Managing+and+protecting+digital+identities

Members:
 * Kylie Mazar (Shea)
 * John Radkiewicz
 * Fabiano Spadaro
 * Nate Strohl
 * Kylie Wurster

=**Managing and Protecting Your Identity**=
 * Lesson by:** Kylie Mazar (Shea), John Radkiewicz, Fabiano Spadaro, Nate Strohl, and Kylie Wurster


 * 1. Introduction**


 * **Explain that we are the Managing and Protecting Digital Identities group**
 * Briefly touch on what points will be covered:
 * Why it is important to protect yourself
 * How to manage your identity
 * What to do if your identity is stolen
 * Prezi & Poll
 * Activity: Have students Google their name (30 seconds)
 * Questions for us to ask:
 * Were any of you surprised with what you found (I will start off with this one)
 * Did anyone fond their information on sites that they have not been to in over a year?
 * Did you find any pictures?
 * Others
 * Segue into next section:
 * I will explain how information which students did not know was public was out there for all to see. An example of this happening is the teacher who criticized students on her blog


 * 2. Why is important to protect yourself?**

media type="youtube" key="6Gc0RrDtiUU?version=3" height="315" width="420"

Google is the new business card.

53% of adults said that they have used the internet to search for someone online 19% of that 53% have used the internet to look up coworkers, colleagues, or business competitors. 11%have used the internet to search some one they are considering hiring.

The more content we contribute, the more visible we can become. Users are becoming more aware of their digital footprint. 47% of people searched for information about themselves online, up from just 22% five years ago.

It is up to us as teachers to make sure that we have a positive, professional digital identity. We can control what personal information is shared, but we cannot control everything. For example, a friend may upload a picture of you on a blog, or a family member may update a Facebook status about you. Therefore there can be both positive and negative information on the internet about us over which we do not have control. Any social networking site should remain private, because parents or teachers will find it. There have been countless examples such as the one previously shown, where parents or students have found a teacher's website and used it against him or her. This is why it is important to monitor your digital identity, as well to create a positive presence online, offsetting any negative "press" about yourself. One option is to create a Google profile. This changes how you are found in Google, and stores all your information in one place. You could also make a professional blog to establish credibility and foster a positive internet presence. There are countless ways to use the web to your advantage, as long as it is done resourcefully and professionally. Being aware of one's digital footprint is something that all professionals, not just teachers, need to keep in mind.

http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2010/07/controlling-your-digital-identity-is-as.html

http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Reports/2007/PIP_Digital_Footprints.pdf.pdf

Ways to Protect your Digital Identity: [|Poll Activity]
 * 3. How to manage and protect yourself**
 * Google Alerts - Although in beta, Google alerts is a service where one can monitor when a certain word or phrase (in our case a name) appears anywhere on the internet.This is a very simple and easy to use tool, however Schneider, author of the article "Protecting Your Online Reputation" says there are a few problems. For example: people with common names will receive many alerts.
 * Facebook - Segment friends into lists and alter privacy settings to allow what people are allowed to post on your profile/about you.
 * Changing one's password - If you feel that your account on a website, for example eBay, has been compromised it is a good idea to change your password. For starters, it is good to choose a password that is specific to you that not many people would know. Include numbers and lower case and capital letters. The stranger the combination is the better. It may be a pain to type, but it will be worth it in the end!
 * E-mails and Links - If you're not sure about it, don't click it! It's quite simple. According to Life Lock, a an identity theft protection service, online thieves are becoming better and better at making their fake websites and E-mails look more legitimate. If you receive and E-mail from your credit card company and are asked to enter in your information, it's probably not a good idea to do so. If you are still concerned, contact your credit card company directly via phone or a proper E-mail address located on their website.
 * Anti-Virus Software - It is possible to obtain a virus on your computer which could log everything you do and could easily give a hacker your information. Life Lock also suggests regularly scanning your computer with anti-virus software to make sure your computer is free from such viruses.
 * Storing Credit Card Information - While it may seem convenient to have a website such as Amazon.com keep your credit card information on file to make your next transaction even that much quicker, their databases are not 100% safe. A prime example is the recent hacking of the Playstation Network, a multimedia delivery service, in which credit card numbers were compromised. This service required you enter in your credit card information in order to register for it, so one must have faith in the company that they are prepared for such disasters, but there are websites such as Amazon.com in which you can choose not to save your credit card information to your account.

Sources: When to change your password: http://www.schneier.com/essay-328.html

Protecting Your Online Reputation by Andrew Schneider

identity Theft: 9 Ways to Protect Yourself from Lifelock and The Dental Assistant

Update on PSN and Qriocity http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/04/26/update-on-playstation-network-and-qriocity/


 * 4. Action steps - What should you do if your identity is stolen?**


 * [|Prezi Lesson]**

According to the Federal Trade Commission, there are fundamental steps you should take if your identity is stolen.

Action 1
 * **Place a “fraud alert”** on each of the credit bureaus. Order you credit report and carefully review for suspicious activity or accounts you don’t recognized. Fraud alerts tell creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts. Fraud alerts will automatically entitle you to free credit reports. The initial alert is for 90 days and can be renew after it expires.

Action 2
 * **File a police report**. Until you have a police report, the credit cards companies cannot take action against the crime. If you don’t file a police report, you may end up being responsible for all charges.

Action 3
 * **Contact the security or fraud departments of each company**where an account was opened or charged without your okay.
 * Follow up in writing, with copies of supporting documents.
 * Use the ID Theft Affidavit at [|ftc.gov/idtheft] to support your written statement.
 * Ask for verification that the disputed account has been dealt with and the fraudulent debts discharged.
 * Keep copies of documents and records of your conversations about the theft.

Action 4
 * **Place a “security freeze”** on your credit files. If you are a victim of identity theft, the fees associated with this feature will be waived.

Action 5
 * **Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission.** This will help law enforcement organizations across the country in their investigation.

Conclusion
 * **Monitor your credit.**If you think that your identity is still compromised, it would be a good idea to monitor your credit. Monitoring your credit gives you a greater control of your credit activity.
 * ** As a teacher, identity theft might bring problems with your clearances. **
 * ** It can put you in embarrassing situations with your colleagues, professors, and principals of the school you are teaching. **
 * ** It might prevent you from getting employment due to your bad credit. **
 * ** If you decided to go back to school to get your Master’s degree and you are on your own, you may not be able to get financial aid due to bad credit. **
 * ** It may take a long time for you to rebuild your credit. **

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 * ‍‍‍‍5. Artifact - Closing statement.**