How to Protect Your Privacy

Computer

• Use a firewall : keep it running at all times. See Technical Tips : Firewall Software
  
• Use anti-spyware software : keep it updated. See Technical Tips : Anti-Spyware Software List
  
• Use anti-virus software : keep it updated. See Technical Tips : Anti-Virus Software List
  
• Use anti-tojan software : keep it running at all times. See Technical Tips : Anti-Trojan Software List
  
• Use Windows Password : use windows (2000/XP) password to login your account. Do not set the computer to auto-login.
  
• Create a browsing account : use a non-Administrative rights account when you are browsing the web.
  
• Use Windows XP Restore feature : create a browsing account and on a monthly basis, restore it to the first of the month.
  Any viruses/spyware installed while browsing will be backed out.
  
• Use a proxy server/site : to access a site without revealing your IP address. See Technical Tips : Browse Using a Proxy
  
  

Online Browsing

• Use Firefox : Firefox is a much safer browser than Internet Explorer.
  
• Use Mozilla Thunderbird : Thunderbird is much safer than Microsoft Outlook.
  
• Use Bugmenot.comt : find an existing user and password. please add to the database too.
  
• Passwords : Pick a strong password (a�combination�of�upper�and�lower�case�letters,�and�should preferably�contain�some�digits�and�special�characters�e.g.�punctuation)
  use it everywhere. e.g. AnWyCcD4U1961. See How to Create a Strong Password : eConsultant
  
• Make up a fictional identity : pick and consistently use a fictional identity : date of birth, place of birth, mother's name for the security questions.
  
• Use Disposable email addresses : use disposable addresses at sites which require registration. See Technical Tips : Find a Disposable Email Address
  
• Get news via Google News / Yahoo! News : most local newspaper require registration. You can get the same AP news via Google/Yahoo without registering at various sites.
  
• Do not reply to spammers, for any reason. : replying tells them that they have reached a valid address.
  
  

Online Shopping

• Passwords : pick a strong password (a�combination�of�upper�and�lower�case�letters,�and�should preferably�contain�some�digits�and�special�characters�e.g.�punctuation)
  use it everywhere. e.g. AnWyCcD4U1961
  
• Temporary card numbers : most credit card companies let you generate one-time temporary credit card numbers. Use them.
  
• Use Disposable email addresses : use one-time/disposable addresses at one-time/what-a-deal shopping sites. See Technical Tips : Find a Disposable Email Address
  
• Use Gmail address extensions : use myname+amazon@gmail.com at Amazon; myname+safeway@gmail.com at Safeway etc
  
  

Online Banking

• Sign Up : sign up for online banking and online e-statements. Print them yourself. One less item in your physical mailbox.
  
• Bookmark your financial sites : bookmark the account sites and only use those bookmarks to sign-in.
  
• Don't fall for phishing emails : Do not ever use any banking links that come via email.
  If your banks really needs your information/some options checked, it'll ask you when you login to your account.
  
• Banking records : your big bank has a credit card division, an insurance division, a small business division, a loans division.
  Opt-out of your bank sharing information with them.
  
  

Credit Report

• Get your free credit report. : Use AnnualCreditReport.com Or Call 1-877-322-8228.
  There are three big credit review companies : Equifax, Experian, TransUnion.
  You can keep a yearly watch on your credit by ordering a report from a different one every four months.
  
• Freeze your credit : All three credit reporting bureaus allow you to "security freeze" your credit.
  A security freeze means that your file cannot be shared with potential creditors.
  
  

Credit Cards

• Say No to Credit Card offers. : use OptOutPrescreen.com to stop those pre-approved envelopes in your mailbox.
  
  

Social Security Numbers

• Protect that SSN : do NOT keep the card in your wallet.
  
• Give out only when mandatory : your employer, bank, credit card, health insurance company and some government agencies needs it.
  Be wary of other companies or organizations asking for it.
  
  

Phone Company

• Do Not Call : Use National Do Not Call Registry Or Call 1-888-382-1222
  
• Phone records. : opt-out of your phone company sharing your records with anyone.
  
  

Supermarket Shopping

• Supermarket loyalty cards : make up a fake name and address, get a new one every other month,
  tell the checker that you forgot your card and ask him/her to use the one they keep below the checkout register.
  
• Creative phone number / zip code : create a phone number or even use the store's own number when asked.
  
  

Telemarketers

• Ignore telemarketers : let the answering machine pick up all calls. Call back people you want to talk to.
  
• Annoy telemarketers : keep them on the line; ask questions; but don't buy anything.
  
  

At Home

• Lock your mail box : make sure no one is stealing your postal mail.
  
• Shredder : use it to shred any documents with confidential information.
  
• Bank Checks : do NOT have your driver's license or phone number printed on your checks.
  
  

Customer Service Agents

• Quiz customer service reps : ask what will they do with your phone;
  ask how do they know your address and what will it take to remove it from their records.
  But, please do not personally blame them for their company policies.
  
  

Complain

• Complain : in writing, to companies with crazy policies.
  Only when enough people complain and take their business elsewhere that companies change their ways.
  
  

Some useful links

• AnnualCreditReport.com : Official annual credit report site.
  
• Your Access to Free Credit Reports : Federal Trade Commision site.
  
• Equifax : Big-3 credit reporting bureaus.
  
• Experian : Big-3 credit reporting bureaus.
  
• TransUnion : Big-3 credit reporting bureaus.
  
• National Do Not Call Registry : Official Do Not Call site.
  
• OptOutPrescreen.com : Official pre-approval opt-out site.
  

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• eConsultant � Blog Archive � How to Protect Your Privacy
  

How to Create a Strong Password

A strong password should meet all three of these criteria:

• Over eight characters
  
• Combines letters, numbers and symbols
  
• Easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess
  

Choose a Long Phrase

• Ask not what your country can do for you ...
  
• To be or not to be, that is the question
  
• We have nothing to fear but fear itself
  

Make all (or some) of the following substitutions

• For the word "are", use "r"
  
• For the word "be", use "b"
  
• For the word "for", use 4
  
• For the word "nothing", use 0 (zero)
  
• For the word "to", use 2
  
• For the word "you" use "u"
  
• For the word "we", use "v"
  
• For any numbers, type the number
  
• If permitted, use "&" for and, or "@" for at.
  
  

Make changes and pick the first letter of every word

• "Ask not what your country can do for you" becomes : AnWyCcd4U
  
• "To be or not to be, that is the question" becomes : 2bOn2BtItQ
  
• "We have nothing to fear but fear itself" : Vh02FbFi
  

Tips and Tricks

• Choose one long password for all sites : The best security would be to use a different long password at each site;
  but that's nearly impossible to do. This is the second best solution.
  
• Use Hotkeys Software : Keyboard software can enter a good long strong password with one key entry or click.
  See Technical Tips : Hotkey Software
  
• Reprogram a keyboard key : New keyboards allow you to reprogram some keys like MyHome/Back/Email/Cal key.
  Change one to the password you want to use.
  
• Check your password on Google : If it is a complicated strong password, it should not be found.
  
  

Traps

• Do NOT use your username as the password.
  
• Do NOT use "password" as your password.
  
• Do NOT use your first name or last name as your password.
  
• Do NOT use repeating or sequential numbers as password e.g. 1234567890, 22222222
  
• Do NOT use dictionary words as passwords.
  
• Do NOT use single "hacker phrases" as passwords e.g. "M1cr0$0ft" or "P@ssw0rd"
  
• Do NOT write down the password on a post-it and stick it on the monitor.
  
  

Some useful links

• Strong passwords: How to create and use them : Tips from Microsoft
  
• Creating Strong Passwords : Tips from Princeton University
  
• The Strong Password Dilemma : Research paper on strong passwords.
  

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• eConsultant � Blog Archive � How to Create a Strong Password
  

How to Give Up Coffee

Learn About Coffee

• Know that coffee is a drug. Coffee has caffeine. Its chemical formula is C8H10N4O2. Its chemical name is 3,7-Dihydro-1,3,7-trimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione or 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine or 1,3,7-trimethyl-2,6-dioxopurine. Caffeine Chemistry shows a molecular diagram.
  
• Know that caffeine is addictive. Regular use of upwards of 350 mg of caffeine a day causes physical dependence on the drug.
  
• Caffeine effects the brain and the central nervous system, raises adrenaline levels, raises the production of the hormones cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine, is a diuretic (a substance or drug that tends to increase the discharge of urine). Coffee is acidic. and effects sleep (usually delays sleep onset, shortens overall sleep time, and reduces the "depth" of sleep).
  
• Caffeine ingestion contributes to insulin resistance and impairs glucose and insulin homeostasis as part of the stress response.
  
• Know caffeine content of various drinks : Coffee, Teas, Colas/Pop/Sodas, Hot Chocolate Drinks, Chocolate all have caffiene. See : Caffeine Content of Beverages, Foods, & Medications
  

Find Your Primary Reason

• To live a healthier life : you don't have to join the majority of the population in regularly ingesting a socially acceptable addictive physiology-altering legal drug.
  
• To save money : if you belong to the crowd of people who loudly and proudly proclaim their Starbucks habit, I suggest you calculate the cost of the habit. A couple of lattes every work day is 2 x $6 x 200 = $1200. You could buy a brand new iPod every quarter or a brand new laptop every year or visit Europe on a vacation. Visualize your reward. Print out a photograph of your chosen toy or vacation spot and keep it visible at all times to remind yourself of what you are working towards.
  
• To become a millionaire : if you invest a Starbucks coffee a day for the next 40 years, you'll be a millionaire! Suze Orman does the math for you. See : Are You Flushing One Million Dollars Down the Toilet?
  

Strategies

• Gradually reduce the amount : Every week, reduce the number of coffee cups by one. 4 cups a day in the first week, 3 in the second, 2 in the third, 1 ine the fourth. Caffeine-free in one month!
  
• Gradually halve the amount : Every week, halve the number of coffee cups. e.g. 4 cups a day in the first week, 2 in the second, 1 in the third, Caffeine-free in three weeks!
  
• At home gradually reduce the coffee : When making your coffee in a drip machine every morning, gradually use less than what you normally use until it's so weak you can stop altogether.
  
• Switch to tea: Tea has lower amounts of caffeine. Every week, switch over one of your coffee breaks to tea. Upon successful transition to tea, repeat the process to transition to caffeine-free tea.
  

What to Expect

• Withdrawal Symptoms : Some of the common withdrawal symptoms include headache, fatigue or drowsiness, depression or irritability, difficulty in concentrating, flulike symptoms including nausea, muscle pain, and stiffness. You will experience some or all of these symptoms depending on your addiction level.
  

Tips and Tricks

• Sleep : get ample quality regular sleep while you are transitioning to your caffeine-free state.
  
• Morning Exercise : aerobic exercise, like cycling, produces endorphins and starts your day on a natural high.
  
• Step Outside : make it a ritual to go outside and deep breathe fresh air in the morning.
  
• Orange Juice : coffee is a habit. Replace the habit with a small glass of orange juice.
  
• Eat Breakfast : a grain or oats based (low glycemic index) breakfast will keep your brain nourished for the morning.
  
• Avoid Sugary Breakfast: avoid donuts or high sugar muffins; they cause a rapid buildup and slump in your blood sugar levels.
  
• Afternoon Snack: keep an apple or banana or a handful of cashew nuts ready for the mid-afternoon snack time instead of coffee.
  
• Drink More Water: carry a water bottle around and take sips regularly.
  

Healthy Coffee Alternatives

• Rocamojo : soy-based coffee.
  
• Soyfee : another soy-based coffee.
  
• Teeccino : herbal non-caffienated coffee.
  
• Chicory root (Cichorium intybus) : has long been used in the southern US as a coffee substitute.
  
• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): is second only to chicory as a coffee substitute.
  
• Warm Soy-Milk or Rice-Milk : part of the addiction is the need for a warm liquid; try milk or milk substitutes.
  

Some useful links

• HowStuffWorks: How Caffeine Works
  
• National Geographic: Caffeine Addiction Is a Mental Disorder, Doctors Say
  
• StevePavlina: How to Give Up Coffee
  
• Teeccino : Top Reasons to be Caffeine-Free
  

Book recommendations

• Amazon.com: Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World: Books: Mark Pendergrast
  

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• eConsultant � Blog Archive � How to Give Up Coffee
  

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