Cintas and NFCC Issue Annual Top 11 Tips for Protecting Personal Data in 2011 in Honor of Data Privacy Day
January 27 2011 - 12:01PM
Business Wire
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that more than 9 million
Americans fall victim to identity fraud each year. Identity theft
can cost a consumer thousands of dollars and severely damage their
credit report. In honor of Data Privacy Day, observed on Jan. 28,
Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS) and the National Foundation for
Credit Counseling (NFCC) today issued a list of top 11 data
protection tips to help consumers avoid identity theft.
“Identity theft is a serious issue and anyone who doesn’t take
precaution is putting themselves at risk of becoming the next
victim,” said Gail Cunningham, spokesperson for the NFCC. “Being
aware and proactively protecting yourself from identity theft is
much easier than cleaning up the pieces after being exploited.”
The top 11 tips to protect personal information include:
1. Shred all documents containing confidential
information. A home office strip shredder may not fully protect
you. Identity thieves can simply use tape to put the pieces back
together or reconstruct your documents using software. Instead,
consider using a secure document management provider to shred all
documents and files. Ensure your provider is AAA NAID Certified and
PCI DSS compliant. These organizations verify adherence to
stringent security practices and standards defined by the
specialists in the information destruction industry.
2. Guard your Social Security card. Your Social Security
number is the gateway to your identity. Never carry it in your
wallet. Also, check to see if your number is printed on any other
cards you routinely carry with you.
3. Routinely monitor accounts online. Monitoring accounts
on a regular basis enables you to notice suspicious or irregular
activity before receiving your statements or bills in the mail.
4. Keep personal information private. Secure your
personal data at work and educate yourself on your company’s
personal information policies. Keep your information private at
home as well, especially if you have roommates or employ outside
help.
5. Suggest a “shred-all” policy at work. Many companies
are now implementing shred-all policies in the work environment to
protect confidential business and personal information.
Organizations can implement a program by partnering with a secure
document management provider. The right provider will place secure,
locked bins throughout a facility for easy accessibility. Employees
can drop business and personal documents that need to be destroyed
in the certified bins. A provider will visit the facility on a
routine basis to securely remove, destroy and recycle the
documents.
6. Check credit reports regularly. The three major credit
bureaus offer annual free credit reports. Space out your free
reports to monitor your credit activity throughout the year. Visit
www.annualcreditreport.com to learn more information and request a
free report.
7. Use unique passwords. Avoid using obvious passwords,
such as a birth date, maiden name or Social Security number.
8. Practice safe online habits. Social networking sites
often contain outside links and applications that ask for personal
information. Use caution when revealing any information on such
links or Web sites sent from unsolicited emails. Keep firewalls,
anti-spyware and anti-virus software up to date on your
computer.
9. Protect personal information while on vacation. Keep
track of items in your wallet or purse and be sure you return from
vacation with everything you left with. Prepare for the worst by
copying the front and back of all credit cards and placing the copy
in a safe place. This way, you’ll have the name of the issuer,
account number and customer service number at your fingertips.
Prior to leaving, keep personal plans to yourself or a limited
number of friends. Broadcasting travel plans and the dates you will
be away through social networks gives identity thieves an
opportunity to search your information.
10. Explain cautions to children. Children may not
realize the risk of revealing personal information on social media
sites such as Facebook.
11. Use a secure mailbox. Make sure your mailbox is
approved by the United States Post Office. Another secure option is
to mail items directly from a post office location. Also, never
clip outgoing mail to your mailbox and always have new checks
delivered to a post office box or the bank.
“As consumers, we are all at risk of identity theft during
numerous points throughout the day,” said Karen Carnahan, President
and COO, Cintas Document Management. “By following these simple
tips and being informed of the risks associated with improper
document management, consumers can greatly reduce their chance of
becoming a victim.”
Cintas is the first North American AAA NAID-certified and PCI
DSS compliant document management provider. It provides
cost-effective document shredding, storage and imaging programs.
Cintas’ services are designed to provide businesses with data
privacy and security, compliance with regulatory requirements and
greater control and access to information.
For more information about Cintas Document Management services,
please visit www.cintas.com/documentmanagement.
About Cintas Corporation:
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cintas Corporation provides
highly specialized services to businesses of all types. Cintas
designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform
programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies,
promotional products, first aid and safety products, fire
protection services and document management services to
approximately 800,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company
traded over the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CTAS, and
is a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.
About the National Foundation for Credit Counseling
The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), founded in
1951, is the nation’s largest and longest serving national
nonprofit credit counseling organization. The NFCC’s mission is to
promote the national agenda for financially responsible behavior
and build capacity for its Members to deliver the highest quality
financial education and counseling services. NFCC Members annually
help four million consumers through close to 800 community-based
offices nationwide. For free and affordable confidential advice
through a reputable NFCC Member, call (800) 388-2227, (en Español
(800) 682-9832) or visit www.nfcc.org. Visit us on Facebook at
http://www.facebook.com/NFCCDebtAdvice and on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/NFCCDebtAdvice.
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