Online Safety Tips - Why You Shouldn't Give Out Personal Information

Online safety is a very important factor today.

Social interaction and business online is something we all enjoy because the internet is easy to use, works fast and you can accomplish much in a short time. Cruising online is how we spend hours - in average at least 1 hour and 20 minutes every day on Social Media - and for many it is much longer time.

One of the challenges on the internet is the data of yours that not only you but also everybody else can see and access.

YOUR ONLINE SAFETY WHERE THERE IS PUBLIC ACCESS

Most people are active every day on Social Media like Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+ and a great number of other places. These all give public access to your personal information, which means that everybody all over the world can see what you post and keep your posts as long as it pleases them and use it any way they want.

In other words: Whatever you say from the first time you post anything online will stay there forever for anyone to see.

Your Online Safety is depending on what you give out of personal information, not only the obvious like yours or your kids name, age, address, social security number, debit or credit card numbers, email, phone numbers and much more is personal information, but also personal opinions are personal information. Forgetting this can in some situations create a long-term liability for you.

Public employed like teachers and private employed who in a moment of negative feelings let go of online safety and post something bad about their bosses or workplace have either lost their job or gotten into a lot of trouble that can seriously affect their future economy.

THERE ARE NO SECRETS ONLINE

I have a question for you: Do you allow your parents or your kids to read your diary?

I don't think you do. We all have "secrets" we sometimes share in special moments with a partner or a best-friend. However remember if you tell even you best friend online a secret, it is no longer a secret.

Not because your friend is letting you down, but because you don't control other peoples online safety level and therefore don't know what might happen to whatever you send out.

The moment something leaves your control-area like your own secured computer it is literally out of your control.

GIVING ACCESS TO A SMALLER GROUP

This can be emails you send to family, friends or a business client. Even if this is online personal mail it can still without any hacker be seen by many other people than you intended, and mail can be easy to crack for a hacker, especially if you have been redundant with your passwords.

Be also careful with e-mail you receive with no subject or from somebody you don't know. Don't open and if you do don't give out any information.

YOU HAVE A WEBSITE

Being a business you want to be open and give good information on your website, but that should not involve your personal address, phone number, e-mail and more.

Your e-mail might very fast get spammed, which means you have to spend time and money to get rid of all that on a regular basis. It can further be misused - hackers send mail out so it looks as if it comes from you - and this is something I believe you don't want to happen.

Instead of your e-mail have a "contact-us" page from where people can send you an e-mail without you disclosing an e-mail address on your website.

YOU ENTER OTHER WEBSITES

Here it is just as important to be careful especially if you are asked to provide personal information. Like when I entered several websites to find the best price for an insurance on my car and among the sites a well-known car-insurance company. Four months after this I received a bill from them for "my car-insurance" that I never signed up for. It did take me much time and trouble to get rid of this insurance they signed me up for without my knowledge and with only my name and address.

PHOTOS ONLINE BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT

Especially if your website is a personal site with family albums and lots of pictures you probably want to add names to. This can also be abused so be especially careful naming and aging your kids online.

ECONOMIC POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF REDUNDANCY WITH PERSONAL INFORMATION ONLINE

Stolen identity is the worst situation and if that should ever happen to you then it might take you years, time and money to get rid of the sometimes devastating consequences of it. Furthermore false information might stay in records you don't even know about the rest of your life.

Fraud by withdrawing money from your bank account could be made look like some kind of purchase you did - even if you didn't - and the money has been send to some account on some far away island in another country. With your name, bank account number, social security number and address on the purchase this is a tough situation for you to make disappear.

There are many other dishonest ways your personal information can be misused. Do not underestimate Scam-artist's creativity level. They can and will do things you don't even dream about in your worst nightmare, that is if you let them get the opportunity.

ALL THIS IS NOT SAID TO MAKE YOU STOP USING THE INTERNET

Using the Internet every day is like everything else, play by the rules and you will be alright.

So go on having fun and useful activity online with family, friends and in business, but do it in such a way that you and everybody depending on you can feel safe when cruising online.

Pia Balling

PIA BALLING is a former international tennis player and entrepreneur.

She is driven to make life a wonderful and exiting experience for as many people as possible by supporting health and a rich life living through body and mind, personal growth, online programs and coaching.

It took her a lifetime to find the balance after long and strenuous periods of economic ups and downs as well as difficult personal times.

Now she has finally arrived to live a wonderful fascinating happy life.

Part of her learning on life's journey is sharing and helping others succeed to fulfill their special dreams in life.

Her latest book is The Perpetual Happiness Machine that you can find on Amazon.

For her coaching and more, please visit http://www.WomensOnlineBusiness.com