Identity theft prevention tips

Last week I wrote about security breaches at two major retailers. This week in the news it has come out that there could be many more retailers that were breached but have not announced it.

So you may be asking yourself what can I do to protect myself and minimize the risk of having my identity stolen. I will try today and in future  postings to give you tips on how to minimize the risk you have of your identity being stolen.

There are times to use your browser and there are times to use a search engine (i.e. Google, Yahoo, or Bing).

You should use your browser when you are searching for a specific website such as "www.annual credit report.com" these web addresses begin with a WWW or HTTPS:// and they generally end in.com.net or.org. By doing this you'll be taken directly to the website of your choice thus minimizing the risk of entering a bogus website.

A search engine should be used when you are seeking specific information on a general topic or something specific and you don't have a website.

So in closing it is very important to learn the difference between a browser and a search engine. You should always be very cautious before providing any website with your personal credit information and if it's a new website that you've never used before try and verify that you are on a legitimate website and not a bogus one put there to steal your identity.

Next week I'll be  providing tips for protecting your digital data.

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