Securing Your Privacy

AS BLACKBERRYS AND Wi-Fi have pervaded American lives, privacy has become all the more precious. And it's no longer just about irritating dinnertime telemarketing calls: Since 2001 identity-theft complaints are up 185%, according to the Federal Trade Commission. To get off the grid, here's a combination of common sense and savvy.

The freeze

Credit-report freezing, which prevents anyone new from viewing your report or issuing credit in your name, is now available in all 50 states. But to freeze or unfreeze involves mailing a request to all three major credit-reporting agencies. And the benefits depend on how credit-active you are, according to Steve Ely, president of Equifax Personal Solutions. Those buying a car or home will face a lot of paperwork, he says. And most states charge a $10 fee for every freeze or unfreeze.

Not-so-hot spots

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Wi-Fi hot spots are popping up all over. Unfortunately, so are sniffers, programs that snatch information traveling across networks. As there's no way to tell if a hot spot is secure, consumers should assume they are unsafe, says Molly Crawford, a staff attorney at the Federal Trade Commission. As for web sites, one indication of safety comes from the address: If it starts with "https" (versus the standard "http"), it's secure.

Do not call

The Do Not Call Registry is 145 million phone numbers strong, and the FTC recently levied $7.7 million in fines against companies that skirted it. To keep your number private, make sure it's on the Registry — or even unlisted. (Cell users may be glad to know that while a wireless 411 is in the works, it will be opt-in only, and making automated calls to cellphones is illegal.) But if you don't want someone to have your number, don't give it out, says an FTC spokesperson. Craftmatic, among those fined by the FTC, had sweepstakes contestants provide phone numbers as entry information.