Protecting Your Privacy

Companies that you deal with online have the means to collect information about you, and have a way to potentially sell or give that information to third-parties. It is important to safeguard your privacy by being aware of the following guidelines, whatever company you are transacting with online:

Keep your personal information private.
Never disclose your personal details such as your address, phone number and NI number unless you are sure you know where this information is going, what it is going to be used for, and who else has access to it. Make sure your children know to check with you first before placing any personal or family information on an online form.

Find the website's online privacy policy.
Most companies that have a privacy policy will have a link to details about it on their website. The policy should state what information is being collected and for what purpose it will be used. Always check for a privacy policy before transacting with an online company. If the information is not easily found on their website, email or contact them directly to ask about their policy.

Know your options.
Before entering your details on an online form, look for options that may be provided as to how the company can use the information you give them. Usually there are options that let you specifically decline having your personal details used for marketing purposes or shared with third-parties.

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