Long Relationships

These might seem like simple things, but they could be the difference in keeping you protected. (I know this week is about stalking, but some things are important and apply to multiple situations.)

1. Be careful about giving out information. Where you live or even where your parents live could be just the piece of information someone needs to start haunting you.
2. Check your email signature. Are you giving away more information than you need to? Emails can be forwarded, so you never know who might be receiving what’s written in your email signature.
3. Check your forum signatures. Forum signatures can be even more dangerous than email signatures. Most forums are completely public domain, meaning anyone who happens to see one of your posts could get your information.
4. Profiles. Forums, other social sites, blog profiles… There are probably more people looking at them than you would ever dream of, so be safe and limit what you put on there.
5. Google yourself. Googling your own name isn’t just for people with big egos. Checking what’s ‘out there’ about you can keep you up to date on what other people are seeing - and what they can find by digging.
6. Don’t mistake ‘proof’ of identity as ‘proof’. People can fake just about anything these days, so don’t accept anything unless you know for absolute sure. ‘Oh, but I talked to him and his sister on yahoo at the same time. They have to be different people.’ No, they don’t. There is a program out there to run multiple yahoo (and others) messengers at once.
7. Be wary of meeting offline. Remember what you should have already learned. Meet in a public place with a lot of people. Have an emergency plan. Have someone with you or watching you if possible.
8. Take advantage of security measures. A lot of sites use and offer security programs to help keep you and your information safe. Take advantage!
9. DON’T be lured by silly emails. You may laugh, but some are more complex than others. Don’t be lured by ‘lottery winnings’ or by emails that say they are from places you are signed up with. Big sites like PayPal and others will never send you an email without asking or letting you know on site.
10. Keep an eye on your account activity. Pay attention. This might be your first (if not only) clue that someone is messing with your account.
11. Keep an unlisted phone number. Yes, people find ways around ‘unlisted’ phone numbers, but it is one hurdle to stop people.
12. Keep your mobile preprogrammed with emergency numbers. This is good advice for anyone.
13. Remember: Anyone can easily create an entirely different person to be online. Don’t think just because you wouldn’t do something to others that someone won’t do it to you.

Check out my other Thursday Thirteens on Fiction Scribe and The Book Stacks