Teens
Top 10 Checklist to Protect Your
Personal Privacy Online
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Top 10 Checklist Summary
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Locate and Review Security Settings on Social Sites
Think Before You Post to Social Sites
Understand GPS for Your Mobile Phone
Use Caution with Links, Downloads & Apps
Understand How Data is Protected on School Websites or Devices
Use Passwords
Limit Personal Information Provided Online
Be an Informed Online Shopper
Protect Your Devices
Know Your Email Rights
Your footnote
#1 Locate and Review Security Settings
on Social Sites
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Who can see your information?
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Direct connections
Friends of connections
Everyone?
Who can contact you?
Only connect with people you know
FIPP 2
#2 Think Before You Post to Social Sites
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Don’t post your full date of birth, phone number or home address
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People who can see your content may share with others beyond your
“friends” or connections
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Don’t publicize your specific travel dates
Choose your comments and pictures carefully; once you’ve posted it’s out
there forever
FIPP 2 and 4
#3 Understand GPS for Your Mobile Phone
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Pros
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Cons
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Using maps
Can emergency services find you?
Can your friends or family find you?
Can someone follow you / stalk you?
References:
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FIPP 1 and 4
https://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs26-cellprivacy.htm
To disable geo-tagging – http://icanstalku.com/how.php#disable
#4 Use Caution with Links, Downloads, & Apps
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Use caution when downloading information from links in email
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Links may contain viruses or malware that you don’t want on your
computer
Consider who sent you the email with links
If unsure, mark as spam and delete
Purchase apps from legitimate sources and avoid offers for “free” apps
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FIPP 1 and 4
Read the terms of use, especially about what information is used or
shared
Understand what personal information the app can access
#5 Understand How Data is Protected on
School Websites or Devices
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If you register for classes on your school’s website, read the Privacy policy to
learn how your information is protected.
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If you lease or borrow a computer (laptop or tablet) from your school, ask
about the rules for content accessed or saved on the computer
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Does the device have a camera?
What happens to pictures taken with the device?
Can you / should you remove all content before returning the device, or
will the school wipe the memory?
FIPP 1, 2, and 4
#6 Use Passwords
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Use passwords for your computer, phone, tablet
Make your password memorable for you, but not easily guessed
Set your devices to require a password after a short time of inactivity
Reference: https://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs23-shopping.htm
FIPP 1 and 4
#7 Limit Personal Information Provided Online
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If a website asks for personal information, does the request make sense?
Look for and read the disclosure about how your personal information will be
used before providing it
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Is payment card information saved on the sight?
Will your email address be shared or sold to others?
FIPP 1, 2 and 4
Examples of
Personal Information
Name
Address
Phone #
Date of Birth
Social Security #
Drivers License #
Credit / Debit Card #
PIN
Passport #
Student ID #
Bank Account Numbers
Health Information
#8 Be an Informed Online Shopper
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It’s typical to provide payment card information for an online purchase but
consider
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Site security (look for https in the url or a lock icon on the page)
A credit card is a better choice for payment that a debit card (broader
protections if you have a dispute with the seller)
Many sites offer to save your payment card information to make future
purchases easier, but avoid this option to reduce the number of places
your payment information is stored
If you have concerns about the site, call customer service to place your
order over the phone
Resources: Credit Card consumer protections:
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs32-paperplastic.htm#3
FIPP 1 and 4
#9 Protect Your Devices
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Virus and spyware protection
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Security software (even when it comes loaded on your new computer)
must be kept up to date to protect you against the newest threats.
Resource: www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2010/june/electronics-computers-securitysoftware/overview/index.htm.
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Peer-to-peer file sharing
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Software allows groups to share files but may expose files you don’t
intend to share
Resource: www.onguardonline.gov/topics/p2p-security.aspx.
Limit what you do using unsecure Wi-Fi
FIPP 4
Never leave your computer unattended at public wi-fi locations
Limit secure transactions, always check for encrypted site (https)
Resource: https://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs36-securing-computer-privacy
#10 Know Your Email Rights
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You can unsubscribe from unwanted emails
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You can mark unwanted email as spam
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This may not stop future emails but will generally direct them to your spam
folder when they arrive, rather than your main inbox
There are some emails you will receive as part of your online transactions;
generally you cannot unsubscribe from these, but they should recap a
transaction or provide a notice you’ve requested
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Emails from businesses or organizations selling or offering something
(commercial emails) should have an opt out link or instructions for stopping
future email; take the time to formally unsubscribe
Order confirmation
Notices from your bank
Reference: www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0262-stopping-unsolicited-mail-phone-calls-and-email
FIPP 1 and 2