People are always saying that they’re afraid of me and I don’t understand why.  I mean I do understand why someone should be afraid of me but that’s not what they mean.  I think everyone should be afraid of me because I wrestled, judo-ed, and can bench press 300 lbs, but usually someone says they’re afraid of me when I make some insightful comment about security or privacy.

I like to find vulnerabilities.  I admit it.  It’s a puzzle that I love to solve and never bores me.  It’s almost a compulsive need for me to find something and have to rip it apart.

So if I walk into a bank and see that a camera is pointed in a less than optimal direction I will tell someone.  Or if I’m walking down the street and someone’s purse is open and I can see her wallet I’ll tell her.

Frequently I don’t get a thank you – I get a look of terror.

I’m just trying to help.

It’s the little things that will get you.  Identity theft is rampant these days.  Everyone knows someone who has had his identity stolen.  Something 40% of victims don’t know how it happened.  I’m telling you it is the little things.

An empty bottle of pills.  Harmless to most yet a treasure trove of personally identifying information to an identity thief.  Don’t simply throw them in the garbage or recycle them.  Even in the Internet age, dumpster diving is a viable means of identity theft.

Pull the labels off, stick them to a piece of paper, and shred them.

My latest blog post on IDGuardian went live this morning. Apparently Tee had nothing better to do while trapped at home during Snowmaggedon 2010.

The article is a bunch of personal safety techniques that I’ve learned over the years.  Here are some highlights:

Always keep track of expenditures you have made using your credit and debit cards (and in a hotel watch what gets charged to your room).

Better yet, use cash to remain anonymous while keeping your credit cards safe.

In the immortal words of Kenny Rogers, “you never count your money, while you’re sitting at the table”, comes the next bit of advice. Waving a wad of cash around in Manila Airport just might be the dumbest thing you could do regarding your personal safety. When you change money, count it at the counter before you leave, shielding it from public view with your body, and then make sure no one follows you when you leave the money changer. Don’t carry your wallet in your back pocket.

Don’t give out personally identifying information (PII) to anyone.

It’s important to orient yourself when you land and when you check into your hotel.

When you’re at the airport, keep a close eye on your belongings.

Always protect your smartphone.