Safeguards protect against data breach

I just finished an article for our Chamber of Commerce regarding the protection of consumer’s data. After completing the article, it dawned on me that the information I shared was equally important to us as individuals and it was certainly worth repeating.

There are some fundamental questions that we all need to ask regarding the protection of our data. How much of your personal information is stored on your computer? What about on someone else’s? Do you think it’s safe?

In the last two years, 85 percent of businesses have experienced a data breach that compromised customer, and/or employee data. It is estimated that more than 150 million records were exposed.

These breaches include compromised e-mail accounts, unsecured networks and databases, along with stolen laptops and other devices. There are also the more traditional methods of theft by employees, and those that use your employees to steal information — sometimes unwittingly. Another, often overlooked, issue is through our own Web sites.

Identity theft statistics can be quite a revelation for many of us. It is estimated that 13 identity thefts occur every minute and the amount of time and money spent repairing the damage that identity theft causes is quite considerable.

It’s amazing how many methods are used for ID theft:

• Filing a change of address form in your name to divert mail and gather information.

• Stealing credit card payments and outgoing mail from mailboxes.

• Lifting identifying information from checks.

• Stealing discarded applications for preapproved credit cards.

• Pretending to be government officials or legitimate businesses who need information.

• Using a camera in a cell phone to photograph someone’s credit card or ATM card while they are using an ATM machine or buying something in a store.

And then there is our own lack of awareness. Still to this day, many of us will fall for the promise of huge prizes or bargains in return for personal information. It is also easy to get caught by a legitimate-looking e-mail that directs you to a phony Web site (that looks realistic) but again asks for personal and financial data.

When you are doing business over the Internet or with any vendor it is important that you know what they do with the personal information they collect on you. Do they store the information or is it deleted?

It is our job to keep in mind that some businesses often underestimate the extent to which we value the privacy of our personal data.

The good news is that 64 percent of us surveyed by Privacy & American Business said they decided not to buy a company’s product or service because they did not know how the company would use their personal information. And, regulations are now being passed to ensure that all businesses comply with basic safeguards.

But, make sure you incorporate your own safeguards and be cautious. This is truly a case of “better safe than sorry.”