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Top 10 Checklist to Protect Your Personal Privacy Online

Teens

Locate and Review Security Settings on Social Sites

Think Before You Post to Social Sites

Understand GPS for Your Mobile Phone

Use Caution with Links, Downloads & Apps

Understand How Data is Protected on School Websites or Devices

Use Passwords

Limit Personal Information Provided Online

Be an Informed Online Shopper

Protect Your Devices

Know Your Email Rights

Top 10 Checklist Summary

Your footnote

• Who can see your information?- Direct connections- Friends of connections- Everyone?

• Who can contact you?

• Only connect with people you know

#1 Locate and Review Security Settings on Social Sites

FIPP 2

• Don’t post your full date of birth, phone number or home address

• Choose your comments and pictures carefully; once you’ve posted it’s out there forever

• People who can see your content may share with others beyond your “friends” or connections

• Don’t publicize your specific travel dates

#2 Think Before You Post to Social Sites

FIPP 2 and 4

• Pros- Using maps- Can emergency services find you?- Can your friends or family find you?

• Cons- Can someone follow you / stalk you?

• References:- https://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs26-cellprivacy.htm- To disable geo-tagging – http://icanstalku.com/how.php#disable

#3 Understand GPS for Your Mobile Phone

FIPP 1 and 4

#4 Use Caution with Links, Downloads, & Apps

FIPP 1 and 4

• Use caution when downloading information from links in email- Links may contain viruses or malware that you don’t want on your

computer- Consider who sent you the email with links- If unsure, mark as spam and delete

• Purchase apps from legitimate sources and avoid offers for “free” apps- Read the terms of use, especially about what information is used or

shared- Understand what personal information the app can access

#5 Understand How Data is Protected on School Websites or Devices

FIPP 1, 2, and 4

• If you register for classes on your school’s website, read the Privacy policy to learn how your information is protected.

• If you lease or borrow a computer (laptop or tablet) from your school, ask about the rules for content accessed or saved on the computer- Does the device have a camera? - What happens to pictures taken with the device?- Can you / should you remove all content before returning the device, or

will the school wipe the memory?

#6 Use Passwords

FIPP 1 and 4

• Use passwords for your computer, phone, tablet

• Make your password memorable for you, but not easily guessed

• Set your devices to require a password after a short time of inactivity

• Reference: https://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs23-shopping.htm

#7 Limit Personal Information Provided Online

FIPP 1, 2 and 4

• If a website asks for personal information, does the request make sense?

• Look for and read the disclosure about how your personal information will be used before providing it- Is payment card information saved on the sight?- Will your email address be shared or sold to others?

Examples of Personal Information

Name Address

Phone # Date of Birth

Social Security # Drivers License #

Credit / Debit Card # PIN

Passport # Student ID #

Bank Account Numbers Health Information

#8 Be an Informed Online Shopper

FIPP 1 and 4

• It’s typical to provide payment card information for an online purchase but consider- Site security (look for https in the url or a lock icon on the page)- A credit card is a better choice for payment that a debit card (broader

protections if you have a dispute with the seller)- Many sites offer to save your payment card information to make future

purchases easier, but avoid this option to reduce the number of places your payment information is stored

- If you have concerns about the site, call customer service to place your order over the phone

- Resources: Credit Card consumer protections: http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs32-paperplastic.htm#3

#9 Protect Your Devices

FIPP 4

• Virus and spyware protection- Security software (even when it comes loaded on your new computer)

must be kept up to date to protect you against the newest threats.- Resource:

www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/june/electronics-computers-security-software/overview/index.htm.

• Peer-to-peer file sharing- Software allows groups to share files but may expose files you don’t

intend to share- Resource: www.onguardonline.gov/topics/p2p-security.aspx.

• Limit what you do using unsecure Wi-Fi- Never leave your computer unattended at public wi-fi locations- Limit secure transactions, always check for encrypted site (https)- Resource: https://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs36-securing-computer-privacy

#10 Know Your Email Rights

FIPP 1 and 2

• You can unsubscribe from unwanted emails- Emails from businesses or organizations selling or offering something

(commercial emails) should have an opt out link or instructions for stopping future email; take the time to formally unsubscribe

• You can mark unwanted email as spam- This may not stop future emails but will generally direct them to your spam

folder when they arrive, rather than your main inbox

• There are some emails you will receive as part of your online transactions; generally you cannot unsubscribe from these, but they should recap a transaction or provide a notice you’ve requested- Order confirmation- Notices from your bank

• Reference: www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0262-stopping-unsolicited-mail-phone-calls-and-email