Ask These Questions Before Sharing Your Personal Information

Data breaches, from the 2013 Target breach to recent incidents at Facebook, JP Morgan Chase, and cryptocurrency companies, have dominated the news and will continue to do so.

Unfortunately, you cannot keep your data from being leaked in a data breach by the company with which you do business. However, you can reduce the chances of this happening by asking businesses the right questions before sharing your personal information.

1. Do they protect sensitive data? To prevent exposure, only trusted employees should access critical data. Limiting access to a tight circle of top employees enhances security.
2. Do they keep tabs on their vendors? Businesses must monitor outside vendors' access to information and ensure vendors don't sell their data. Inquire about their vendor policy.
3. Do they train, train, and train some more? Regular cybersecurity training for employees is crucial to prevent breaches. Ask if the business frequently trains its employees on data security.
4. Do they update their software? IT departments should regularly update software and install patches to prevent hacking. Ask how up-to-date their software is.
5. Do they conduct regular security audits? Regular security audits identify compliance gaps and weaknesses. Ask if they conduct detailed security audits, have documented information security policies, and have adequate network security mechanisms, such as firewalls and IDS/ISPS.
6. Do they use sophisticated passwords? Employees should frequently change complex passwords and use a password manager. Inquire about their password policy.

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How can IDShield help?

‍IDShield offers best-in-class personal data monitoring, dark web monitoring, Social Security number monitoring, credit monitoring and privacy and reputation management. We take pride in our highly qualified team of professionals, including Licensed Private Investigators, who will help you should an identity theft event occur.

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