Customer Know How:
Protect Your Information from Prying Eyes

With so much information now exchanged through the Internet, it's more important than ever to know how to keep your information secure. Here are several ways to ensure that your personal information doesn't fall into the wrong hands online:

• Don't post personal information on public websites. If you're asked for this information, find out how it will be used and who will have access to it before sharing.
• Never click a link or download an attachment from a suspicious e-mail. Make sure that the e-mails you receive are legitimate before taking any action or sharing any information.
• Take as many precautions as possible when shopping online. Look for an “https” address to ensure your personal information is sent over a secure server.
• When purchasing from an online store, be sure to read their privacy policies. While they're not the most interesting literature available, you need to know how a website will treat your personal information.
• Use established anti-virus, firewall, and anti-spyware software from reputable sources. These can help keep you one step ahead of malicious computer attacks. Be sure to configure each application to receive automatic software updates, and ensure that your protection remains at the highest level possible.
• Use stronger passwords. These are best comprised from a combination of upper/lowercase letters and numbers, with non-personally-identifying information, making it far harder for an identity thief to guess than if you use your basic information. Change your passwords frequently.

Monitor your credit file. In the event that you became a victim of fraud, it's important to know immediately, allowing you to act fast to protect against further damage. With tools like Equifax Credit Watch^™ Gold with 3-in-1 Monitoring, you can be alerted within 24 hours of key changes to your credit file — enabling you to take immediate action to guard against increased damage.