Suggestions How to Protect Your Privacy

You can take steps to protect your privacy while still using the Internet to its full potential

• Read the Privacy Policy at every web site requiring information before you provide it.  Privacy Policies should be very clear as to whether the member information will be sold or rented to a third party.
• Do NOT use an e-mail address that identifies personal information about you when signing up for general information. Company e-mail accounts, e-mail accounts provided by schools, and accounts provided by local Internet Providers all contain some identifying information.
• DO use a free, web based e-mail account that you have set up to keep your information private. Suggestions and instructions for setting up a free web-based e-mail account are included in the E-mail section of this web site.
• Balance the benefits gained by the information or service provided at a web site that requires personal information against your comfort level of sharing that personal information.
• Do NOT provide personal information in e-mails to people you don’t know and trust.
• Avoid listing your name and other information in general directories.

Editor’s Note: I have been using the Internet for years, and have provided personal information to literally thousands of web sites. Other than spam (see the e-mail section), I have never had any negative results from providing the information.