Page 61 - Cyber Warnings

allowing parents from all 50 states to freeze their children’s reports. Freezing a report
ensures that thieves will not be able to take out lines of credit, even if they end up with
your child’s information. Visit the National State Conference of Legislators website to find
out what the law in your state is.

● Don’t share your child’s SSN unless it is absolutely necessary. Sports teams don’t need
this information, even though they frequently ask for it. Find out if you can use an
alternative form of ID when anyone asks for it, and keep a list of everyone who has
access to your child’s SSN.

When places of business ask for your child’s SSN, ask exactly how it will be used. If you
don’t like the answer, don’t do business with that company. You’re looking for an answer
that details the steps the company has taken to keep information private including
encrypted data and extensive personnel training.

● Opt out of reporting: A lot of parents don’t realize that their child’s schools can share
their child’s private information with third parties. Under the family Federal Educational
Rights Act (FERPA), parents can opt out of this. Talk to your child’s principal to find out
what you need to do to keep your child’s information inaccessible.

● Use your name for subscriptions: It might seem like a cute idea to list your child on his
own magazine subscription, but it’s better to keep your child’s name and address off of
public documents, especially when that information can easily be sold to other
marketers.

● Lock it up: Keep your child’s personal information including his passport, social security
card, and birth certificate locked safely away so that visiting friends and family members
can’t find it.

● Keep your kids in the dark: There are few good reasons for a 10-year-old to know his
SSN. Hold off on telling your children their SSN until they need it, which is generally
when they are in high school or beyond. Younger children are less likely to understand
why they need to keep this information private and therefore more likely to let it slip to
the wrong person.

● Invest in identity theft software: A lot of people confuse identity theft software with
antivirus software and believe that they are secure as long as they have antivirus
software.

The truth is, identity theft software goes beyond simply keeping hackers at bay. Identity
theft software will monitor your credit report for you, alerting you when there is
suspicious activity.

61 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine – February 2016 Edition
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