In today’s digital world, keeping your personal and business information safe online is as important as locking your doors at night. But don’t worry – you don’t need to be a tech expert to secure your data. Here are some simple steps you can take to shield your private information from prying eyes.

Use Password Leak Detection Tools

What They Are: Google Chrome and mobile devices offer tools to check if any of your saved passwords have been compromised. These tools compare your passwords to a database of known leaks.

Why They’re Important: These features notify you immediately if any of your passwords are at risk, so you can change them before they can be misused.

How to Use Them:

• Google Chrome and Android Devices: Ensure your browser is updated to the latest version. The Password Checkup tool is enabled by default, but you can verify this in Chrome’s settings under “Passwords.”
• iOS Devices: Go to Settings, tap “Passwords,” and look for “Security Recommendations.” Activate this feature to receive alerts if your passwords are compromised.

Remove Your Personal Info from Data Broker Sites

What They Are: Data brokers are companies that collect and sell personal information about individuals. These sites are not government-affiliated and their URLs usually end in .com. Services like DeleteMe help you remove your info from these databases and provide DIY guides if you prefer to handle it yourself. DeleteMe, for instance, is a service that regularly scans the internet for your personal information and removes it from data broker sites, providing you with a comprehensive report of your online privacy status.
​Why It’s Important: It’s important to regularly opt out of these databases because they can have a ton of private information about you and new sites frequently pop up. Opting out helps protect your personal information from being easily accessible.​
DIY Tip: Set a calendar reminder to check and remove your information every few months. This ensures you stay on top of any new data broker sites that may have appeared.

Domain Privacy Protection

What It Is: Domain privacy protection hides your personal information from the ICANN database, a public record of domain registrants.​
Why It’s Important: Without this protection, anyone can look up your domain name and see personal details like your home address, phone number, and email. This service is often included when you buy a domain, but some providers, like Bluehost, may charge a small fee.​
How to Check: Log in to your domain registrar account (such as GoDaddy or Namecheap) and look for domain privacy options. If it’s not active, consider adding it to keep your personal information private.

Use a Mailbox Service and Registered Agent

What They Are: A mailbox service provides you with a professional mailing address, and a registered agent receives legal documents on your behalf. In North Carolina and many other states, using a registered agent is a legal requirement for business entities.​
Why They’re Important: These services keep your home address private and ensure you never miss critical legal documents. This is particularly helpful for home-based businesses.​
Next Steps: Research mailbox services and registered agents in your area. Services like iPostal1 offer professional addresses, and many companies provide registered agent services to comply with state laws.

Understand Public Records Access

What It Is: Public records include information that is made available by your state and county government, such as property records, business registrations, and sometimes personal details like your full name and address.​
Why It’s Important: Understanding what information is accessible empowers you to make informed decisions about what to share online. If your state or county has very open records, it’s wise to be cautious about sharing your full name, your age, and your specific town publicly. This knowledge puts you in control of your online privacy.​
How to Research: Visit your state and county government websites to learn about their public records policies. If you find that much of your information is publicly accessible, consider limiting the personal details you share online, like your last name or your specific city, so people can’t search the public databases for you easily.

Avoid Memes Asking For Personal Details

What It Is: Tamarah @afroandwebdesign recently shared a great story on Instagram about this. Meme prompts on social media, like “Your name for this is the street you grew up on” or “What was your first car?” seem fun but can be used by scammers to steal your identity.​
Why It’s Important: Sharing these details makes it easier for someone to gain unauthorized access to your accounts or pretend to be you and open new accounts.​
What to Do: Be cautious about sharing personal information online, even in fun posts. Think twice before participating in these types of memes.

I understand that taking these steps can feel overwhelming, but please think of them as layers you can add on and take them one step at a time. These protective measures can make it much harder for anyone to access your personal information online.