information from identity thieves and other unscrupulous viewers while maintaining records that can be used for legitimate business purposes.The white paper offers insights on common issues in developing redaction programs, as well as practical advice on identifying cost-effective solutions. A survey section includes details on redaction practices in 19 states. Additionally, the paper stresses the growing need for states to educate the public on the prevention of identity theft.In preparing this white paper, they realized that public officials can do a better job of giving citizens the advice they need to proactively protect their identity and keep personal information out of the wrong hands, especially when it comes to submitting forms to the government.

How to Protect Your Private Information

From THE WALLSTREET JOURNAL REPORT:SECURITY: How to Protect Your Private Information Your life is an open book online. It doesn't have to be with the right privacy protection.

Privacy Rights

From Privacyrights.Org:The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse is a nonprofit, consumer information and advocacy organization

CDT Top Ten Ways to Protect Your Privacy Online

From CDT.ORG:1. Look for privacy policies on the Web2. Get a separate email account for personal email3. Teach your kids that giving out personal information online means giving it to strangers4. Clear your memory cache after browsing5. Make sure that online forms are secure6. Reject unnecessary cookies7. Use anonymous remailers8. Encrypt your email9. Use anonymizers while browsing10. Opt-out of third party information sharingExtra! Use common sense

Your identity...for sale

From credit bureaus to grocers to unscrupulous brokers, there's a healthy trade in your good name

Verizon Could Sue to Keep Cell-Phone Numbers Private

Is your cell phone number available to anyone with an Internet connection and a few dollars to spare?Despite the fact that Congress and the wireless industry have largely rejected the idea of a wireless telephone number directory, Bellevue, Washington-based data broker Intelius in August launched a mobile phone directory that has wireless providers up in arms.For approximately $15, visitors to Intelius' site can type in a particular number and receive information about the owner of that number.Congress tackled the issue of cell phone directories several years ago, but after a brief attempt by the wireless industry (minus Verizon) to create a collective directory of its own, plans for the project were abandoned. With the arrival of Intelius' cell phone directory last year, however, Congress resurrected the issue in December with a bill (S. 2454) that would ban the creation of a mobile directory. The measure is currently before the Senate Commerce Committee.

Google to dig up more personal records

Software to index more state files such as school test scores.Googling something or someone? If the state of Florida has public records about your subject, they might show up in your search results.Florida joins five other states - Arizona, California, Utah, Virginia and Michigan - already participating in Google's effort. Google hopes to get local governments involved in the effort.

Open Government Guide

The Open Government Guide is a complete compendium of information on every state's open records and open meetings laws. Each state's section is arranged according to a standard outline, making it easy to compare laws in various states. If you're a new user of this guide, be sure to read the Introductory Note and User's Guide.

Canada Personal Information Protection Act

Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act:The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has prepared this guide to help individuals learn about their rights under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Canada's new private sector privacy law.PIPEDA sets ground rules for how organizations may collect, use or disclose information about you in the course of commercial activities. The law also gives you the right to see and ask for corrections to information an organization may have collected about you. If you think an organization covered by the Act is not living up to its responsibilities under the law, you have the right to lodge an official complaint.What is personal information?"Personal information" under the Act means information about an "identifiable individual."For example, "personal information" includes yourname, age, weight, heightmedical recordsincome, purchases and spending habitsrace, ethnic origin and colourblood type, DNA code, fingerprintsmarital status and religioneducation; andhome address and phone number"Personal information" does not include the name, job title, business address or office telephone number of an employee of an organization.How does the Act protect my personal information?The Act gives you control over your personal information by requiring organizations to obtain your consent to collect, use or disclose information about you. The Act confers certain rights on individuals, and imposes specific obligations on organizations.

Beyond the basics: Protect personal information

Best practices for preventing identity theft and protecting your privacy online.

What to do if you're a victim of fraud

When you use a credit card, you can be vulnerable to fraud, whether you pay online, over the phone, or even in person at your neighborhood grocery store.If you think you've been the victim of fraud or a scam, immediately follow these steps. The faster you contact the proper authorities, the more likely you are to minimize the damage a scammer can do to your identity, your credit, and your bank account.

How to limit your personal data in online directories

Internet phone books, people-finding services, and other online directories make it almost impossible to keep your personal contact information entirely off the Web.It's fairly easy for anyone to find your name, phone number, home address, or e-mail address-for business or social purposes, advertising or marketing, or even criminal intent.Here are a few ways to help control the amount of personal information you give to the world

Help protect your privacy in online communities

Many Internet users belong to one or more online communities, where they can share ideas and information with people who enjoy similar interests.Such communities include e-mail distribution lists, message boards, newsgroups, blogging sites, social networking sites, and more.You can help protect your privacy and still enjoy the benefits of these groups by following a few basic guidelines.

Beware of scams when job-hunting online

Phony job opportunitiesBy creating phony job ads, scammers hope to fool job hunters into sending them personal information (called phishing). Scammers post their ads on legitimate job sites.Phony job ads often use familiar-looking or convincing company logos and verbiage. Sometimes they even provide links to fake Web sites that appear to be those of real organizations.

Genealogy: Avoid common scams while you seek and share your family history online

Before you start digging for your family roots online, check out the following guidelines to help spot and avoid common genealogy scams.

Video: Protect the privacy of your personal information

Watch this video to find out more about protecting your personal information so you can help to avoid identity theft and other kinds of fraud when you go online.

Cyberdating: Staying safe while having fun

Provided here are the basic tips for online dating safety, intended as a quick reference guide. Do not be embarrassed to insist on these rules. If your cyberdate is genuine they will understand and respect your wishes.We have much more detailled information about cyber romance and online dating safety in our Internet 101 section.

Cell (mobile) phone safety

Using a cell phone to send and receive text messages and/or images, is very similar to using e-mail or instant messaging and some of the same safety rules apply. You cell (mobile) phone can be a direct link between you and spammers, scammers, identity thieves, online predators and cyberbullies. On this page you will find some basic tips on cell (mobile) phone safety:

Tips to protect your Cell (Mobile) phone against unwanted calls

Keeping your Cell (Mobile) phone and yourself safe means understanding the potential risks and how to protect against them. Precautions and solutions can differ slightly, depending on where you live. The information on this page relates directly to the United States of America and the United Kingdom, with information on how to find similar information for other countries

Reverse Phone Lookup Review

Provide honest reviews on reverse cell phone number lookups

Wireless Phone User Information

Provide information on wireless users and wireless providers.