Privacy Issues, Sites, Links

Contents: Either scroll down this page, or go directly to the section via the link.

Protect Your Privacy and Identity:  Credit Reporting Bureaus

To cut down on the unsolicited credit offers coming through the mail, tell the four credit reporting bureaus not to release your name and information to potential junk mailers and telemarketers ("opt-out"). The four credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian, Trans Union, and Innovis.

OPT OUT PROGRAM -- To be excluded from unsolicited offers of finance or credit. Any one of the methods below will cover you at all four credit bureaus: Expect to give your name, telephone number, and Social Security number (for verification -- they already have these).

• Call (888) 567-8688.
• On-line at www.optoutprescreen.com
• Write: Trans Union LLC, Marketing Opt Out, PO Box 97328, Jackson MS 39288-7328  (Addressed to Trans Union; goes to all credit bureaus)

  You can also ask each of the three credit bureaus to put a "freeze" or a “fraud alert” on your account. This means that each time an account is opened in your name, they would need to call or write to you to get verification. It works, but can be a hassle when you are opening new accounts.

  By federal law, you are entitled to (1) free credit report per year from each of the four credit reporting bureaus. This helps you keep track of any possible problems with unauthorized accounts and identity theft throughout the year

Experian: www.experian.com
Equifax: www.equifax.com
Trans Union: www.tuc.com
Innovis: www.innovis.com

Privacy: Concerned Groups and Government Agencies

 

Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)

Privacy Rights Clearinghouse Nonprofit, Consumer Info

Electronic Frontier Foundation

Digital Future Coalition

Computer Scientists for Social Responsibility

 

Federal Trade Commission Privacy Initiatives

U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)  In particular, note the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991.

U.S. Government's National Do Not Call List  Register your phone numbers to avoid calls by telemarketers

 

Protecting Your Privacy

How to protect your privacy and confidential information (pdf file)

"What is a cookie" Information from MicroSoft.

Using Netscape, here's how to change your options for accepting a cookie:

From the top of the screen choose "Edit," "Preferences," "Advanced." Select "warn me before accepting a cookie" and, if you want, also select "disable cookies." If you have problems loading sites after disabling cookies, you might try resetting to "accept only cookies that get sent back to the originating server."

Here are a few books that provide information on finding information in cyberspace:

• Your Personal Netspy: How You can Access the Facts and Cover Your Tracks by Wolff New Media.
• The Online Deskbook by Mary Ellen Bates
• Secrets of the Super Net Searchers by Reva Basch
• Naked in Cyberspace by Helen Burwell and Owen B. Davies

• For groups working on issues of privacy, scroll up to "concerned groups."

 

Privacy Protection: Assistance

Shields Up! Tests your computer's security.	SpeedGuide Tests your computer's security
Anonymizer: surf the web anonymously	Zone Alarm Free on-line spyware detector
Ad Subtract	Cookie Crusher
Web Free Cookie Manager	Web Washer
Consumer.Net  Analyzes the privacy of your internet connection	LavaSoft  "Ad-Aware" -- Free ad blocker & pop-up stopper
U.S. Government's Do Not Call List	Cookie Pal
	SpyBot "Search and Destroy" -- Free privacy software

Privacy Issues: People/Information Searches

Traditional Search Engines

Google	Yahoo!
Ask Jeeves	Alta Vista
Excite	Maps from Yahoo! Type in the address, get the map
Lycos	Google Groups (formerly DejaNews) To search discussion groups.

 

People/Address/Email/Telephone Finder

Lycos People Finder People finder	Switchboard People & business/telephone directories
Yahoo People Search People finder	Telephone Directories From around the world
Internet Address Finder People/email finder	411.Com People/item locator. It's ok, but not the best
Military Active Duty People finder

Additional Databases & Services: Free

Additional Databases & Services: For a Fee

Additional Links

Additional Links:  Links to sites re: mainstream media, alternative media, etc.
(Also available from Higgins home page.)

 

Return to "Links"

Links | Privacy Links

top