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Attorney General Mike DeWine
Five Ways to
Protect Your Identity on Data Privacy Day
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today outlined tips
to help Ohioans protect their personal information on Data Privacy Day,
recognized annually on January 28.
“The Internet has created new opportunities but it’s also brought new
risks to data privacy and the security of personal information,”
Attorney General DeWine said. “Today we’re encouraging people to
consider how their information is shared online and to take steps to
protect themselves.”
In 2015, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office received more than 1,670
identity theft complaints, an increase of more than 300 from the
previous year. It also helped victims clear more than $658,000 in
fraudulent charges, according to complaint information.
Attorney General DeWine offered consumers the following tips to help
protect their personal information:
Review your privacy settings. Take time to locate the privacy setting
on all of your accounts, especially your social media accounts, and
decide how much you want to share with others. Update the settings as
needed to limit or control what others see about you and your family
members.
Read privacy policies. Before entering your information to win a prize,
receive a discount, or get notifications from a company, check its
privacy policy. Privacy policies generally explain how your information
will be used, including whether it will be sold to third parties or
used for marketing purposes. Many companies sell and share information
with others, which may cause you to receive more emails, phone calls,
and other solicitations.
Update your passwords. To help prevent intruders from accessing your
personal information, use strong passwords and change them regularly.
Use a different password for each program, website, or application you
use. Disable automatic login functions on websites, and do not allow
your browser to “remember” passwords. Log off from websites and
accounts after you are finished using them. Also, set a passcode on
your phone or tablet to make it harder for someone else to gain access.
Protect your home network. Use tools like firewalls, router and network
passwords, encryption, and anti-virus programs to protect your home
Internet connection and ensure that only you and your family have
access. Never give someone remote access to your computer based on
calls or pop-up messages from people claiming to be from tech support
or computer companies. Such messages are signs of a common scam. Giving
callers remote access will allow them to see the files and personal
information stored on your computer and may put you at risk for
identity theft.
Be careful when using free public Wi-Fi networks. If you use free
public Wi-Fi, assume everyone can see what you are doing. Avoid
disclosing personal information, such as logins, passwords, or credit
card numbers, when using public Wi-Fi. In general, limit your use to
visiting websites that do not require a login or disclosure of any
personal information. Also, verify the specific network name with the
store, coffee shop, or other Wi-Fi location before connecting to the
network.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office provides cybersecurity education for
consumers and organizations throughout the state. To request a
Cybersecurity Help, Information, and Protection Program (CHIPP) booklet
or to schedule a cybersecurity presentation, contact the Ohio Attorney
General’s Office at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 800-282-0515.
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