New PeopleSmart Privacy Center
Protecting your privacy is hard in our complicated, technology-driven world. Fraud and identity theft come from all over. In 2010, 19% of identity theft came from government documents and benefits fraud, but credit card fraud (15%), bank fraud (10%) and loan fraud (4%) followed closely behind. And this impacts many people. In 2010, the Federal Trade Commission reported a total of 725,087 fraud-related complaints, with consumers reporting over $1.7 billion in losses. More than 27,000 people reported fraudulent losses of more than $5,000.
Thus, having your information online is good if it makes things more convenient or useful; it is bad if it compromises your privacy or leads to identity theft. Some information you control and create, like emails, online searches, and your Facebook profile. Other records are created by things you do, like a marriage record, bankruptcy filing, or records of a medical prescription. Some information you may not know about, like the information data brokers or online companies collect based on your purchases, Internet browsing, or phone calls.
At PeopleSmart, we build products with privacy protections in mind. But, there is a great deal you can do to protect yourself and your privacy. With this in mind, we compiled educational resources, privacy tips, and action steps for you. To learn more, click on the links to each article. We answer three questions about each type of information:
Identity thieves can falsely use your information to access your credit. Monitoring your credit report is also important since employers, banks, and credit card companies make decisions based on your credit score. But a study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group found that one in four credit reports contain serious errors. Be proactive about protecting yourself and ensuring your score is accurate by monitoring your credit report and financial information.
Telemarketers, advertisers, insurance companies, and credit card companies buy and sell information about you so they can call you or send you mail. Learn how to protect yourself against them.
Identity Theft happens when someone falsely uses your information for money. You can purchase our IdentitySmart product and get $1 million in identity theft insurance.
Medical records are created when you are treated by a doctor, dentist, psychiatrist, or other medical provider. Doctors and health care providers can see these records, but so can direct marketers and data brokers. You can opt-out from their lists and protect your information.
When you browse a website, your computer reveals your IP address (Internet Protocol address), your Internet host, the country you are in, and what browser you are using. You can browse anonymously, though.
Web browsers store your search history and browsing, especially when your email is open (e.g., using Gmail while using Google). Spammers, hackers, and browser owners can match you with your searches.
Your Facebook profile contains pictures, wall posts, your address, email, phone number, who your family is, and who you are dating. Some applications can access this information, plus your friends' profiles, or even your inbox.
Data brokers compile information about your Internet use, how much money you make, where you live, and what you buy. They then sell the information to retailers or companies. You can opt out of their lists.
Advertising networks track the websites you visit and what you searched so they can deliver advertisements to you. The networks and their partners have access to this data. You can block them from tracking you.
Depending on your provider and apps, your travel, purchasing, messaging, and browsing information can be sold to marketers and others. You can use tools and settings to protect your privacy and information.
Thus, having your information online is good if it makes things more convenient or useful; it is bad if it compromises your privacy or leads to identity theft. Some information you control and create, like emails, online searches, and your Facebook profile. Other records are created by things you do, like a marriage record, bankruptcy filing, or records of a medical prescription. Some information you may not know about, like the information data brokers or online companies collect based on your purchases, Internet browsing, or phone calls.
At PeopleSmart, we build products with privacy protections in mind. But, there is a great deal you can do to protect yourself and your privacy. With this in mind, we compiled educational resources, privacy tips, and action steps for you. To learn more, click on the links to each article. We answer three questions about each type of information:
- What is available about you?
- Who can see it?
- What can you do about it?
Background Report
Public records about you span many aspects of your life. You can review your background report, manage your listings, and learn to protect your information and ensure it is accurate.
Financial Privacy
Identity thieves can falsely use your information to access your credit. Monitoring your credit report is also important since employers, banks, and credit card companies make decisions based on your credit score. But a study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group found that one in four credit reports contain serious errors. Be proactive about protecting yourself and ensuring your score is accurate by monitoring your credit report and financial information.
Spam
Telemarketers, advertisers, insurance companies, and credit card companies buy and sell information about you so they can call you or send you mail. Learn how to protect yourself against them.
Identity Theft
Identity Theft happens when someone falsely uses your information for money. You can purchase our IdentitySmart product and get $1 million in identity theft insurance.
Medical
Medical records are created when you are treated by a doctor, dentist, psychiatrist, or other medical provider. Doctors and health care providers can see these records, but so can direct marketers and data brokers. You can opt-out from their lists and protect your information.
Computer
When you browse a website, your computer reveals your IP address (Internet Protocol address), your Internet host, the country you are in, and what browser you are using. You can browse anonymously, though.
Search
Web browsers store your search history and browsing, especially when your email is open (e.g., using Gmail while using Google). Spammers, hackers, and browser owners can match you with your searches.
Social
Your Facebook profile contains pictures, wall posts, your address, email, phone number, who your family is, and who you are dating. Some applications can access this information, plus your friends' profiles, or even your inbox.
Brokers
Data brokers compile information about your Internet use, how much money you make, where you live, and what you buy. They then sell the information to retailers or companies. You can opt out of their lists.
Online Tracking
Advertising networks track the websites you visit and what you searched so they can deliver advertisements to you. The networks and their partners have access to this data. You can block them from tracking you.
Phone Tips
Depending on your provider and apps, your travel, purchasing, messaging, and browsing information can be sold to marketers and others. You can use tools and settings to protect your privacy and information.
Privacy Tips
We have compiled a list of privacy tips and best practices. Read them here, and let us know if you have further suggestion.
