Has Your Data Been Stolen?
According to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) and AARP, 1.3 billion American consumer records were stolen in data breaches in the first nine months of 2024. Almost one-third of Americans have been a victim of identity theft. Criminals stole nearly $23 billion from consumers last year. Every year, there are more than 50,000 individual personal data breaches in the US.
Most common causes of identity theft are when someone obtains the following personal Information
- Name
- Address
- Phone numbers
- E-mail address
- Birthdate
- Social Security Number
- Drivers License
- Credit Cards
Credit card fraud is the most common type of identity theft.
- Don’t shop on unsecure websites.
- Have all credit and debit card transactions sent to your email
- Review your bank and credit card statements regularly.
- Never send your credit card information via email or give it over the phone unsolicited.
- Don’t use public Wi-Fi for financial transactions.
- Shred documents that show your credit card number (bank statements) and social security numbers
- Contact your credit card company right away if you lose your card.
Basic things not to respond to
- Phone calls from anyone looking for personal information from you.
- E-mails or text messages asking to verify your personal information,
- Attachments from someone you don’t know
- Messages stating “Don’t close this page, call this number.” If this happens, close out of the browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.), turn off the computer by holding down the power button, and pull out the power cord.
Password rules
- Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols (i.e. Rr123456#)
- Do not use names, your address, phone numbers, your pet’s name, or common words such as “password” or “computer”
- Change your passwords every 6 months
- Do not use the same password on multiple accounts
- Do not store a list of your passwords on your computer or mobile phone
- If you keep a list of your passwords, do not place it near your computer or in your desk
Shopping
- Use credit cards only, no debit cards
- Avoid saving credit card numbers at retailer sites
- Monitor your account statements for unauthorized transactions
On the road
- Do not make any financial transactions or enter password information at public wi-fi locations (hotels, coffee shops, airports, etc.)
- When in a hotel, if you get a phone call from the “front desk;” asking to confirm your credit card, go directly to the desk instead of responding on the phone
What to do if you are a victim of identity fraud
- Call your bank and cancel your ATM/debit card
- Change all your passwords.
- Call your credit card companies to report that your card(s) have been stolen
- Report your missing driver’s license to your local DMV and get a new one
- File a police report
- Call the three credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, Transunion) and have a fraud alert and freeze your account
Experian 888 397 3742
Transunion 888 909-8872
Equifax 800 685-1111
- Debt collectors – Tell them you are a victim and provide them with documentation
To read the complete article from AARP click here
Podcasts – The Return of Radio
Podcasts – The Return of Radio
It was nearing 11PM over 60 years ago, in the early 1950’s, “The Golden Age of Radio.” My father was preparing for bedtime. He brushed his teeth, grabbed his little transistor radio and hopped into bed. This little handheld device was the major vehicle for news, talk shows, and programming. He was preparing to listen to the Barry Gray Show, the unofficial “Father of Talk Radio.”
Along with Barry Gray, some of the leading personalities on the air were newsmen Edward R. Murrow and H. V. Kaltenborn, Jack Benny, Groucho Marks, Fred Allen, Bob and Ray, Arthur Godfrey, Lawrence Welk, and disk jockey Alan Freed. A few of the leading radio stations in New York were WINS, WOR, WPIX, WNEW, WMCA, WCBS, WMGM, and WNYC. The morning and afternoon newspapers were the main source of news at that time.
As the years progressed, many of the radio personalities moved on to television. Live TV/News coverage became popular in the 1960s and CNN went live in 1980. News at 5/6 PM and 11 PM became the main source for news before watching late TV or going to sleep.
Personal computers in the home became mainstream in the early 1980s. It wasn’t until the mid-1990’s that newspapers started to digitalize their content for computers.
In 2008, Apple introduced the smartphone, and for the first time, content and communications were available on a handheld device.
There was a time when the first thing we did upon waking up in the morning was to read the morning newspaper while eating breakfast. That practice gave way to turning on the TV. Now, most of us reach for our smartphone upon waking up for the news, weather, and other digital content. Most surveys report that the average cable viewer is about 70 years old, while the average podcast listener is around 34.
Podcasting started to become popular in 2003/4. Now, with many of the major news networks experiencing at least a 50% drop in viewership, many high-profile media personalities are turning to podcasting.
Today, the first thing I do upon waking up is to reach for my smartphone. The TV frequently is not turned on until later. As I walk around the city between meetings or stop at a restaurant, I am listening to either a podcast or a book. Before I go out, the first thing I look for is my smartphone even before my wallet.
Yes, Welcome to the return of “Radio.”