FOXNews has set out a number of steps to help protect your identity online and keep your personal information safe. In abbreviated form, the 12 rules are:

1. Fill only required fields in registration forms and uncheck boxes related to sharing your personal information
2. Use fictitious information on registration forms if it’s not important to your business (or use login information shared online)
3. Look for the “lock symbol” in your browser’s Status Bar and for “https” in the Address Bar as indications of a secure connection
4. Don’t click on links in emails that seem “phishy” - these are often related to your financial information
5. Turn on your browser’s (IE 7 or Firefox 2) built-in website fraud detection analysis feature
6. Search safely, avoiding dangerous websites (read more at PCMag)
7. Use data protection software
8. Use one-shot credit cards (contact your credit card company to see if they offer this)
9. Educate your family, especially your kids, about what information should not be emailed or IM’d (or use parental controls)
10. Secure your systems with strong passwords, and always log out
11. Be skeptical of what you get in the mail/email and shred everything with sensitive information
12. Learn about identity theft and how to protect yourself

This is a comprehensive list of steps to protect your online identity. Some of the steps could use fleshing out; for example, I would stress the importance of not sending personal information over unsecured wireless connections. Nonetheless, it’s a helpful set of tips for individuals as well as businesses.

Tags: identity theft, identity protection, online identity, identity education, security, online security