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Most people are aware of the threat of identity theft, someone stealing your personal information for personal or financial gain. While the threat of identity theft is real, there is another threat to your privacy that is much more common. As the Internet continues to grow, each and every day there is more and more personal information online that can be found through a search engine. Personal information you may not want out there. Like pieces of a giant puzzle, all those little bits of information about you can be assembled into a very clear picture of who you are.

One of the most interesting things you can do is search for your own name. Do a Google search on you last name to see what comes up. Now if you have a common name it may be hard to find anything between all the Smiths and Jones. But if you have somewhat an unusual name, information may pop out at you. If you have been using your real name on the Internet, every time you sign up for something, join a forum or post a question, that information now lives in cyberspace forever. You may still be linked to that forum you joined 6 years ago. Even if you have never posted your name online it still may be out there. My father died 17 years ago, before there was an Internet. But he is alive and well in cyberspace due to a number of documents that had his name on them and organizations that he belonged to. Many businesses, organizations and governments are putting their archived files on line for “easier searching”. So if you name was attached to a document 15-20 years ago, it now may be online. Does you company post a directory of employees? Do they post other information about company activities that you may have been a part of? Everything from committees to the company picnic could be online. The organizations you belong to, schools you attended or even your church may be putting information out there without your knowledge.

Do a search on your home phone number and your cell phone number. Again if those had ever been posted somewhere, they are now online. You may find a number of things that you would of never guessed would be online. Once someone finds these little bits of information they can start to assemble them and from that point identity theft becomes all that much easier. They start with your name; they then find other documents you are linked to. Your name can lead to your phone number and address. With an address they can print out a map with directions to your house. The next search can lead to your hobbies, organizations, where you worked, lived, went to school and played. Does your softball team have a website? Did they post pictures of the after game celebration or a roster of team members? How did you do in the last marathon? The results are online. Have you posted strong political or religious views online? Has your ex posted those private photos of the two of you? Maybe you sent an email to someone and the answers are now posted online. These are just many of the things you need to consider to protect your privacy.

Many state and federal records are online but don’t show up in search results. But it may be a matter of time where these databases are available for free searching also.

How can you stop your personal information from being posted online? Even if you stopped using the Internet, bits of information would still be out there. They best way to minimize the information from getting out it to be vigil in how and where you sign your name and give out personal information. Always check the websites privacy policy if they require any personal information. Create an online alias you can use for posting questions, joining forums, etc. Use a free email service such at gmail to reduce the spam you receive at your main email account. Opt out of directories that may include you on a list of members. Make sure you know what information is being posted online about the groups and organizations you belong to. Publish personal and professional papers under a pen name. If you plan on applying for a new job or running for office, better find out what is out there before someone else does. Some of the information online may be somewhat harmless but stop and think if someone had this information how could they exploit it and harm you in the process? Maybe your spouse or your children are putting information out there without realizing it. Make them aware also. Start today to protect youself and your families privacy online.