Help Control Your Personal Information Online

Most of us don’t even pause before filling out a contest entry form at a shopping mall and leaving personally identifiable information in a jar. But many people feel more protective of their privacy when they go online. When you are asked to share personal information online, it’s important to know who is collecting the information, why they are collecting it and how they will use it. The following steps can help you control your personal information when you do business on the Internet.

Consider Whether You Trust the Business

In evaluating whether you can trust a business, consider its reputation. Is it a well-known brand or have you never heard of it before? Businesses that have reputations to protect may have more of a stake in following their stated policies.

Provide Only Necessary Information

Think about why the Web site needs the information it is asking you for. If you are buying online from a trusted Web site, for example, it may be necessary to provide your address and credit card information. But think twice before you give out information such as gender, age, or Social Security number. Consider taking your business elsewhere if you are not comfortable with the type of information a Web site asks you for.

Consider How Information Might Be Combined

Even if a single piece of information, such as your mother’s maiden name, seems fairly innocuous, consider how it might be used if combined with other information about you that’s available online. For example, a birth date and postal code alone might be enough to identify a person who lives in a rural area.

Check the Web Site’s Privacy Statement

Make sure you know how the information you provide will be used. Review your choices about having your information shared with other companies or organizations and opt out if you are uncomfortable with those practices. Some Web browsers, such as Microsoft® Internet Explorer.0, can be set to automatically block cookies (small text files) from Web sites with privacy statements that do not match your criteria. For more information on how privacy policies can help protect you, see:

• Learn what to look for in a privacy policy
• Set your privacy options in Internet Explorer 

Look for Third-Party Seals of Approval

When you see a seal displayed on a Web site, it is good practice to click the seal to verify that it is active and valid.

• Learn more about seals of approval from independent authorities
• Read about TRUSTe certification of Microsoft.com’s privacy policy

Insist on Having Access to Your Personal Information

You should be able to verify and correct the personal information a business keeps about you. For example, if you have registered on Microsoft.com or have a Microsoft .NET Passport account, Microsoft provides ways to access your personal information online.

• Access your personal information stored at the Profile Center
• View your .NET Passport profile

Choose Passwords and Secret Questions Carefully

When you are choosing a user ID and password, many Web sites will offer you a choice of “secret” questions that you can answer to retrieve your password when you forget it. Avoid questions that could open the door to your sensitive data, such as your mother’s maiden name. That’s a key piece of data for an unauthorized user to gain access to other information about you, such as your credit card number or your health history.

• Learn how to create strong passwords

Share a Computer – Not Your Data

If you share a computer at work or use one in a public place, such as a library or Internet café, always sign out of any account you have accessed and close the browser before you walk away. If you don’t, the next person who uses the computer might be able to access the information you entered.

Limit the Sharing of Your Personal Profile

Some Web browsers, such as Internet Explorer, enable you to create a personal profile that includes your business address and phone number, as well as your age, gender, children’s names, group memberships, home address, and home telephone number.

To create or modify your personal profile using Profile Assistant in Internet Explorer:

1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2. Click the Content tab.
3. Under Personal information, click My Profile to view and edit the information used by Profile Assistant.

To save you the bother of retyping your address and other information, a Web site may ask your permission to tap into your personal profile. Web sites can request this information, but it is shared only if you give your consent. Before you grant permission, take a moment to consider what profile information to share with that site. Be sure to consider the reputation of the Web site and how information from your profile may be used in evaluating whether to make your profile available to a Web site and whether to allow your personal information to be shared with that Web site in the future without prompting.

By default, the Profile Assistant is enabled. This means that your browser will prompt you before sharing information with a Web site that requests user profile data. You can choose never to be asked for Profile Assistant information by changing the default settings in Internet Explorer. To do so:

1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2. Click the Advanced tab and scroll down to Security.
3. Clear the Enable Profile Assistant box.

Learn More About Privacy Options in Internet Explorer

Microsoft has enhanced Internet Explorer by adding new privacy features in Internet Explorer. It is now easier for you to see what Web sites are doing with cookies, view their privacy statements, and manage cookies.

• Use the security and privacy features in Internet Explorer
• Learn more about the privacy features in Internet Explorer

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