What's Your Identity Theft IQ?

1. Do you protect your mail?
I use one of the following for my mail delivery: a post office box, a mail slot, or a locked mailbox.

2. How do you send mail?
I always use a post office collection box.

3. Do you protect your identity at home?
I file any important personal and financial information in a locked file cabinet, and I shred any out-of-date information and credit cards before throwing them away.

4. How many credit cards do you normally carry around with you?
I try to carry only one or two cards at a time, max.

5. How much do you know about your credit?
I always check all the charges on my statements, and I order one free credit report every four months.

6. Do you protect your Social Security number?
I am like a guard dog with my SSN. The card is locked away at home, and I never allow any organization to use it as an identifier unless absolutely necessary.

7. How well protected is the information on your computer?
My computer has a complete protection package: anti-virus, anti-spyware, and a firewall. I keep it up-to-date, and I regularly run scans.

8. Does your computer have the latest release of your browser and a spam blocker?
I keep my browser current with up-to-date encryption capabilities, and I keep the spam blocker set on "high."

9. How do you choose a password?
My passwords are unique. I never use the same one twice, and I use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numerals, symbols, etc.

10. How safe are you with email?
I never open emails with attached files -- even when I recognize the sender's name -- unless I'm expecting them or unless I double check the source. I don't open or reply to suspicious emails, because I don't want to get phished!

11. Do you know how to recognize phishing?
I've learned how to tell whether an email that appears to be coming from my bank, credit card company, etc., is legitimate.

12. How careful are you when you shop online?
I only shop with online merchants that I know are reputable and that will respect my privacy. I make sure that online credit charges are handled securely (the URL begins with https), and I'm careful not to leave my credit card information stored on any website.