Page 15 - AAA Northampton County – AAA Now! – Fall 2017

MEMBER SERVICES
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HOW TO CAMOUFLAGE YOURSELF FROM IDENTITY THIEVES
Identity theft is a real threat to all of us. Cleaning up from the mess it creates is time-consuming, tedious and often costly. Wouldn’t it be better just to avoid the problem altogether? Luckily, there are steps you can take to camouflage yourself and deter identity thieves from detecting you:
• When asked for your personal information,
ask questions in return. Occasionally, transactions require our personal information. Your doctor, for example, may have a legitimate need for your Social Security number. Sometimes, though, the need isn’t as clear. If you’re asked for your information, you always have the right to ask how it will be used, stored and protected. If you’re not comfortable with the answers, you can always decline and later provide once you’ve confirmed what information is necessary.
• Don’t share your PINS and passwords. Your Personal Identification Numbers (PINS) and passwords unlock your financial and private records. It’s best to keep them to yourself – even from loved ones, if possible. Not only should you avoid sharing them, you should also avoid writing them down and leaving them unsecured. Treat them as keys to your personal safe!
who steals your laptop, for example, can take his time trying to break into it. Keep your devices in sight or in secure locations when they aren’t with you.
• Don’t get caught by a “phishing” scheme. “Phishing” is the universal name for email-based scams that hinge either on promises of big rewards or threats of legal action. Inevitably, the way to claim the bogus reward being offered or to avoid phony legal ramifications involves relinquishing personal information, account information or more. Don’t fall for it! The legal system does not use email as a primary means of contact, and unexpected rewards or gifts from strangers that sound too good to be true, usually are.
• Shred sensitive documents and protect your “snail mail.” In an era of sophisticated online data breaches, rooting through garbage and stealing mail remains a surprisingly effective, low-tech tactic.
You can frustrate the dumpster-divers by shredding your paper documents, and you can deter mail thieves by investing in a lockable mailbox.
• Install security software on your computer. Having a computer without security software installed is risky. While your Internet service provider and email providers may offer some protection, there are many more threats out there that they can’t handle. Invest in security software
and update the program regularly.
• Have strong, unique passwords for your online accounts. Maintaining a different password for each of your accounts – and making sure they’re all as resilient as possible – is an extremely effective means of preventing identity theft. Doing so can also limit the potential damage if you’re ever a victim. If the thought of updating all of your passwords seems overwhelming, consider the effort it would take to recover from a security breach.
• Secure your wireless network. Unsecured wireless networks are dangerous. Would-be identity thieves can access your network and use software that monitors all the activity on it, including your login information and passwords. Or they might just use your network to download prohibited content, like child pornography, without your knowledge. To avoid theft or an unwelcome visit from the FBI, set up a password on your home wireless network.
Of course, even when you take every precaution, identity theft can still happen. That’s why it’s important to sign up for an identity monitoring service like ProtectMylD. As a AAA member, ProtectMylD Essential is available to you for free. The more comprehensive ProtectMylD Deluxe is available at a special discount. The Deluxe product offers a robust set of features that can alert you if your identity is compromised – likely much sooner than you’d find out on your own. Can you afford not to have it? Learn more at AAA.com/idtheft.
• Protect your computer, smartphone and tablet.
Keeping tabs on the physical location of your devices is a big part of staying secure. Case in point: a thief
Shop your AAA member store today at:
MEMBER ID: GS75971913
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Valid for U.S. Dell Member Purchase Program/Dell University new purchases only. Dell reserves the right to cancel orders arising from pricing or other errors. Not valid for resellers and/or online auctions. Offers shown for consumer purchases only. Dell reserves the right to cancel orders arising from pricing or other errors. © 2017 Dell Inc.
*Offer valid 05/02/2017 – 9/28/17 on select systems found at dell.com/studentoffer. Coupon valid with select other offers, but not with other coupons. One per customer. One time use only. Intel, the Intel Logo, Intel Inside, Intel Core, and Core Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.
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