internet investigators

Personal Data Protection

At Investigation Hotline, we take your security and best interest seriously. If you have any questions or concerns about this informational blog or any others we may have posted, contact Investigation Hotline Canada Inc today.

Data protection has become of utmost importance with recent societal and technological developments (particularly due to the mainstream adoption of the internet). Because personal data has become so accessible due to these developments, stealing this data has become more lucrative and even easier for criminals to do. Criminals stand to gain from your personal information, and the consequences of having this personal information stolen can be devastating emotionally, financially and even physically.

Personal data can be defined as any information that can directly or indirectly identify a person, including name, address, phone numbers, email addresses, financial information, photographs, identification numbers, vehicle registrations, IP addresses, etc. This information can even include union memberships or political and religious beliefs!

Protecting your personal information can be done in four easy steps:

  1. Know who you are sharing your information with,

  2. Securely store and dispose of personal information,

  3. Ask specific questions before sharing personal information, and;

  4. Maintain the necessary security on your computers and electronic devices that store this data.

The key to avoiding becoming the victim of personal data theft is to minimize your risk. You can take certain steps to minimize this risk, including:

  • Minimizing the collection of your personal data. Avoid storing all of your personal information in one place or in digital platforms that could be easily accessed by someone else (i.e. a shared server, a social media account, through email, etc.).

  • Deleting personal data that is no longer necessary or useful. If you no longer subscribe to a specific retailer or no longer use a specific software, consider deleting this information entirely. If you are disposing of a personal or work computer, use a wipe utility program to overwrite the entire hard drive so that all of the personal information it stored can be deleted.

  • Restricting access to your personal information to those who really need it. Avoid sharing your personal information all together unless it is truly required. There is no reason to share personal information such as your social insurance number, passport number or financial confirmation with anyone other than a spouse, an employer or a government agency.

  • Using extreme discretion online. Be careful when buying or signing up for things online. Make sure the website is hosted by a good and reputable organization that will obtain consent and securely store your information. Also be careful what you share on social networking sites. Never, ever share your social security number, address, phone number or account numbers on these platforms.

  • Keep your passwords private. In addition to keeping them private, make sure they are strong and that they vary across platforms.

  • Use security software. Install the anti-spyware software, anti-virus softwares and firewalls necessary for protecting your personal information and make sure that they are always up to date.

If you have any questions or concerns about the safety of your personal information, a private investigator is a useful resource for theft-proofing your devices and acting on your behalf if your information is stolen.